Karen is from Denver, Colorado, and graduated from a small public charter school in Far Northeast Denver. She studied Sociology and Anthropology at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she focused on community, social support, and refugee resettlement research. She later earned a Master’s in Education Policy from Columbia University, specializing in early childhood education and policy frameworks.
She currently works as an analyst at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the Education, Workforce, and Income Security portfolio, where she evaluates federal programs related to education and social well-being. She is committed to advancing equity in early childhood education and supporting underserved families through policy and research.
Leadership
- Analyst at U.S. Government Accountability Office (Education, Workforce & Income Security portfolio)
- Master’s in Education Policy from Columbia University
- Conducted refugee settlement and education research at CU Boulder
- Worked with first-generation college student support and transition programs
- Focused on education equity, early childhood policy, and social support systems
