Dr. Chuck L. Karr, Interim President, UAH on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at the Breakfast Club. 

Date: Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Breakfast 7:15 AM | Program 7:45 AM

Location: The Jackson Center | 6001 Moquin Drive Huntsville, Alabama 35806

Dr. Karr is the interim president of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) to succeed retiring president Dr. Darren Dawson. Dr. Karr recently retired from The University of Alabama (UA) after 26 years, which included a lengthy and highly successful tenure as the College of Engineering’s dean.

We are deeply appreciative that Dr. Chuck Karr, an energetic and visionary leader, has agreed to serve as interim president,” said Chancellor St. John. “Dr. Karr has a proven track record of transforming The University of Alabama’s College of Engineering into a dynamic research and academic powerhouse. The Board of Trustees and the University of Alabama System have made the success of UAH a top priority, and I am confident that Dr. Karr is well-positioned to help UAH reach its full potential.”

During Karr’s 16-year tenure as dean, UA’s College of Engineering ascended in national rankings and saw significant growth. Undergraduate enrollment more than tripled with the recruitment of high-quality students, raising the College’s freshman class mean ACT score from 24.8 to 30, and the faculty size grew substantially. Research activity flourished under Karr’s leadership, with research awards increasing by more than $45 million, and innovative academic offerings expanded to meet the demand of industry and society. Dr. Karr supported the construction of approximately $250 million in new facilities to bolster research and learning opportunities.

A native of Gulf Breeze, Fla., Karr is a three-time UA graduate, earning a B.S. in mechanical engineering and an M.S. and Ph.D. in engineering mechanics. He spent seven years as a research engineer with the U.S. Bureau of Mines before joining UA’s faculty full time. Karr, who has received numerous recognitions for his teaching and leadership achievements, was head of UA’s aerospace engineering and mechanics department before becoming associate dean for research and graduate studies and ultimately dean of the College.