Dean Karen Oates currently serves as the Peterson Family Dean of Arts & Sciences at WPI where she is responsible for 7 departments and 6 programs spanning the natural and life sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities, mathematics and computer science. Dr. Oates joined WPI from the National Science Foundation, where she served as a Deputy Director of the Division of Undergraduate Education charged with supporting innovative programs to strengthen STEM education and help revitalize American entrepreneurship and competitiveness. She was responsible for over $385M in grant support. As Provost for the Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, she established the National Center for Science and Civic Engagement (NCSCE) and secured NSF funds for Science Education for New Civic Engagement and Responsibilities (SENCER). Among the honors she has received are the Bruce Albert's Award, presented by American Society for Cell Biology for excellence in science education reform, and the Distinguished Public Service Award, the highest civilian honor presented by the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and served as 2015-2016 Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer.  In 2012, she was inducted into the prestigious American Association for the Advancement as a Science Education Fellow.