Dr. Karen Dowling Named ACE-WIN 2025 Distinguished Woman Leader Award Recipient
MARION, IND. (Mar. 3, 2024) – Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) announces that Dr. Karen Dowling, executive vice president and chief people and culture officer, has been named a 2025 Distinguished Woman Leader Award recipient by the American Council on Education Women’s Network of Indiana (ACE-WIN).
The Distinguished Woman Leader Award recognizes individuals in higher education who advocate for women, champion their advancement into leadership roles, and provide outstanding mentorship and professional development opportunities.
Dr. Jon Kulaga, president of IWU, said, “This award is a well-deserved recognition of the pivotal work Dr. Dowling is undertaking as chief people and culture officer. Her leadership within our university exemplifies our commitment to reflecting God's heart for His people and the significance of Kingdom diversity. Dr. Dowling consistently demonstrates the values of character, scholarship, and leadership.”
Dr. Dowling is being honored for her dedication to inspirational contributions that advocate for women’s development and inclusivity, champion women’s advancement, and support of Kingdom diversity and intercultural integration at IWU and beyond. Some of these efforts include but are not limited to directing Advancing Women’s Leadership (AWL), a program that supports women pursuing advanced roles at IWU; sponsoring an annual Women’s History Month breakfast to celebrate the contributions of women in the workplace; serving as vice president of the Diversity Commission for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU); helping organize the CCCU Imago Dei Conference, which IWU will host in fall 2025; and leading IWU’s inaugural Juneteenth event with the National Black MBA Association at the Madame C.J. Walker facility in Indianapolis in June 2024, and countless mentoring relationships.
“Her commitment to professional development and advocacy reflects the very spirit of the Women’s Network and aligns with our mission to support and uplift women in their professional journeys,” reads the nomination.
“It is a profound honor to receive this award,” Dowling said. “I’m just one of many women playing a critical role in our university’s future, and I couldn’t achieve what I have without the help and support of so many people such as Tammy Miller and the entire People & Culture team, my fellow institutional representative, the AWL team past and present, my President’s Cabinet peers, various dedicated committee and council members, academic and operational leaders who collaborate with our efforts and so many more. There are many women leaders who have mentored and partnered with me including former IWU leaders, alumni leaders, our IWU first lady, and women on our Board of Trustees. IWU is only able to continue growing as a leader and collaborator in higher education because of the work of these women and men.”
Dr. Dowling received the Distinguished Woman Leader Award on Feb. 28, 2025, at the ACE-WIN Annual Conference in Indianapolis.
