Karen Rolen

Karen Rolen has spent her professional career in the nonprofit sector, working with organizations that include The Conservatory of Fine and Performing Arts at Birmingham-Southern College, Children’s of Alabama and the National Endowment for the Humanities. In 1997, she became the first director of what is now the Alabama Association of Nonprofits.  Following three years of nonprofit management consulting , she joined the Community Foundation staff in 2006.

Currently she serves on the board of the Birmingham Education Foundation and the Alabama School Readiness Alliance. Karen holds a B.A. and M.A. in American Studies from the University of Alabama and a Master's in Public and Private Management from Birmingham-Southern College, where she also serves as adjunct faculty.  She is a graduate of Leadership Birmingham, Leadership Vestavia Hills and currently participating in Leadership Alabama.