If you ask people to describe Dr. Karen Holbrook, the new regional chancellor of USF Sarasota-Manatee, you will certainly receive a plethora of thoughts about what makes this remarkable woman of influence such an effective leader. Some may say she is visionary, while others may describe her as a builder. Some may cite her vast leadership experience; others may describe her credibility, transparency or wit. 

If you ask Dr. Holbrook directly about what she enjoys about being a leader, she will tie it all together. “I love connecting people and being helpful,” Dr. Holbrook says. “I see situations where I can use my experience and network to connect people to meet their goals, for the good of USFSM and hopefully for the good of the community.” Recently, she used an invitation to serve as a keynote speaker on STEM and life science opportunities in the Sarasota-Manatee communities to learn more about what is needed from education, research and development, and business to create a more vibrant cluster in the area. A discussion among those in the audience led to an interest in planning a life science summit to strategize ways to connect vision, talent, resources and opportunities. Now that’s using your influence to bring vision to life.

Achievements:
- NIH-funded (MERIT Awardee) biomedical researcher and member of NIH Director’s Advisory Board
- President of The Ohio State University 2002-2007
- Designed the initial plan for USF World to provide global opportunities for students and faculty
- Interim President of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Promoting women in higher education research and leadership careers and opportunities for underrepresented minorities
- Author of “USF World” and “Globalizing University Research: Innovation, Collaboration and Competition,” with colleague Dr. Kiki Caruson.