Karen is a California-based writer and native of Nashville, Tennessee. A former staff writer at The Tennessean in Nashville, Karen has also worked as a television news reporter and producer. In addition, she is a co-founder of the skincare line, EmmGerri (http://www.emmgerri.com) and is also a singer and songwriter (view video of her singing at Staples Center in Los Angeles at: http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=3lcbFxwDApo).
Karen has a master’s degree from Stanford University and is a cum laude graduate of Wellesley College, where she majored in English. She has served as a board member of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and as a member of the Nashville Coalition of 100 Black Women of Middle Tennessee.
Karen is listed in the 1997 edition of the Outstanding Young Women of America volume issued by the Outstanding Young Americans program. In addition, she is a former recipient of the Young Men’s Christian Association, or YMCA, Achiever Award. She is also an experienced public speaker and has given speeches on the life of Dr. John Henry Jordan.