Karen is a licensed clinical psychologist committed to meditation and mind-body interventions. She conducted mind-body research in the UCLA Department of Pediatrics and served as the assistant director of the UCLA/RAND Center for Adolescent Health Promotion, where she led the training core.

A recipient of a Yale-China Teaching Fellowship to the Chinese University of Hong Kong, she has taught at UC Irvine and UCLA, led seminars for child-focused organizations, and served on parent boards of her children’s schools.
Karen is a member of Circles, a group that combines deep reflection, dialogue and collaboration with a spiritual practice of Light giving from a path known as Sukyo Mahikari. The purpose of engaging in Light and reflection is to elevate consciousness, develop spirit-centeredness and generate well-being.

Raised in North Carolina, she enjoys outdoor sports, dancing in the kitchen and book clubs.