Term of Service: 2017-2021

Karen was born, raised, and educated in Chapel Hill. She currently serves as the Director of Business Development at IntraHealth International, a Chapel Hill based non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that people around the world have access to quality health care.

Prior to her work in global health, Karen served as the Program Manager at the Orange County Family Resource Centers, a non-profit that provided family support programs in public housing and low-income neighborhoods in Chapel Hill.

Karen has served the community in a wide array of capacities, including as chair of the Chapel Hill Public Housing Advisory Board, co-chair of the Ephesus Elementary School Improvement Team, PORCH neighborhood coordinator, and mentor for the Blue Ribbon Mentor-Advocate program. She has also been active in school equity issues, and Get Out the Vote and election protection efforts.

Karen earned an undergraduate degree from UNC-Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in English and secondary education from Boston University.

Karen lives in the Booker Creek neighborhood with her wife, Alyson Grine, an attorney who teaches at NC Central University School of Law. Karen and Alyson have two children, Hazel, age 11, and Wyatt, age 8, along with a dog, a cat, and a crested gecko.

Membership

• Council Committee on Economic Sustainability
• Council Committee on Affordable Housing
• Housing Advisory Board
• Mayor’s Committee on Affordable Rental
• Planning Commission
• Stormwater Management Utility Advisory Board

Duties

The primary mission of the Mayor and Council, as the governing body of the Town is to adopt and provide for the execution of ordinances, rules and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to protect health, life or property, or to promote the comfort, convenience, security, good order, better government, or the general welfare of the Town and its citizens.

The Mayor and eight Council Members constitute the governing body of the Town. In accordance with the Town’s Charter, the voters elect a Mayor every two years. Council Members are elected to four-year, staggered terms on an at-large basis. Town Council duties include:

• Amendment of previously adopted policies through changes in the Town Code of Ordinances and the Development Ordinance, and by revision of policies and documents.
• Appointment of advisory boards, commissions, task forces and committees.
• Appointment of the Town Manager and Town Attorney.
• Establishment of agreements with other governments.