Karen Neitzel will join ‘Iolani School as the new dean of studies effective July 1.

Neitzel is currently the Hood River Valley High School principal in Hood River, Ore., according to Iolani Head of School Dr. Timothy R. Cottrell. 

She was promoted to head the high school after serving as its vice principal in 2008. Recently, she established a Hood River Valley sister school in Xi’an China and was selected to represent Oregon in the 2012-13 U.S.China Administrator Shadow Project.

Prior to Hood River Valley, Neitzel was a senior administrator at the Archer School for Girls in Los Angeles, Calif., where she served as the assistant Head of School after being promoted from academic dean and director of technology.

Neitzel earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, San Diego; a master’s in Education from California State University, Dominguez Hills; and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from the University of California, Irvine/Los Angeles.

She earned her high school diploma from The International School of Brussels.