Karen graduated from Swarthmore in 2008 as a McCabe Scholar with a double major in Psychology and Sociology/Anthropology. She earned eight varsity letters and was captain of both the women's volleyball and basketball teams. In volleyball, she was Honorable Mention All-Conference in 2007 and remains Swarthmore's all-time leader in several blocking categories. In basketball, Karen was First Team All-Conference in 2006 and Honorable Mention in 2008. She became a member of the 1,000-point club during her tenure at Swarthmore and is in the all-time record book for several categories including career field goals, blocks and rebounds. Karen was the recipient of the Eleanor K Hess Award as a sophomore and the Gladys Irish Award as a senior. Additionally, Karen served as an alumni outreach ambassador, wrote for the Phoenix newspaper, and was a member of the Swarthmore College chapter of the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society.
After Swarthmore, Karen earned a master's degree in physician assistant studies at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She subsequently worked in the Emergency Department at Crozer Chester Medical Center in Chester, PA. She married fellow Swattie, Jeffrey Kushner ('09) and worked at Largo Medical Center in Largo, FL and then Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI while Jeff completed his medical training. Currently, Karen is enjoying time at home raising her two kids, Grayson and Claire. She volunteers in a variety of community initiatives in Doylestown, PA where they live. She also serves on the Hall of Fame Committee at Swarthmore.
