Dr. Karen Colbert is an engineer, data scientist, AI strategist, researcher, and educator working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, data, and higher education. Grounded in engineering and peer-reviewed research, she brings a systems-thinking approach to helping institutions understand how policies, practices, technologies, and data shape outcomes and how those systems can be redesigned for greater impact.
Dr. Colbert’s previous roles include general education department chair and lead math faculty at Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College, as well as research fellow with the American Indian College Fund. Her work spans data-informed program evaluation, faculty development, student engagement, and the responsible use of AI in education.
A TEDx speaker, international keynote speaker, and award-winning author, Dr. Colbert is especially passionate about helping people navigate what it means to learn, lead, and remain relevant in the AI era. She challenges the idea that people must already be “qualified” to participate in technological change, helping individuals and organizations develop the confidence, critical thinking, and AI fluency needed to adapt and thrive.
At the heart of her work is a simple question: How can we use data and AI to make better decisions for people?
Education:
Ph.D., Computational Science and Engineering | Michigan Technological University
M.S., Data Science | Michigan Technological University
B.S., Electrical Engineering | Michigan Technological University
Past Experience:
General Education Department Chair and Lead Math Faculty | Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College
Research Fellow | American Indian College Fund
Graduate Research Assistant, NSF ADVANCE | Michigan Technological University
How has education changed your life/your family?
Education changed what was possible for my family. My grandparents did not graduate from high school, and my parents never had the opportunity to attend college. Generations later, I earned a Ph.D. — the highest academic degree in my field.
But education and life taught me that achievement is about more than credentials. Walking alongside one of my children through childhood cancer challenged my ideas about success, productivity, and what truly matters. Education gave me opportunities my family could not have imagined — and the ability to create choices, open doors, and expand what is possible for my children and the seven generations that follow.