Karen Crane

Biography

Originally from Yakima, Washington, my love of travel and adventure was nurtured from a young age. So far, I have lived in multiple cities and towns in Washington, Nebraska, Ohio, Massachusetts, and North Dakota, and have traveled in every U.S. state except: Alaska, Hawaii, Texas, and Oklahoma. (I’m coming for you!)

I’ve also had the fortune to-date of traveling in almost 20 different countries, as well as the majority of the Canadian provinces. These experiences have given me unique perspectives, including a deep curiosity about individuals and cultures, which, in turn, assist in my teaching.

Prior to teaching at UJ, I’ve had broad opportunities managing and leading in non-profit organizations—particularly in the museum field, education, and in fundraising—in Akron, Ohio; the Boston, Massachusetts, area; and in Jamestown, North Dakota. Daily at UJ, I strive to use my professional experiences and connections to enhance learning in the classroom.

I joke that any class that has the word “Management” in it is mine….Strategic Management, Business Management, Human Resources Management, Sales and Sales Management, Health Care Management, Advertising, and Business Law. Hey! How’d those last two make the list? ?

*Strategic. Relator. Maximizer. Input. Responsibility.

Professional Memberships and Affiliations

• UJ Faculty Senate, and Personnel Committee
• UJ President’s Council
• Association of Fundraising Professionals, Northern Plains, Immediate Past President
• AFP International
• P.E.O., Chapter O, North Dakota

Community Involvement:

• Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Dakota, Wish Granter
• NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Tournament Committee
• Jamestown Regional Entrepreneur Center, Board Member
• Dine & Bid Committee
• UJ Athletic Council

Primary Research Interests:

• Missing and stolen artworks
• Business strategy and innovation
• Intersection of Management and Leadership
• Blue Ocean strategy

Favorite class to teach:

That’s a tough one. Sales and Sales Management directly correlates with several of my past jobs throughout my career, and it’s an interesting topic, because it’s always evolving. Strategic Management is also one of my favorite topics. It’s fun teaching the seniors in that Capstone Management class, as they put together all the different areas of business they’ve learned about up to that point. We also have a lot of fun (and competition) with a business simulation that pits the class against over 3,500 teams worldwide.

We’ve had a lot of excitement in that class in the past few years, as several teams have broken into the Top 100 worldwide. The highlight in 2022 was one particular week when we had a team place 1^st worldwide and a team place 3^rd worldwide in Return on Equity. Yes! I’m “geeking out” right now! But it’s truly exciting to see that level of understanding and application of knowledge from our UJ students!