Karen Brenner

Biography

Karen Brenner became a Clinical Professor of Business in September 2008 and Executive Director of Law and Business Initiatives in 2012. She teaches graduate interdisciplinary courses in law and business in the following disciplines: Corporate Governance, Corporate Turnarounds and Leadership, and Ethical and Legal Challenges of the Modern Corporation.

Professor Brenner has also served as a corporate director of public and private companies in a wide variety of industries, including financial services, consumer products, food and beverage, healthcare, medical technology, professional services and industrial products. She has chaired several boards and many board committees at numerous public companies.

Prior to joining NYU Stern, Professor Brenner served as a Chief Executive Officer and board member of a diverse range of public and private companies. With her extensive background in board governance and corporate restructuring, she has also been an advisor to venture capital and private equity firms.

Professor Brenner has appeared on Business News Network, PBS's Nightly Business Report, CNBC Squawk Box, BBC Business News, Bloomberg and CNBC. Her comments have been published by Associated Press, Bloomberg Business Week, CBS News, Financial Times Agenda, Forbes.com, Fox Business News, Forexyard.com, Huffington Post, Investor's Business Daily, Newsweek and the Daily Beast, The New York Times, and The New York Times blog, Reuters, San Francisco Sentinel, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal and Yahoo! Finance.

Professor Brenner received her B.S. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in finance and her M.A. from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University with a concentration in ethics and leadership.

Research Interests

• Corporate governance
• Professional ethics and leadership
• Corporate turnarounds and leadership

Courses Taught

• Business and Its Publics
• Corporate Governance in Law and Business
• Corporate Turnarounds and Leadership in Law and Business
• Ethical and Legal Challenges of the Modern Corporation: Law and Business
• Professional Responsibility and Leadership
• Professional Responsibility in Law and Business

Academic Background

M.A., Ethics and Leadership, 2007
Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University

B.S., Finance, 1976
Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania