Karen Weaver is an expert on college sports as they intersect with higher education management, media, and policy. A former Division I and Division III head coach and athletics administrator, Weaver examines college athletics from the perspectives of university presidents and trustees, athletic conference organization, higher education scholars, and sports finance. Her research includes mid majors and FBS Division I institutions, public finance and facility debt policies, and the role that college senior leaders can and should play in managing athletics.  
 
Weaver has been a part of Penn GSE since 2007, when she began her doctoral studies in higher education management. After graduation, she left a 30+ year career in college athletics to join the faculty at Drexel University. Weaver began teaching at Penn GSE in 2012 and joined as an Adjunct Assistant Professor in 2020.  
 
In addition to teaching in Penn GSE’s Higher Education programs, Weaver is the Academic Director and lead faculty member of the program Collegiate Athletics for Senior Campus Leaders through the Center for Professional Learning. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in leadership, sports and digital media, marketing, and promotions. While at Drexel, Weaver was recognized by the Drexel Center for Academic Excellence for her work with undergraduate student media projects.  
 
A long-time athletics administrator in NCAA Divisions I and III, Weaver has received numerous honors and appointments during her years in college athletics. She has worked for several Big Ten universities; she also oversaw the progression of building an athletics department program from club status into full NCAA Division III membership.  
 
As a college athlete, she was an All-American and one of the first women ever to earn an athletics scholarship under Title IX. She was part of the United States National Training Squad in Field Hockey that qualified, but did not compete, in the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games. Her USA Field Hockey coaching experience includes US Olympic Training Center camps, and US Olympic Development Camps.