Karen Gentry Kellum transferred to Kashmere at the beginning of her senior year under, then newly established, zoning laws. At Kashmere, she was a 1971 honor student graduate and a member of the Student Council. As a member of the cheerleader squad, she felt privileged to be under the tutelage of Ms. Lena Maiden. During that year at Kashmere, lifelong cherished friendships were established. Prior to Kashmere, Karen spent two years at Phillis Wheatley. She was the 10th Grade Attendant, Miss Esquire, German Club Sweetheart, Best Personality, Parliamentarian of the Student Council and a member of the Cosmopolitan Club.
This National Merit Semi Finalist was the recipient of the prestigious Jones Scholarship and attended Michigan State University, University of Houston, and Fairleigh Dickinson University, graduating summa cum laude. She also spent a semester abroad in England, attending classes at Wroxton College, the University of Warwick and University of Oxford.
Karen has over four decades of leadership experience in Audit, Compliance, Risk and Control roles at various top-tier international firms including, but not limited to PriceWaterhouseCoopers, American Express, JPMorgan Chase and American International Group. She’s also held senior leadership roles at Freddie Mac, Xerox, and at the world’s 7th largest information security firm and at an aerospace engineering and manufacturing firm. Her responsibilities span four continents and have resulted in her travels around the world; as a result, she’s resided in over ten cities, eight states and three countries.
She loves the theater as a spectator and performer. As an actor, she has performed at the Alley Theater, Michigan State University, the Ensemble Theater and Jones Hall.
She’s served on the board of directors of a charter school, a social services agency offering foster care, adoption services and other child and welfare services and a major performing arts theater.
She’s the daughter of Johnny D. Gentry, Jr. and the late Rachel Pace Jones.