Karen Petersen, the 13th president of Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, has received a five-year contract extension. Originally appointed to her role in January 2023, Dr. Petersen will continue to lead Hendrix through May 31, 2031.
“Our Board has strong confidence in President Petersen and her exceptional leadership as we build the next chapter of Hendrix College,” said board chair Walter Pryor. “Her guidance, vision, and initiative drive our dynamism as a community, and the entire board is tremendously grateful that she accepted our invitation to extend her tenure.”
Since assuming her presidency, Dr. Petersen has overseen a surge in institutional philanthropy at Hendrix. The college has also restored its Galloway Hall, the oldest women’s residence hall on campus and a listed member of the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, Hendrix has established several new partnerships with organizations throughout Arkansas, added a new women’s flag football team, and created The Village at Hendrix — a new community-focused neighborhood in downtown Conway.
“I’m excited to build on our accomplishments together, extend my partnership with the trustees, and continue the campus-wide collaboration that is preparing Hendrix for its next 150 years,” said Dr. Petersen. “As a community, we’ve demonstrated exceptional creativity and capacity when we work in tandem. I look forward to another five years of effective and creative shared work.”
Dr. Petersen came to Hendrix from the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, where she was a professor of political science and dean of the Henry Kendall College of Arts and Sciences. Earlier, she spent 16 years on the faculty of her undergraduate alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University, where she ultimately served as dean of the university’s College of Liberal Arts. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Dr. Petersen earned her master’s degree and Ph.D. in political science from Vanderbilt University in Nashville.