Kathleen A. Dwyer

Chief Compliance Officer

Ms. Dwyer, who has been with the College since 2005, is responsible for executive level insight
and strategic direction for multiple areas of the College, with a focus on ensuring the multi-state
College is compliant with all accreditors, state and federal regulatory agency guidelines, risk
management, and continuous quality improvement efforts. She has been with the College for
over 20 years in a variety of capacities, and has provided executive oversight for accreditation,
auditing, auxiliary services, campus design, campus operations, compliance, contracts, customer
service, enrollment, facilities, financial aid, governance, institutional effectiveness, leasing,
mergers and acquisitions, onboarding and training, policy development and interpretation,
process improvement, publications, registrar services, risk management, and strategic planning.

Significant achievements for Ms. Dwyer include oversight of the College’s expansion into new
markets; establishing a consistent operating framework for campus operations; developing
standards for campus design, expansion, and renovation; leading the College through its initial,
reaffirmation, and substantive changes for institutional accreditation with the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); initial and continuing
programmatic accreditation with the Accrediting Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
and the Collegiate Commission on Nursing Education (CCNE) for multiple locations and degree
levels. Her oversight and influence have allowed Galen to remain in good standing with
currently over 70 regulatory agencies over her tenure at the College throughout significant
expansion. In 2023, her influence extended to federal policy when she was selected to serve as
Primary Negotiator representing all proprietary institutions on a federal Negotiated Rulemaking
committee on Student Loan Debt Relief for the US Department of Education.

Ms. Dwyer is responsible for the creation of significant infrastructure at Galen, continually
reframing how the College operates at scale across multiple locations and states, as well as
establishing numerous internal controls designed to strengthen the College’s services and
programs throughout her two decades of service. She serves as the Secretary to the Galen Board
of Directors, as the College’s Accreditation Liaison with SACSCOC and has served as a
SACSCOC Evaluator for Reaffirmation and Initial Accreditation Committees, and as an
Accreditation Visiting Team Member and a Candidate/Substantive Change Visiting Team
Member for the Council on Occupational Education (COE). She is a member of the CEO’s
Cabinet and multiple project steering committees across the College.

Ms. Dwyer is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, and a graduate of the Louisville chapter
of SOAR, a professional development and advancement program for high-potential women.
Prior to her employment at Galen, Ms. Dwyer worked in the behavioral health field. Her
volunteer and philanthropic endeavors are primarily with her church and children’s schools but
also gives significant time and service in mentoring and developing current and future College
leaders.