In her role as Executive Director of Dutchess County Pride Center, Karen supervises all of Dutchess County Pride Center’s programs and operations.  She is actively involved in the day to day running of Dutchess County Pride Center, including running numerous groups, overseeing the Youth Board and working directly with program facilitators and volunteers.  She is also the Co-Chair of PKGO Pride.

Karen received her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Wurzweiler University in 1995, and is a Licenced Clinical Social Worker.  She has spent the majority of her career working to better the lives of youth, particularly LGBTQ+ youth and their families.  She has worked in the non-profit sector for most of her career.  Karen previously held the position of Executive Director while at My House, an Academic Enrichment Center for previously incarcerated women, as well as those recovering from addiction or domestic violence to obtain skills, training and their GED’s.  While there, she helped create an afterschool program for at risk youth and teens.  

Karen’s son came out as transgender in 2015, and when her son began his transition, Karen looked for resources for LGBTQ+ youth in Dutchess County and soon found that there wasn’t really anything locally.  Knowing that her son and many other LGBTQ+ folks needed support and acceptance, Karen, along with the other co-founders, turned Dutchess County Pride Center from an idea to a reality.

Before co-founding Dutchess Pride, Karen had taken some time off from work to raise her children, James and Samantha.  While not working in a traditional job, Karen was very involved in their schools PTA’s, holding down the roles of Vice President and President in both of their schools.  She also led a Girl Scout troop and was the Manager for the Girl Scout Service Unit.