Karen received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Southern Methodist University and a law degree from Texas Tech University.
Karen was appointed to the position of City Attorney in March 2011. She previously held the position of First Assistant City Attorney since 2004. Prior to working for the City of Austin Law Department, Karen had a distinguished career with the Texas Municipal League (TML), where she established herself as a leader in the organization. While at TML, she served in a number of positions providing legal guidance and analysis on issues impacting municipalities, developing legislative policy goals, serving as a liaison to organizations, legislators, and the press. Before her career at TML, she served as assistant attorney for the City of Midland, Texas.
Karen is highly active in the Austin community and participates in promoting a range of issues. She is a strong believer in the power of education to improve lives and create a better community.
