Karen Debelius

As the head of the business resource center, Ms. Karen Debelius provides oversight for all administrative personnel, as well as the operations and budget for accounting, procurement, contracts and sponsored programs, facilities, and administrative support staff throughout the institute. She coordinates the business resource center’s efforts to ensure that as priorities and needs change, its staff can respond effectively to serve a wide range of departments. She was also instrumental in developing a strategic plan for the new indirect rate structure, which features an IT service center. 

Ms. Debelius has held a variety of roles since joining the institute in 1992. She has worked as a controller and finance branch chief, which required her to oversee the daily operations and personnel matters for the procurement, accounting, property and travel business departments. She also managed audits, advised leaders about risk assessments, and fostered strong relationships with funding agencies, government audit agencies, subcontractors, and other groups. She began her career as a budget supervisor and a lead budget analyst.

She is a member of the American Management Association, where she participates in the Women’s Leadership Center. She is also a member of the audit committee for the Thirty Meter Telescope, an international observatory that will be built in Pasadena, California.

Education:

BS in Accounting, Saint Joseph’s University