Karen Lykins has been named interim vice president for Enrollment Management and Career Placement. She will also continue in her role as the university’s Chief Communication Officer.
This change is prompted by the departure of Brandon Johnson, who has accepted a position at his alma mater, Buena Vista University. He will remain at Tech through the end of this semester to help ensure a smooth transition and continue to be engaged in the continued freshman and transfer student recruitment efforts currently underway.
“Tech’s student recruitment efforts, as showcased at the most recent Board of Trustees meeting, have been revitalized and enhanced by Lykins’ and Johnson’s leadership,” said Tech President Phil Oldham. “It is to the benefit of the university that these efforts continue with as few obstacles as possible given this change, which is why I am very pleased that Karen has accepted this role, in addition to her leadership of the Office of Communications & Marketing.”
Lykins has been with Tennessee Tech since 1998, serving in various roles before being named Chief Communication Officer in 2017. She has been a member of the president’s cabinet since 2010 under then-President Bob Bell. In 2014, she was tapped to serve as the co-interim vice president for University Advancement.
In 2007, she was named Tech’s Outstanding Professional of the Year, and in 2010 received the Charles Holmes Award for Service from the Tennessee College Public Relations Association.