Dr. Jane A. Karas became the first woman and 11th president to serve Flathead Valley Community College on July 1, 2001.
Dr. Karas served as vice-president and dean of instruction and student services at the Flathead Valley Community College since July 1999. She joined FVCC after serving the Montana Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education where she began as gender equity coordinator and then was promoted to assistant commissioner for vocational technical education and director of workforce development.
In 2003, the Montana Ambassadors recognized Dr. Karas as Montana Educator of the Year for her “entrepreneurial vision and courage,” in addition to her “outstanding accomplishments, excellence and leadership in the field of education.” During this time, Dr. Karas successfully led a bond initiative and campaign that garnered broad community support to build three new buildings on campus and significantly expand the college footprint.
As a new president, Dr. Karas successfully concluded a capital campaign exceeding the initial goal of $3 million in five years and raised private donations of nearly $5 million in three years. The funds have been dedicated to create endowments for student scholarships and technology.
Under Dr. Karas’ leadership, the Flathead Valley Community College’s Service Learning program has grown exponentially since 2001. A fundamental priority of Dr. Karas’ is to ensure that the students and communities who rely on the college are fully supported.
Under her leadership, this level of support has measurably increased through the advent of new and innovative curriculum and training programs, creative on-going collaboration with industry and business, an invigorated commitment to workforce development training, strengthened partnerships and collaboration with four-year institutions and the expansion of academic programs to even better prepare students who seek transfer to universities and other programs.
Additionally, student outcomes and the transition of FVCC to a learning centered-college remain key goals of Dr. Karas. The scholarship endowment established under her leadership substantially supports her vision that the college makes quality, accessible and affordable education available to any person who seeks an education at FVCC.
Flathead Valley Community College, located in the northwest corner of Montana in Flathead County, just miles from Glacier National Park, is one of the fastest growing areas in the state. Dr. Karas recently negotiated a land transaction that nearly doubled the size of the campus to ensure that continued campus development and community access can be maintained well into the future.
Throughout her tenure at Flathead Valley Community College, Dr. Karas has served as a member of the planning committee of the Flathead Business and Education Council. Council members include representatives of large and small business and industry, school district administrators and elected officials who work together to develop partnerships to promote economic development and workforce training.
Dr. Karas currently serves as vice-chair of the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities and is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges’ Commission on Economic and Workforce Development. She is also a member of the Mountain States Presidents’ Association. She is a ready friend to her community and has supported her community by serving on the Boards of the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce, the Flathead Food Bank and the Glacier Orchestra and Chorale. She currently serves on the Board of Northwest Healthcare and is a member of the Kalispell Daybreak Rotary. Dr. Karas also has served on the Governor’s Economic Development Advisory Board as a member of the Leadership Montana Organizing Committee and as President of the National Association of State Directors of Vocational Technical Education.
Dr. Karas holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wellesley College and a Ph.D. in social policy from the Heller School at Brandeis University. She has published numerous articles and has delivered presentations on education policy, economic development and workforce training.
