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Get to Know: Karen Bowling, Vice President of Jobs

Bowling headshotKaren Bowling, vice president of Jobs and director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, is a cabinet member of UNF President Szymanski’s Executive Cabinet.

Get to Know Karen:

As UNF’s vice president of jobs, Karen works with the Career Services team to connect UNF students and alumni to employers offering the best-suited internships and jobs. The team guides students through choosing a major, developing skills desired by employers and connecting with the best career opportunities throughout the nation.

Karen also serves as director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) located in downtown Jacksonville where she focuses on accelerating the rate of success for entrepreneurs and providing services and resources needed to help build partnering businesses.

A proud UNF alumna, Karen returned to the University in 2019 to begin the CEI. She is a highly accomplished executive with more than 30 years of success in both public and private companies. Prior to joining UNF, Bowling served as president of Thrive Consulting, LLC. where she consulted in the healthcare and government sectors. In addition, she served as the chief administrative officer for the City of Jacksonville and as the chief executive officer of Solantic urgent care clinics and in various communication roles at healthcare firms.

Favorite spots on campus: Bank of England Career Services Center in the Coggin College of Business and the John A. Delaney Student Union.

Most unique aspects of UNF: An absolutely beautiful campus, a sincere culture of caring about students and high employment rates for students after graduation as a result of excellent University faculty.

Proudest UNF accomplishments: I am proud to work with a team of dedicated Career Services managers to grow the number of internships and jobs available to UNF students and alumni as well as having a small part in the successful launch of many successful start-up companies.

Hobbies and Interests: Anything with family and friends, volunteering and community service, genealogy.

2-3 adjectives that describe you: Appreciative, focused and resourceful.

Favorite advice or quote: “What you don’t change, you choose.”