Karen is in ADA/504 Coordinator Services at Grand River Solutions. Karen’s background is working with students with disabilities from kindergarten through higher education as the director of Student Disability Resource Centers at public and private four-year institutions and the technical college system. During Karen’s teaching career she focused on integrating students with disabilities into all aspects of a school’s curriculum rather than segregating students into separate classrooms and programs. Her desire to see students included in all aspects of life led her to disability services at the University of South Carolina where she provided education and training for faculty and staff on the importance of providing appropriate accommodations that promote inclusion for college students in all aspects of university life. She focused on program assessment, continuous improvement efforts, and using data in decision making to lead school’s into creating more inclusive student life environments.

Karen served on numerous campus committees regarding student success and retention, strategic planning committee, CARE teams, the SC technical college disability services committee and the SACS accreditation committee on Diversity and Inclusion. She chaired the Student Veteran’s Committee and the Disability Affairs Committee. She served on the Advisory Board for the Rehabilitation Counseling Master’s Degree program and on the Advisory Board for the South Carolina Department of Education, Office of Exceptional Children for 10 years. She was a member of the South Carolina Department of Education External Review Team for 7 years.

Karen was the Co- Principal Investigator for a grant to begin the CarolinaLIFE program for students with intellectual disabilities on campus and a Career Training Grant for students with disabilities from the SC Governor’s office. She won the Student Affairs Diversity Award at the University of South Carolina.

Karen is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B. S. in Special Education. She completed a Master’s Degree in Adult Education and Ph. D. in Educational Psychology and Research from the University of South Carolina.