An experienced facilities management coordinator, Karen Van Horn was instrumental in establishing the University of Arkansas Campus Historic District as part of the University of Arkansas Campus Preservation Master Plan. Working as part of the UA Facilities Management Planning Group, she and team members applied for and received The Getty Foundation Campus Heritage Grants Initiative to study, plan and preserve the historic campus resources. As a graduate of the Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers Institute (APPA) for Facilities Management, she has always had a special interest in campus architecture.
After earning her Bachelor of Architecture degree at the University of Arkansas in 1988, her work took her to Dallas, Texas, then to Texarkana, Texas, where she earned her Master of Science in Business Administration from Texas A&M University-Texarkana. She continued her work in Missouri, Louisiana, and Nebraska, gaining experience working in architecture, engineering and construction. While in Louisiana, she completed various training certificates from Louisiana State University in asbestos and lead supervision, inspection, operation and maintenance. From 1994-1998, while working on the historic campus of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., she was involved in many historic renovations, as well as the early phases of bringing The National Center for Preservation, Technology and Training to campus.
Van Horn served as the Facilities Coordinator for the University of Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources from 1998-2002. In 2000, she received the Outstanding Employee Award for Managerial/Professional staff. During that time, she served on the University of Nebraska Chancellor’s Commission for the Status of Women, Campus Facilities Planning Committee, and the University Association for Administrative Development. In this position, she worked on the main campus, research and extension centers across the state, as well as the Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture. She was heavily involved in the campus master plan and the IANR capital construction budget system. While in Nebraska, she was a participant and graduate of Leadership Lincoln Class XVI.
She has been an associate member of the American Institute of Architects and served on several boards including NOARK Girl Scout Council, Homestead Girl Scout Council and the Northeast Family Center. She is a founding partner of Van Horn Enterprises, which provides consulting services for baseball equipment as well as baseball camps. She continues to be an active member of Chapter AT PEO, University Women’s Club, Arkansas Alumni Association, and a sustaining member of the Fayetteville Junior Civic League.
