Karen R. Jackson currently serving as the Interim Executive Director of the New College Institute (NCI). In this capacity she is serving as NCI’s senior executive and is responsible for developing strategy and programming to advance economic training, and career opportunities in Southern Virginia. She is also charged with building partnerships to foster innovation and adoption of cutting-edge industries in Southern Virginia.
She also serves as President of Apogee Strategic Partners, LLC a Virginia firm specializing in the development and implementation of technology and innovation strategies in information technology, cyber security, autonomous systems, and smart communities. Ms. Jackson formerly served as Virginia’s Secretary of Technology from 2014 – 2018 focusing on innovation, data analytics, telecommunications (broadband), cybersecurity, unmanned systems (autonomy) and smart communities at the state and national levels.
Ms. Jackson is active on a number of public and private sector boards including serving as the board chair for the Virginia Unmanned Systems Association. She holds a Bachelor of Science in business management from Christopher Newport University, and a Master of Business Administration from The College of William and Mary.