Centenary announces Dr. Karen Soul as provost and dean of the college
SHREVEPORT, LA — Centenary president Dr. Christopher L. Holoman has announced the permanent appointment of Dr. Karen Soul as provost and dean of the College. Soul has served in both roles in an interim capacity since the departure of former provost Dr. Jenifer K. Ward, who became president of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, in July 2019.
“I am very excited to continue working with Karen to lead Centenary forward,” says Holoman. “Her many years of experience and deep knowledge of higher education are an enormous asset to the College.”
Soul came to Centenary in 2003 as an instructor in the education department, and advanced to the position of Vice Provost for Academic Affairs in 2012. She earned a B.A.S. in elementary education and an M.Ed. with a concentration in language arts at the University of Minnesota-Duluth and a Ph.D. at the University of Texas.
“I am so pleased to take on this new role at Centenary and I am honored to work with President Holoman in leading this extraordinary institution toward its third century,” says Soul. “I am excited to work with our outstanding faculty and staff to continue to offer the signature programs that make Centenary unique like sending our first year classes to Paris as their inaugural college experience. I also look forward to working with my colleagues to enhance our current programs – for example, introducing medical shadowing for our pre-med students – and to explore new programs that provide additional opportunities for our students.”
As provost, Soul is the chief academic officer of the College and works to ensure a quality integrative curricular and co-curricular experience for students.