Karen Mercer, MBA, CPA Board Treasurer

Karen Mercer serves as the Vice President for Business Affairs and Treasurer of Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA.  She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and a MBA from Texas Christian University.  She is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Treasury Professional, and is a candidate for the Chartered Financial Analyst certification. Karen has worked as a financial consultant for Allied Blending and Ingredients, Keokuk, Iowa, and for Citizens Bank and Trust, Chillicothe, Missouri.  She served as Vice President for Business and Administrative Services for Graceland University, Lamoni, Iowa, and was a member of their Board of Trustees. Karen has also worked with Imperial Sugar Company, Sugar Land, Texas, where she served as Financial Analyst, Treasurer and Manager of Corporate Finance, and Vice President and Treasurer.  She was Vice President for Commercial Lending at Texas Commerce Bank, Houston, Texas. She has extensive experience in leading strategic financial initiatives, in budgeting and forecasting, financial analysis, and in project management.