Karen A. Fletcher is the CEO of AIChE's RAPID Manufacturing Institute and former vice president DuPont. She joined DuPont in 1982 in the Engineering Field Program and was assigned to Parkersburg, W.Va., as an engineer in Teflon® research and development.
From 1982-1990, she served in research and development, operations and technical service assignments in various DuPont businesses. In 1990, she was appointed research manager in Central Research & Development. In 1994, she transferred to the Lycra® business and held positions in technical marketing, product management and global sales. In 1999, she transferred to the Nonwovens business as technology director; and in 2001 she was appointed global business manager for Tyvek® envelopes and graphics. In 2004, she transferred to DuPont Titanium Technologies and was appointed global marketing director and Six Sigma champion.
Ms. Fletcher was appointed director of Investor Relations in February 2007. In September 2008 she was named vice president for DuPont Investor Relations. She was named to her current position in February 2013.
Ms. Fletcher has served on the University of Delaware Research Foundation (UDRF) board of trustees since May 2013. In 2014, she was elected to the board of directors for the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Inc. (NACME) and also serves on NACME’s Development Committee.
Born in Philadelphia, Ms. Fletcher graduated from the University of Delaware with a master’s degree in chemical engineering.