Karen Gil may not see herself as a superhero, but that’s how colleagues depicted her in a goodbye video they created when she left her position as chair of the department of psychology.
The video captures a long list of initiatives that Gil, who became the College of Arts and Sciences’ new dean on July 1, accomplished when she was chair from 2004 to 2007 — everything from renovating research labs, hiring new faculty and promoting diversity to opening the department’s Community Research Center and Clinic.
Don Lysle, current chair of the psychology department, says his longtime colleague and former department chair is a leader who knows how to get things done — both in the short and long term.
“Karen is very smart at developing a plan of action, and she’s bold and decisive about implementing it,” said Lysle, who served as associate chair when Gil was chair of the department. “She really takes charge, listens to what people have to say, and then finds solutions. No job is insignificant … People may sometimes say, ‘It’s not going to happen,’ but she just gets it done.”
You won’t find these accolades on her resumé, but students and colleagues praise Gil, the Lee G. Pederson Distinguished Professor, as “energetic,” “fair,” “hard-working,” “devoted,” “experienced,” “decisive” and a “top-notch mentor.”
She has been at UNC since 1995 and in key leadership roles in the College for eight years. In addition to chairing psychology, Gil has served two stints in the Dean’s Office as a senior associate dean — for undergraduate education (2001-2004) and social sciences and international programs (2007-20009).
UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp, who recruited Gil as senior associate dean of social sciences and international programs when he was dean of the College, said Gil has everything “we’re looking for in a leader at Carolina.”
“I know from working with her that she has the highest ethical standards,” Thorp said. “She is a truly great listener. When folks come to Karen with problems or ideas, I know she will invest all of her boundless energy into devising new approaches and solutions.”
Gil knows it will take creative problem-solving to help the College navigate through the challenging economic times ahead. Her top priority is to ensure that the College remains a “vibrant and intellectually stimulating community that brings together the best scholars and teachers to create knowledge, discover new things and educate our students.” She hopes to boost the College’s international profile and continue to emphasize its core mission of teaching, research and service.
“A liberal arts education is even more important and relevant today,” said Gil. “The economy is changing, the job market is changing. We have to prepare our students for many different types of opportunities, to prepare them to have a global sense of economics, politics, culture and society.”
Gil has mentored many undergraduate and graduate students at Carolina. Daniel Hall ’09, a Robertson Scholar and undergraduate psychology major, said Gil made a tremendous impact on shaping the course of his college career.
“We had a profound mentor-student relationship that resulted in two semesters of independent studies and an honors thesis,” he said. “Because of her guidance and investment in my personal development, I have found a niche for myself in breast cancer research, a passion that drives my own research and future professional goals.”
In her research, Gil studies stress and how patients cope with illnesses such as breast cancer and sickle cell disease. She is the recipient of a major award from the American Psychological Association for her long-term research contributions on coping strategies used by children with chronic illnesses.
Gil has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in stress management. To de-stress in her own life, she does yoga a couple of times a week, reads and spends time with her family — husband, Tim, and sons Elliot, 16, and Ben, 12.
Leadership both interests and motivates her, and Gil said she is excited about the challenges that lie ahead.
Cecelia Valrie ’06, who received her Ph.D. from Carolina and is now an assistant professor of psychology at East Carolina University, thinks Gil will make a great dean for the College. Gil was Valrie’s graduate adviser for six years.
“Karen truly cares about the students, faculty and staff that are the heart of UNC,” Valrie said.
[This story by Kim Weaver Spurr appears in the fall '09 issue of Carolina Arts & Sciences magazine.]
