Karen grew up in a small town in the Midwest. She graduated from William Smith College in Geneva, New York, with a degree in comparative religion and earned her J.D. from Catholic University Law School in Washington, DC.

A graduate of William Smith College with a degree in comparative religion and a J.D. from Catholic University Law School, Karen's career spans over three decades of commendable service. As a trial lawyer for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, she championed the rights of those facing discrimination based on sex, race, and age. Her journey didn't stop there; she further served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration, touching lives for 17 years.

Karen's life story is one of unparalleled empathy and strength. Raising her son Sean as a single mother for 15 years, Karen understands the struggles of everyday Americans.