Karen works on special projects with UW-Madison's Morgridge Center for Public Service, having recently retired from serving asDirector of the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission in Madison, Wisconsin after 5+ years. Prior, Karen had two other careers. Most recently, she worked for the University of Wisconsin Foundation for nearly 17 years, first as the lead development officer for the Business School and then for six years as vice president serving as a member of the Foundation's Senior Leadership Team, overseeing development efforts for the Business School, Law School, College of Engineering, Division of International Studies, Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, Arboretum, and Lakeshore Nature Preserve and helping grow major gift activity abroad with special emphasis in Europe. Before that, Karen worked for nearly 10 years for The Nature Conservancy, an international conservation organization, in land stewardship in Washington and Maine, and fund development in Wisconsin.

Karen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, a Master of Science degree in Botany from the University of Washington in Seattle, and an Executive Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Following college graduation, Karen traveled around the world for a year. She enjoyed domestic and international travel before that transforming experience and has continued to enjoy exploring new environs ever since.

Karen participated in the second class of Leadership Greater Madison. Her community service includes volunteering and board membership mostly related to education, youth and the environment. Karen and her husband have three adult children; a son, and twins, a son and daughter. They reside in Madison, Wisconsin and enjoy athletic pursuits, outdoor adventures and traveling together.

Karen's introduction to AMIGOS came via her older son who participated as a Volunteer in Michoacan, Mexico in 2006.He served as Training Director for theWisconsin Chapter of AMIGOS for several years and Karen serves on the Wisconsin Chapter Board.