Karen’s work for NASA began as Executive Assistant to Dr. Baruch Blumberg, Director, NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) where she planned, implemented and served as project lead for the first NAI Minority Institution Faculty Sabbatical.  In addition, she served as the NAI Civil Servant Resources Analyst, Assistant Project Lead for the NAI General Meeting 2001 and 2003, Project Lead for the NAI General Meeting April 2005, Secretary for the Federation of Astrobiology Organizations (FAO) and Management Assistant to NAI Executive Director, Dr. Rose Grymes.

Karen continued her work at Ames in April 2005 with the financial management division as a Resources Analyst followed by selection in October 2005 as the Associate Director of the NASA Astrobiology Strategic Analysis and Support Office (ASASO) with duties that included serving as the Lead Project Manager for the Astrobiology Science Conference 2006. In 2005, Karen was nominated and selected as a member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Silicon Valley Chapter and has served in various offices including the 2nd Vice President and the Membership Committee Chair.  Karen often speaks or guest teaches at local parish organizations during the year, is an accomplished singer, plays piano and cantors most recently for St. Lucy Parish Church in Campbell, CA.  She is a very proud mother of 5 and grandmother of 5.  She is just as proud of being a Navy Wife, retired.