Karen comes from a family of teachers, and is married to a teacher. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Western Oregon University, a Masters in Linguistics from Gallaudet University, and a second Masters in Deaf Education from McDaniel College. After five years of teaching ESL, French, and Introduction to ASL Structure at Gallaudet University and ASL at NVCC-Woodbridge, she taught in the high school and elementary departments at Wisconsin School for the Deaf for seven years before becoming a stay-at-home mom to three hearing children.  She enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with her family.