A key cog in the day-to-day operations of UWG Athletics is Karen Allen. Since early 2023, Allen has served as Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Operating Officer.
An emergent name in the collegiate leadership sphere, Allen has a proven record of operating at a high level of performance in the financial, operational, and administrative dimensions of NCAA intercollegiate athletic departments. She most recently served as Assistant Athletic Director for Internal Operations and Senior Woman Administrator at Division I Winthrop University. Before her move to the Division I level at Winthrop, she climbed the administrative ladder in Division II athletics.Â
In her most recent Division II stop, Allen served as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Business and Administration / Senior Woman Administrator at Division II member Texas A&M-Commerce. During her time at Commerce, she directed several of the department's key business processes such as purchasing and budgeting, as well as numerous other administrative projects and tasks. She served as the liaison to the campus community for the department's strategic plan and institutional effectiveness assessments. Allen oversaw the Lions' partnership with Under Armour, as well as human resources, inventory, and game day ticketing operations.
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Before transitioning to her role at Commerce, Allen built her early career in the Gulf South Conference, serving as the Associate Athletic Director for Business and Communications as well as Senior Woman Administrator at Shorter University. She had oversight for financial operations, sports information, and game day management there.
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While serving at Shorter, Allen also worked in ticket operations for four seasons at the Rome Braves, the single-A minor league affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
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Allen earned a bachelor's degree in sports management from Shorter in 2009 and added a master's degree in business administration from the same institution in 2012.
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