A native Angeleno, Karen comes to the world of data and research with a background in social services and community organizing. After her undergraduate studies, she served as an Americorp VISTA at a community resources center in Brooklyn, NY, where she helped members to secure supportive housing. She went on to work as a case manager in permanent supportive housing in the Bronx where she supported tenants in not just maintaining their housing but also in pursuing their personal goals such as reconnecting with family. This experience motivates and shapes her approach to research and data analysis to center the experiences of individuals and families.

Prior to coming to CPL, Karen was a data analyst with the LA Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) where her team’s work helped the organization understand who they were serving and how individuals move through the homeless services system. She is passionate about connecting research and data to the end user and finding ways to share data in a digestible and easy way.

Karen holds a masters in Social Welfare and Public Policy from UCLA’s Luskin School of Public Affairs and a Bachelors in Development Studies from UC Berkeley. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her partner and doggo, Ziggy, running outside, and trying new recipes.