Karen is the Program Administrator for the University Of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine’s HABIT program. HABIT, Human Animal Bond in Tennessee, is a non-profit organization which uses medically and behaviorally screened dogs, cats, and rabbits in animal assisted therapy. HABIT animals and their owners volunteer in Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Cancer Treatment Centers, and in public and private Schools. H.A.B.I.T. has around 800 volunteer teams, in 150 different programs, and in 32 Tennessee counties. Karen started as a HABIT volunteer in 2001, and as the HABIT program Administrator in 2005. She and her pups have worked in just about every type of location that the program visits, but she has a special love for working with 1st responders and Veterans. She also loves working the volunteers who want to make the world a better place one visit at a time. Karen lives in Knoxville with her very understanding husband Robert and their 8 dogs. She also fosters dogs for Big Fluffy Dog Rescue and is a puppy raiser for Sprit of the Dog program out of North Carolina. Awards: 2017 Alumni Public Service Award 2020 UT President’s ‘Connect” Award