Karen Clarke

Associate Vice President for University Relations and Associate Vice Chancellor for University Relations for the UH System

Karen Clarke was appointed associate vice chancellor and associate vice president for university relations in 2007.
 
She is responsible for marketing and brand management, university communication, media relations, web, multimedia and creative services for the third-largest university in Texas. As the chief communications strategist for the university’s Tier One campaign, she is a passionate advocate for UH pride and “brand love.” In 2011, UH was elevated to a Tier One public research university by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement for Teaching. Additionally, UH was recognized for excellence in undergraduate education by the Princeton Review, which named UH one of the “nation’s best colleges.”

From 2002 to 2005, Clarke was associate vice president for university relations at the University of South Florida (USF), the state’s third-largest public university.  At USF, Clarke led the development of the school’s new logo and branding plan, provided strategic communications counsel to the president and managed crisis communications, media relations, marketing, advertising, and public affairs.
Prior to her UH and UHS appointment, Clarke served as director of corporate communications at the Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. in Tampa, Fla.

Clarke earned a B.S. in journalism and Latin American Studies from the University of Florida and was a reporter and editor for the Florida TODAY newspaper and Gannett News. She has led the marketing efforts of two academic medical centers in Florida and served as senior account director for Hill and Knowlton.