MAEC News

MAEC is delighted to announce that Vice President Karmen Rouland, Ph.D., is the organization’s next President, effective July 1, 2025.  

Dr. Rouland has served as MAEC’s Vice President since 2021, where she has led strategic initiatives that deepened MAEC’s impact in education equity, family engagement, and culturally responsive practices. With more than 20 years of experience in the field of education as a youth development professional, researcher, technical assistance provider, and executive leader, Dr. Rouland is well-positioned to guide MAEC into its next chapter.  

Dr. Rouland’s strengths and leadership build on the extraordinary legacy of MAEC’s co-founder and longtime President Susan Shaffer, who will continue to support the transition as Chair of the Board and Strategic Advisor until January 2026. 

“Karmen brings the exceptional leadership, integrity, and optimism we need to build on our legacy and meet the challenges ahead. This transition marks an exciting new chapter—one that reaffirms our mission and brings fresh energy and new vision to MAEC.” – Former President Susan Shaffer 

A leader in strategic, high-impact programs 

As a senior leader at MAEC, Dr. Rouland has directed two multimillion-dollar programs regarding educational equity and family, school, and community engagement; led technical assistance and training on civil rights to state education agencies, school districts, and schools; and oversaw efficiency and alignment improvement plans for MAEC’s core programs and services. 

Since joining MAEC in 2017 as Associate Director of Training and Technical Assistance, Dr. Rouland has been widely recognized for her collaborative leadership style and strong alignment with MAEC’s values. When the Board appointed her Vice President in 2021, they praised her ability to lead through complexity with both vision and care.  

A bridge-builder for schools, families, and communities 

Dr. Rouland has a proven track record of successfully leading initiatives on equity-focused family engagement and implementation of culturally responsive practices. Beyond her leadership at MAEC, she brings extensive experience in youth development, having served as a School Liaison for the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) and as a Co-Site Director for “It’s Great to Be a Girl” Mentoring Program. She is currently a board member of Girls Prep, Inc. Dr. Rouland’s leadership has helped connect families, schools, and communities in ways that center student success and opportunity.  

Grounded in research, committed to practice 

As a teacher in higher education for more than 15 years, Dr. Rouland brings a rare blend of practical, academic, and policy expertise. Her research has focused on teacher diversity and education psychology, including postdoctoral work at Howard University examining the role of HBCUs in diversifying the K-12 teacher pipeline. Before joining MAEC, Dr. Rouland worked at the intersection of education policy and data at the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). She has taught undergraduate and graduate-level education courses for pre-service and in-service teachers at Howard University, George Washington University, the University of Michigan, and Washington Adventist University. 

Dr. Rouland graduated summa cum laude from Howard University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and earned both her Masters degree and Ph.D. from the Combined Program in Education and Psychology from the University of Michigan. 

Looking Ahead 

MAEC eagerly looks to the future under Dr. Rouland’s leadership with a renewed commitment to champion educational justice, support families, and foster positive learning environments where every child reaches their full potential.

Stay tuned in the weeks to come for outgoing President Susan Shaffer’s reflections and incoming President Karmen Rouland’s vision for MAEC’s future.