Dr. Karen Reardon
Assistant Professor
"After nearly 20 years as a practicing lawyer, for profit and nonprofit entrepreneur and small business owner/manager, I returned to academia in order to share my education, wisdom and experience with others."
Degrees Held:
- PhD in Sociology – University of Michigan, 2016
- MA in Sociology – University of Michigan, 1983
- JD – Vanderbilt University, 1986
- BA Sociology of Law and Criminology – University of Pennsylvania, 1981
Career Highlights:
Recent publications:
- "Lessons Learned from Minutes of Contractual Chaos: A Legal Knowledge, Business Judgment and Skill Development Exercise for the Introductory Business Law Classroom," with Marianne S. Gauss, La Salle University, accepted for publication by Journal Legal Studies in Business ("JLSB") in March 2017; publication forthcoming (2017)
- "Developing A Pre-Career Network: An Exercise In Identifying, Using And Making Investments In Social Capital" with Anne M. Walsh, La Salle University, Management Teaching Review, Vol. 2(2) 107-116 (2017)
- "Using the Qualitative Interview in the Classroom to Help Students Make Connections among Course Content, Social Capital, and Careers" Management Teaching Review- Inaugural Issue Vol. 1: 26-33 (2016)
- "Computerized Writing Assessment Technology: Business Law Students Weigh in on its Use in the College Classroom for Developing Workplace-ready Writing." Computers and Composition Vol. 38:32-44 (2015)
- "A note on the legal considerations in decision science models of collaboration, information sharing and integration in supply chains." International Journal of Management and Decision Making, Vol. 14, No. 1 (2015)
Recent awards:
- Nominated Gabriel R. Rudney Memorial Dissertation Award ARNOVA (2017)
- Beta Gama Sigma Business Honor Society Induction (2014)
- International Health Care Volunteers: Outstanding Community Service Award (2009)
- Archdiocese of Philadelphia Catholic School Hall of Fame (1996) for the founding of and work with HighSight. I am a founder and served as a volunteer executive director of this 501(C)(3) non-profit organization originally organized in service to residents of the Chicago Cabrini-Green public housing development and surrounding areas, by providing scholarship assistance, tutoring and mentoring to low income inner-city minority youths. I was principally responsible for its incorporation, programming, fundraising, board recruitment and development and have since transitioned the leadership of HighSight to my co-founder. In 2017 HighSight celebrates its 25th anniversary as a program in service to low income minority youth throughout the city of Chicago.
Which online degree program(s) do you teach?
Which classes do you teach online?
MBA 840
What do you want students to take away from your classes? What do you want them to learn?
Critical thinking skills and writing skills, an appreciation of the power and limitations of law, the importance of social capital development, as well as an ethical and empathic orientation.
What is the value of an MBA?
A good MBA experience provides the discipline specific skills and critical soft interpersonal skills necessary for today's business leaders and innovators.
Why did you start teaching?
After nearly 20 years as a practicing lawyer, for profit and nonprofit entrepreneur and small business owner/manager, I returned to academia in order to share my education, wisdom and experience with others.
What advice would you give to those considering the online MBA program?
Be prepared to work hard, reflect often and engage your fellow students for the maximum payoff.
What is the one book you think everyone should read?
Markings by Dag Hammarskjold
Tell us something interesting about yourself that your students may not know.
I love to travel to experience new cultures and meet new people.