Karen Dahl, Partner

Karen is a decisive leader with expertise in building and sustaining complex partnerships, launching new initiatives, and improving operations. She has a unique ability to formulate creative solutions to longstanding challenges and is committed to transparency and equity in communication, policy, and programming. 

Karen is currently embedded at a global philanthropy where she manages partnerships with local governments committed to using innovation to solve their most pressing challenges. Previously, she was appointed by President Biden to lead AmeriCorps’ COVID-19 response. During her tenure, she helped the agency secure more than $1.4 billion and drove the creation and execution of Public Health AmeriCorps, through which thousands of AmeriCorps members have served the public health needs of communities across the country.

Karen has held leadership roles at Guild Education, Cities of Service, Curriculum Associates, and Jumpstart for Young Children. She was part of the communications teams for President Clinton and Vice President Gore, and was a researcher and associate producer for NBC News.

A proud AmeriCorps VISTA alumna, Karen mentors undergraduate students at UConn, and has volunteered with the NYC Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Affairs, the NYC Department of Records and Information Services, and NYC Public Schools.

Karen's writing has been published in Readers Digest and is included in The Best Life Stories: 150 Real-life Tales of Resilience, Joy, and Hope. She holds a master's degree in education from Harvard University and a bachelor's degree in English and French from the University of Connecticut.