Drake State Community & Technical College recently promoted Karen Ray as its new Workforce Development Director. Ray previously served as Drake State’s Career Placement and Apprenticeships Coordinator for more than a year, and before that she was the Institutional Data and Career Outcomes Specialist. She works directly with federal and state agencies as well as local businesses to strategically create partnerships within the community to foster a supportive economic development environment. Ray expects to graduate with her Doctor of Education this fall and will defend her dissertation on equity, ethics and social justice.