Pierce Mortuary Colleges Welcomes Dr. Jill Karn as Chief Operating Officer

BROADVIEW, IL, AUGUST 12, 2013 – Pierce Mortuary Colleges is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Jill Karn as Chief Operating Officer.  In her position, Karn will oversee the operations and overall strategic direction of all Pierce Mortuary Colleges, including Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, Dallas, TX; Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service, Decatur, GA; and Mid-America College of Funeral Service, Jeffersonville IN.

With over fifteen years in executive leadership roles, including twelve years in higher education, Karn brings deep perspective and broad organizational capabilities to Pierce Mortuary Colleges.  In her most recent position as President of Northern California Universities, Karn’s responsibilities encompassed both COO and CEO roles, spanning from day-to-day operations to strategic growth initiatives and optimal fiscal performance.  Areas under her guidance included: IT, admissions, finance, online division, financial aid, student services, academic affairs, graduate placement, compliance, HR and marketing.

Prior executive leadership roles included VP of IT Project Management Office and VP of Human Resources for a global outsourcing firm, where she assessed business needs, and developed and executed plans for global responsiveness to market changes.

“Dr. Karn’s impressive breadth and depth of experience will provide a solid foundation for leading the growth of Pierce Mortuary Colleges,” said Dennis Welzenbach, President, Board of Trustees, and Pierce Mortuary Colleges. “Her track record of optimizing college operations as well as driving enrollment growth is firmly aligned with our objectives.”

Dr. Karn will be based out of Broadview, IL, reporting to the Board of Trustees.  The respective presidents of each of the colleges will report to Dr. Karn.

For more information on Pierce Mortuary Colleges, visit www.pierce.edu