Staff – Karen Kniep Blanton

Karen Kniep Blanton, M.S. is the Assistant Director for the EdLab Group. She has eight years of experience in developing, managing and evaluating state, federal and private foundation grants in informal and formal pre-K-16 education, employment and training, human services, and community development. Her grant writing expertise and grant development assistance has helped secure over $21 million in grant proposals over the past three years. Karen has also taught an accelerated online bachelor’s degree program in leadership, including curriculum development, and taught freshman seminar courses for undergraduate students. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Washington State University and her Master’s degree in Leadership Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.