University of Illinois College of Law

About

Karen Anderson’s employment experience includes 9 years in-house with the Chicago Board of Education, where she was a supervisor and specialized in school law, civil rights and litigation. She began her legal career at Vedder, Price, Kaufman and Kammholz, where she also was a pro bono cooperating attorney with the ACLU of Illinois. Karen is a 1977 graduate of the University of Illinois College of Law (9th in class, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, Law Review).

Karen has extensive experience on not-for-profit Boards. She is passionate about education, particularly Montessori education. She is a founding Board member and Vice President of The Montessori Network, which operates the public charter school, The Montessori School of Englewood. She is also on the Board of Equip for Equality, which provides services and advocates for people with disabilities throughout Illinois. She serves on its Finance Committee as well as the Parent Council for EFE’s Special Education Clinic. For nearly 20 years, she was on the Board of the Near North Montessori School, where she served as its President for four years. She is also an active member of her Church’s Philoptochos Society, which is dedicated to supporting and performing charitable work. Honors include Lawyers’ Lend-A-Hand Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Philanthropic Award (2015); Chicago Legal Clinic’s Cardinal Bernardin Award (2008); LAF (Chicago) Lifetime Achievement Award (2008); and Aids Legal Council of Chicago Leadership Award (2006).

Currently, Anderson is teaching Advanced Trial Advocacy as an Adjunct Professor for the Jerome Mirza Trial Academy of the University of Illinois College of Law.