Regional Educational Director for the Middle East and Central Asia
EducationUSA/IIE/Dept. of State
Karen Bauer is the REAC: Regional Manager for the Middle East and Central Asia, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With over two decades of experience in various roles, including teaching, coordinating, training, managing, and directing, Karen has developed a deep understanding of international education in these regions. Her dedication lies in advancing international education opportunities and facilitating student mobility exchange within the Middle East and Central Asia.
Karen supports 40 EducationUSA advisers spread across 13 countries and 27 advising centers. She manages the Middle East Gulf (Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, UAE) and Central Asia (Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). Her commitment to these educational endeavors is demonstrated by her extensive travels, which account for approximately 40% of her schedule. While visiting portfolio countries, she conducts center site visits and meetings with U.S. Embassy officials, Ministries of Education, and various student mobility stakeholders.
Karen actively engages with the academic community through participation in professional conferences and shares her expertise on various topics, including government scholarship programs, unique dynamics of the Middle East and Central Asia, and effective recruitment strategies within the region. An advocate of design thinking, Karen has undertaken courses with Stanford Life Design Studio, incorporating these skills into her advice and elucidating how design thinking can enhance recruitment, retention, and career services.
Leveraging a wealth of professional experience spanning more than two decades, Karen's background includes living and working in Czechia, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and Turkey.
Karen has a B.A. in International Affairs and History from Holy Names University in California and an M.A. in International Education from the School for International Training (SIT) in Vermont. In addition to an ESL teaching certificate from Notre Dame de Mar University and a specialized certificate in college counseling from the University of California-Los Angeles
Navigating Middle Eastern Markets, Recruitment, and Partnerships
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
2:30 PM – 3:20 PM CT
Design Thinking for Transformative Student Recruitment and Career Planning
Thursday, May 30, 2024
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM CT