Dr. Karl Lawrence serves as Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Management in the School of Business at Western Governors University, where he oversees the B.S. in Management program, leading its strategic growth, curriculum innovation, and alignment with student and industry needs. He holds a Ph.D. in Finance from Florida State University, an MBA from Florida International University, and a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from Harvard University. These credentials laid the foundation for a career spanning more than two decades across higher education leadership, financial planning, and corporate finance.

Prior to joining WGU, Lawrence served as Vice President of Finance and CFO at Excelsior University, where he oversaw a $120 million annual budget and led compliance with GAAP and audit standards. He also served as Dean of the School of Business and Technology, managing a $15 million academic budget and leading curriculum development for more than 9,000 learners. Earlier in his career, he spent a decade as a Professor of Finance at Florida A&M University and has held faculty positions at Fort Valley State University and the American University of the Middle East, teaching upper-level courses in Financial Markets, Portfolio Management, and CFA Level I and II preparation.

His work extends beyond the classroom through his practice as an Independent Financial Advisor, where he provides comprehensive financial planning, retirement planning, investment strategy, and tax services to individuals and small businesses. He holds active Florida licenses as a general insurance broker and life and health insurance agent, and maintains full compliance with FINRA regulations. Karl is both a Certified Financial Planner® professional and an IRS Enrolled Agent, a federally authorized tax practitioner, reflecting his deep commitment to serving clients across all dimensions of personal and business finance.

Originally from Kingston, Jamaica, Karl brings a global perspective to his work and is dedicated to creating a student-centered, workforce-aligned academic experience that empowers learners to graduate career-ready and confident in their ability to lead in a dynamic global marketplace.