CHARLES E. CARPENTER LECTURE & CONFERENCE ENDOWMENT
ABOUT THE LECTURE
Established in 2004, the Charles E. Carpenter Lecture and Conference Endowment supports advances in professional development for community college leaders. Held each spring, the Carpenter Lecture features a nationally known speaker on a topic of importance to community colleges.
In addition to current students in the Adult and Higher Education doctoral program, attendees include northwest community college leaders and members of the OSU community. The Carpenter Lecture has become a premier professional development event for community college leaders and has significantly advanced Oregon State University’s work in community college leadership.
2026 GUEST SPEAKER: DR. KARIN B. EDWARDS
President, Clark College
Event Date and Location: Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 6–8 p.m. at the OSU Portland Center
About the speaker
As a long-time educator, Dr. Karin Edwards has witnessed the transformational power that community colleges have in the lives of students and in the communities they serve. Having worked at two and four-year public and private colleges and universities, Dr. Edwards has over 35 years of experience in higher education administration. Though her experience at 4-year colleges was meaningful and rewarding, it was at community college where she found her niche.
Dr. Edwards is the President of Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, where she is responsible for providing vision and strategic direction for the college. She oversees all operational, instructional, financial, and student support services as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Edwards is active in community outreach, cultivating and engaging partners, and workforce development. She provides critical leadership in creating promising pathways and ensuring equitable student success. Before arriving in the Pacific Northwest in 2014, Dr. Edwards worked at community colleges in the Connecticut and New York State College systems.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a master's degree in Education Administration from the State University of New York at Albany. She also earned a doctorate in Education Leadership from Johnson and Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.
Dr. Edwards continues to demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the mission of community colleges by improving access, the student experience, and equitable student outcomes. Equity is also inherent in the mission of community colleges, and Dr. Edwards has championed diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout her career.
In addition to her role as President, Dr. Edwards is deeply engaged in leadership and service at the local, regional, and national levels. She serves on several boards and committees that align with her dedication to community and workforce development, student success, and equity.
These include:
- Columbia River Economic Development Council
- WSUV Advisory Committee
- Workforce Southwest Washington
- Round Table of African-American CEOs
- Peace Health Southwest Community Health
- Career Connect Southwest Governing Board
- College Spark Washington Board
- Higher Education Research & Development Institute (HERDI)
- American Association for Women in Community Colleges
- International Women’s Forum (IWF)
- Portland (OR) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Karin is a native New Yorker, born and raised in the South Bronx. For leisure, she enjoys time with her family and friends, including her husband, two adult children, four granddaughters, and a host of siblings and their children. She also enjoys attending cultural events and traveling.