KAREN MOUNTAIN
Richmond
Summary
Seasoned Business Instructor with expertise in business principles, management theories, and strategic planning. Delivered engaging lessons and facilitated discussions that improved student comprehension. Designed curriculum aligned with industry trends, resulting in enhanced performance in complex business subjects.
Overview
38
38
years of professional experience
Work History
Business Instructor
Virginia Union University
Richmond
08.2025 - Current
- Taught undergraduate marketing strategy through online and in-person classes.
- Courses included principles of marketing, managerial communications, professional ethics, strategic management, buyer behavior, and marketing research.
- Served on committees for first-generation student success and SACSCOC program review.
- Advised marketing students on academic and career development, enhancing student engagement and success.
- Initiated and developed student-led summer sports camp for ages nine to twelve, fostering leadership and community involvement.
- Developed and managed summer sports camp utilizing college athletes as coaches, adhering to NIL regulations.
- Oversaw financial operations, marketing strategies, human resource management, and daily camp activities, ensuring smooth operation and compliance with NIL regulations.
- Program enhanced university profile within the city, contributing to increased fall enrollment.
Associate Professor (Marketing)
St. Andrews University
08.2020 - 05.2025
- Taught marketing strategy to undergraduate and graduate students in online and on-campus courses.
- Advised 200+ students in on-ground and online programs to support their academic and career goals.
- Increased social media following by 30% through strategic initiatives.
- Developed social media program with student teams to enhance visibility of campus events.
- Created email marketing campaigns to increase awareness and participation in campus events.
- Wrote blog content to enhance participation in campus events.
- Utilized Planboard for lesson planning, development, and attendance tracking.
Director of Online Programs
St. Andrews University
Laurinburg
08.2021 - 08.2023
- Managed retention staff and coordinated online study groups to foster increased student engagement and support retention efforts.
- Developed online training modules for new students, enhancing their success in online courses through targeted skill-building.
- Designed instructor training programs to improve proficiency in online teaching methods.
- Created plagiarism training resources to support effective writing skills among students.
- Established standardized checklists for instructors, ensuring consistency in teaching practices and improving student learning outcomes.
- Analyzed course offerings to identify classes suitable for eight-week cycles.
Adjunct Social Media Instructor
Walden University
10.2015 - 12.2020
- Reviewed course shells, ensuring compliance with educational standards and best practices to support effective teaching.
- Counseled instructors on alignment with university practices, improving teaching effectiveness and student engagement.
- Developed courses for online marketing professors, ensuring alignment with university policies and enhancing curriculum quality.
Associate Professor (Marketing)
Lee University
05.2018 - 07.2020
- Instructed undergraduate and graduate students in marketing strategy through hybrid learning environments, enhancing student engagement.
- Revamped Lee University marketing program, aligning it with contemporary industry standards.
- Developed engaging lessons utilizing Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL) methodology.
- Advised 30 students on academic and career pathways.
- Participated in committee for sophomore year recruitment initiatives, supporting efforts to attract diverse student applicants.
Technical Writing, Document Control Manager & Trainer
Alcoa
Alcoa
04.2016 - 07.2017
- Translated engineering notes into comprehensive standard work instructions for operator guidance.
- Developed SWIs for training processes, enhancing clarity and effectiveness of ETQ procedures.
- Analyzed SWIs in new tandem cold mill continuous heat treat line to identify errors in ETQ documentation.
- Created efficient processes to support Tennessee automotive expansion, addressing training and procedural gaps.
- Established procedures to address process errors, improving communication and enabling long-term monitoring.
- Trained supervisors and professionals on ETQ processes, facilitating successful preparation for TS16949 audit.
- Managed daily operations while motivating teams for self-training and effective ETQ report generation.
- Conducted training sessions on various computer processes to enhance team capabilities.
Subject Matter Expert
Western Governors University
10.2016 - 01.2017
- Recreated six marketing courses, improving engagement and learning outcomes in business program.
- Redefined undergraduate marketing program, enhancing student alignment with industry competencies.
- Collaborated with team to develop practices that effectively addressed strategic and tactical challenges faced by students.
Adjunct Business Instructor
King University
06.2014 - 01.2015
- Developed course materials for business curriculum that increased student engagement and comprehension.
- Led interactive classroom discussions that deepened understanding of core concepts.
- Evaluated student performance through assignments and examinations to ensure mastery of subjects.
- Collaborated with faculty to refine course delivery and elevate content quality.
- Coordinated student-led projects that fostered critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Course Lead, Online Marketing Instructor and Curriculum Designer
Strayer University
09.2007 - 01.2014
- Course Lead/Program Director for the Graduate level Marketing Department. This is a multi-faceted position that manages courses within the Graduate level Marketing Department. Each grading criterion of every graduate level course is monitored via reports for an 80% successful completion rate as required by accreditation. Any criterion not meeting the standard, whether it is discussion question, quiz/test question, or assignment, is rewritten for the upcoming quarter for rollout university wide.
- Updated marketing curriculum by rewriting content, restructuring classes, and sourcing current resources to align with industry trends.
- Taught marketing courses to graduate students, enhancing critical thinking and engagement through interactive learning methods.
- Provided weekly supplemental material for marketing classes via conference calls and newsletters, including 'How To' guides on implementing social media campaigns and addressing current business trends.
- Vendor management for web assets. Handling issues between publishers and instructors for missing resources and web assets from quarter to quarter. Finding solutions for content distribution issues as well as Blackboard issues with gradable items noted by instructors and students as upgrades occur.
- Managed articulation agreements for the Knoxville location, collaborating with admissions counselors to identify new opportunities.
- Curriculum Designer
Adjunct Instructor
Multiple Universities
Knoxville
08.2002 - 08.2006
- Delivered engaging business courses at Pellissippi State Technical Community College, enhancing student understanding and application of concepts.
- Facilitated in-depth discussions on business theories at Tennessee Wesleyan College, fostering critical thinking and engagement among students.
- Supported students in practical business scenarios at Lincoln Memorial University, preparing them for successful careers in the field.
Greyhound Terminal Service Manager
Greyhound Lines Inc
06.1993 - 06.1997
- Managed all operations of 24-hour facility with over $2 million in sales, achieving consistent sales targets and controlling labor costs.
- Trained staff on telephone sales procedures, resulting in a 25% increase in sales.
- Introduced daily cash reporting audit process, eliminating errors and theft through strict accuracy measures.
- Enhanced facility audit score to 98% compliance by emphasizing corporate policy training for employees.
- Created three shift teams focused on customer service, empowering employees with decision-making authority.
- Resolved customer complaints within 12 hours, enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Oversaw staff of 30-40, implementing HR functions that prioritized customer care and improved service delivery.
- Developed motivational programs for safety and accuracy, administering OSHA compliance inspections and achieving a 30% reduction in injury claims.
Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer
Tennessee Associates Inc. (TAD)
Maryville
05.1991 - 01.1993
- Coordinated corporate five-year business plan by collaborating with officials to clarify strategic ideas and share actionable insights.
- Evaluated information processing systems, identifying key areas for efficiency enhancement.
- Assessed national hotel chain's quality management capabilities to identify areas for improvement.
- Developed training materials for quality management programs, enabling effective learning for 50-100 participants over three weeks.
Graduate Teaching Assistant
University of Tennessee
Knoxville
08.1990 - 05.1992
- Developed and presented courses on customer satisfaction, quality management, and sales techniques to enhance student learning and engagement.
- Advised undergraduate students on academic planning and course selection, supporting their educational and career goals.
- Co-authored an article on international retailing development, contributing to academic discourse in the field.
- Participated in search committees to interview and select faculty candidates.
Store Manager
County Seat
Knoxville
12.1987 - 08.1990
- Reduced store shrinkage from 15% to 4%, achieving company recognition for loss prevention and budget management.
- Launched training initiatives at Knoxville location to strengthen managerial competencies and support team development.
- Developed and implemented standardized corporate curriculum for assistant manager training, improving training consistency.
Education
DMI - AMA Digital Marketing Certification -
01.2023
Marketing Management Certificate - Social Media Management
Harvard University Extension
01.2016
Ph.D. - Human Ecology, Retailing, Consumer Behavior, Management
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee01.1997
MS. - Textiles and Apparel
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee01.1990
B.A.A. - Clothing and Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, Michigan01.1985
Skills
- Curriculum design
- Online education
- Hybrid learning
- Academic guidance
- Strategic marketing
- Sales leadership
- Project oversight
- Business operations
- Data analysis
- Business ethics
Publications
Playing Chicken With God, 04/06/23, Westbow Press
Timeline
Business Instructor
Virginia Union University
08.2025 - Current
Director of Online Programs
St. Andrews University
08.2021 - 08.2023
Associate Professor (Marketing)
St. Andrews University
08.2020 - 05.2025
Associate Professor (Marketing)
Lee University
05.2018 - 07.2020
Subject Matter Expert
Western Governors University
10.2016 - 01.2017
Technical Writing, Document Control Manager & Trainer
Alcoa
04.2016 - 07.2017
Adjunct Social Media Instructor
Walden University
10.2015 - 12.2020
Adjunct Business Instructor
King University
06.2014 - 01.2015
Course Lead, Online Marketing Instructor and Curriculum Designer
Strayer University
09.2007 - 01.2014
Adjunct Instructor
Multiple Universities
08.2002 - 08.2006
Greyhound Terminal Service Manager
Greyhound Lines Inc
06.1993 - 06.1997
Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer
Tennessee Associates Inc. (TAD)
05.1991 - 01.1993
Graduate Teaching Assistant
University of Tennessee
08.1990 - 05.1992
Store Manager
County Seat
12.1987 - 08.1990
DMI - AMA Digital Marketing Certification -
Marketing Management Certificate - Social Media Management
Harvard University Extension
Ph.D. - Human Ecology, Retailing, Consumer Behavior, Management
University of Tennessee
MS. - Textiles and Apparel
University of Tennessee
B.A.A. - Clothing and Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design
Central Michigan University