UIC Athletics

Karen Dixon was elevated to Associate Athletics Director for Academic Services in September 2022 after originally joining the Flames Family in February of that year as the Assistant Athletics Director for Academic Services. She arrived at UIC with more than 25 years of experience in higher education and Division I intercollegiate athletics. In her current role, Dixon maintains oversight of UIC's Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS) department while also serving as the academic advisor for the Flames men's and women's basketball programs and sport supervisor for the UIC men's soccer program.

Prior to returning to Chicago, Dixon served for more than two years at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, Nebraska, working with both Admissions and Advising. She also worked part-time as Student-Athlete Support Services Assistant at the University of Nebraska. From 2017-19, Dixon was Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Support Services at Eastern Michigan University. There, she provided leadership and vision for the department while managing all aspects of Division I student-athlete support for approximately 500 student-athletes. During her tenure the Eagles posted an APR increase of nine points, achieved the second-highest GPA in department history in 2018 (3.24), and doubled the amount of community service hours from 3,500 to over 7,300.

Dixon worked as the Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services/SWA at Chicago State University (2012-16). There, she managed all aspects of the Cougars' athletic academic support program while serving as member of the department's senior staff. Additionally, Dixon had sport supervision over the women's basketball, volleyball, women's soccer, and golf programs.

Dixon also spent nine years (2003-12) at the University of Mississippi as the Senior Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support. She oversaw all aspects of the Office of Student-Athlete Academic Support for the Rebels, including directly advising the football and women's golf teams. Before Ole Miss, Dixon spent four years (1999-2003) as Senior Associate Director at the University of Maryland's Academic Support and Career Development Office, working with several teams as well as serving as CHAMPS/Life Skills Coordinator and SAAC advisor.

Dixon has served on a multitude of national and regional academic boards and has presented at academic conferences across the country. Currently, she is a member of the National Association of Academic and Student Development Professionals (N4A) where she serves as co-chair for the Legislative Affairs committee. Dixon has also received both the N4A's Professional Promise Award and the Distinguished Service Award. Dixon worked on the editorial board for Houghton-Mifflin's Becoming a Master Student-Athlete and was a review team member for the NACADA monograph "Advising Student-Athletes: A Collaborative Approach". From 2007-2019, she has served as an instructor for the online course, "Academic Reform and the Student-Athlete," a joint venture of NACADA and the NCAA. Dixon has done site visits to several Division I institutions as one the N4A's APR Consultants.

Dixon earned her bachelor's degree in Spanish and Afro-American Studies from Indiana University and her Master's degree in College Student Personnel Administration from IU. Dixon and her husband, Dr. Samuel Dixon, Jr., reside in Chicago.