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About Karen

Read Karen’s Introduction Letter here.

Karen Schultz, a recognized community leader in the Shenandoah Valley region for 30 years, is an Associate Professor at the Bernard Dunn School of Pharmacy at Shenandoah University. She is an educator and a healthcare practitioner known for her dedication to service, community, and family.

Karen earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from The College of William and Mary and her Associate of Science degree in Respiratory Care and her Masters in Business Administration from Shenandoah University. In 2002, she earned her PhD. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Karen has been recognized as the Teacher of the Year at Shenandoah University’s School of Pharmacy and has been recognized twice for her outstanding teaching by the Student Government Association at Shenandoah.

Karen pioneered SU’s work in the field of service learning. This teaching innovation has earned national recognition in the fields of Pharmacy and public education while incorporating her students into areas of public schools, juvenile detention, elder care, and substance abuse prevention and education. Shenandoah University awarded her the Algernon Sidney Sullivan award for Service to the Community, and through her programs Pharmacy students have provided over 10,000 hours of volunteer service in the region.

As a life-long advocate of public schools, she currently serves on:
• The School Board for the city of Winchester (recently resigned)
• The governing board for the Mountain Vista Governor’s School
• The Virginia School Board Association
• National School Board Association and serves as a Virginia representative to the federal network relations board

Karen’s work with Winchester Public Schools during the renovations of Daniel Morgan Middle School and John Handley High School allowed her to take leadership roles in the collaborative efforts between local and state governments to ensure stable financing for public schools. Those efforts involved the use of strategies such as public-private partnerships, tax credits and bond issues.

Karen was a member of the steering committee of the Winchester-Frederick County joint long range planning effort in 1989. Her work on the Vision 2020 project focused on economic development and the community’s need for solid planning and collaboration between industry and education within the surrounding areas. Karen is a member of the Executive Board of Trustees of the Shenandoah Valley Westminster Canterbury. She is well aware of how health care access, medical care costs and reimbursements, and transportation are challenges faced by all older individuals.

Karen and Gene have been married for 28 years and have two children. Katie, a graduate of the College of William and Mary, is a third grade teacher for Williamsburg – James City County Public Schools. Ben is a sophomore at the College of William and Mary concentrating his studies in the field of government.