Karen Quarles is responsible for leading America Forward’s Higher Education, Workforce and Appropriations policy and advocacy work, and partnering on emerging policy issues (from juvenile justice to child welfare). Karen has spent more than twenty-five years in both the public and private sectors advancing public policy at all levels of government. Most recently, Karen was the Executive Director for Legislative Affairs at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) where she led the organization’s efforts to enact key child protection bills. Before NCMEC, Karen spent over four years as the Director of Federal Affairs at the American Red Cross. Prior to the Red Cross, Karen served as Deputy Director in the Washington office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger where she advanced California’s priorities on issues including education, immigration and agriculture. Karen served in the Administration of George W. Bush including as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Legislative and Congressional Affairs in the U.S. Department of Education. She began her career in Washington working for U.S. Representative Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) where she was responsible for managing his legislative team and initiatives. ed
