Dr. Karen Marrongelle
Assistant Director for Education & Human Resources, National Science Foundation
Dr. Karen Marrongelle is the Assistant Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) for Education
and Human Resources (EHR). She leads the EHR directorate in supporting research that enhances
learning and teaching to achieve excellence in U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathematics
(STEM) education.
Prior to joining NSF, Marrongelle was dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Portland State
University and Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, where she oversaw 24 departments and
programs across the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
In addition to her work as dean, Marrongelle, has served as a faculty member in the Department of
Mathematics and Statistics at Portland State University since 2001. Prior to her appointment as dean,
she held positions as the Vice Chancellor for Academic Strategies and Assistant Vice Chancellor for
Academic Standards and Collaboration with the Oregon University System.
From 2007-2009, Marrongelle served on a rotation as a program officer at NSF and led numerous grants,
collaborating with researchers nationally and internationally to improve undergraduate mathematics
education and K-12 mathematics professional development.
Marrongelle has a bachelor's degree in mathematics and philosophy from Albright College, a master's
degree in mathematics from Lehigh University and a doctorate in mathematics education from the
University of New Hampshire.