Karen serves as the Economist at the Policy & Innovation Center, where she leads research on AI and the future of work for local government and agency, nonprofit and philanthropy, education institutions, and more. Her academic scholarship on the ethics of AI development and use has been cited in more than 400 publications, and her book Amplify Good Work: Effective, Ethical AI for Mission-driven Work (Spring 2026) translates years of research and field experience into concrete guidance for leaders navigating AI adoption. Karen is also the co-founder of Our AI Futures Lab, a collaboration between PIC and Persica Sage Consulting, LLC, where she helps mission-driven organizations translate research on AI ethics and the future of work into practical strategy, policy, and training.

Her applied research has supported decision-making for the City and County of San Diego, the City of Chula Vista, the San Diego Workforce Partnership, the San Diego Foundation, and several community colleges and their districts. Her current research focuses on AI and the future of work, in particular how AI is reshaping skill needs, how education and training pipelines can bridge the gaps, and how employers can keep up with innovation while supporting their workforce. 

Karen holds an MBA from the University of California, San Diego, earned a PhD from the University of Maryland’s School of Information, and completed a postdoc at the University of Michigan School of Information. Across roles in consulting, academic research, and public-sector economics, her work centers on a single question: how can employers, workers, and institutions support human flourishing in the future of work?