Karen studied locally at Whitecross High School and Hereford Sixth Form College. After finishing her education, she took on various jobs and worked in America for two years. She then trained as an NVQ assessor which then developed into working with adults with Special Educational needs allowing her to teach on the Contact Course at the college covering subjects such as Art and Design, Personal Development Studies and Performing Arts until the course closed.

She has worked at HCA for over 10 years firstly on the Contact Course and then on L2 Art &Design and now continues to work as an assistant on the Performing Arts FE Course 3 days a week and across The FE and HE campuses in the library 1 day a week.

She firmly believes that we all have something to offer and that everybody should be given opportunities to reach their full potential, and be allowed to experience and to achieve. She enjoys the variety that her role at HCA has provided in her career over the years.

Karen is passionate about animals and wildlife and dogs in particular, most of her spare time is spent with her best four- legged friend Duke. She enjoys being outside as much as possible. She is interested in anything creative and enjoys supporting the students to develop their ideas. She has a particular love of music, theatre, dance and photography.