Karen holds degrees in Botany and Soil Science from Southern Illinois University and completed graduate studies in the Botany Department at the University of Tennessee. After graduating, Karen taught at Michigan State University and spent the first part of her career as Director of Education. Later, moving to Oregon, she continued her teaching career with OSU-Extension and is currently Executive Director at Discover Your Forest.
When not teaching or volunteering, she enjoys being outside paddleboarding, hiking, gardening with native plants, and recreating in the mountains with her two sons.