Book:

• A Widow's Journey To Healing and Self-Discovery

Areas of Expertise:

• Dementia Care Specialist (DCS)
• Group Fitness Instructor for Boomers
• Health & Wellness
• Holistic Life Coach
• Somatic Movement

Seminars or Keynote Topics:

• Survival Tool Kit for Widows
• The Art of Aging with Grace

Karen W. Thompson has been a widow for 21 years, a mother of one adult daughter, son-in-law and grandmother of two granddaughters. She has been employed at the University of Louisville in the Department of Criminal Justice as a department coordinator and generalist for twenty seven years. Her academic credentials include Bachelor of Science in Justice Administration and Masters of Science in Criminal Justice. Topics of interest were juvenile justice: effective after-school programs, domestic violence and theories of victimology.

She is a member of the Professional Woman Network (PWN) organization for coaches, consultants and authors. Certifications earned: Holistic Approach to Coaching: Mind, Body, & Spirit, The Art of Aging: A Journey to Self-Esteem and Women's Issues, Save Our Youth & Teen Confidence Academy. Also, certified by the Charleston School of Protocol and Etiquette to teach “Your Manners Matter,” a national 18 week civility program curriculum for ages 7-10.

Contributing co-author of "The Christian Woman's Guide for Personal Success and award-winning author of "A Widow's Journey to Healing & Self-Discovery” with Professional Woman Publishing.

In 2024, the recipient of the PWN International Literary Award. Recognized in 2021 as the Cardinal Principles Champion for Noble purpose. The Cardinal Principle Champions award was designed to honor faculty and staff who have demonstrated one of the C-A-R-D-I-N-A-L principles at the highest impact. In 2018, the American Heart Association - Lifestyle Change Award recipient.

Karen volunteers as an online moderator for the Hope For Widows Foundation, a non-profit organization developed by widowed women that strives to offset the financial challenges and build community among widowed women nationwide. Also, a member of a new local non-profit called the Street Widows Foundation for women who have lost a spouse or significant others to street-related deaths to gun violence, substance-use, long term incarceration and any other stigmatized form of loss.

Karen activates the ten percent principle for her own personal growth on a daily basis. As a motivator her mission is to empower others to focus on basic essentials one at a time to maintain a heatthy lifestyle for overall well-being.Ten percent better could mean one small change to accomplish any goal.

Hobbies: Background actor, container gardening, calligraphy, genealogy and group fitness instructor for the 55+ population at the Greater Louisville YMCA.