Start Date of Board Term: January 2026

Dr. Karol Schmidt serves as the Dean of Institutional Effectiveness and Innovation at Rio Salado College. In this role, she works with team members on academic integrity, accreditation, compliance, grants, institutional research, state authorization, student conduct and strategic planning. She is a member of AZ-SARA Council and is the College’s accreditation liaison officer to the Higher Learning Commission.

Prior to joining Rio Salado College, she served as the Executive Director for the Arizona State Board of Education, the Director of Academics, College of Education at Grand Canyon University, and as an Assistant Dean at a law school. Dr. Schmidt holds Doctor of Education and Juris Doctor degrees.