Karen T. Maxwell is an assistant professor in the Graduate Studies in Education Department at Abilene Christian University (ACU). Her fields of interest include secondary education, behavior management, and campus leadership. Before coming to ACU in 2006, Dr. Maxwell worked with the Region 2 Education Service Center in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she co-directed a principal certification program and directed the Principal Assessment/Development Center. She also worked extensively with school-wide discipline programs and behavior management. Dr. Maxwell has taught graduate level courses in educational administration at Texas A&M University - Kingsville, Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, and Walden University. She has K-12 teaching experience at elementary, middle, and high school levels in public and private schools, and has served as a campus principal at the elementary and high school levels.

Dr. Maxwell believes that campus leadership is central to student success and her goal is to assist with the development of strong, effective campus curriculum leaders. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from ACU, master's degrees in curriculum and instruction and educational administration from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.