In addition to being the partner lead for the Books Beginning at Birth program, Karen coordinates and delivers programs that build early literacy and cultivate family engagement in reading through community partnership collaborations through Early Books for Me and Parent Book Clubs. Originally from El Paso, she moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas where she graduated with a BFA in Art History. Karen is an active member and volunteer of the Austin SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) where she moderated the local children’s book club and serves as the current writing critique facilitator. In her professional life, Karen worked for 18 years with the K-12 educational publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in which she was a dedicated BookSpring volunteer before joining the organization as Partner Manager. In her spare time, Karen enjoys reading and writing poetry and children’s book stories, going on hikes with her dog, and spending quality time with her family and friends. She is also the proud steward of her neighborhood Little Free Library. Her favorite children’s books include the Zen Shorts series which are written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth.