Karen Hagerman is a Program Manager with the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), a membership-based collaborative run by the environmental non-profit GreenBlue.
After a nine-year career as a Marine Corps helicopter pilot, Karen shifted her energy towards addressing plastic pollution and responsible resource usage. She earned a Master of Science in Sustainable Engineering from Villanova University, with a focus on circular systems. For her thesis research, she conducted a whole-systems assessment of the plastics value chain and recycling infrastructure in the United States.
While obtaining her graduate education, Karen served as an AmeriCorps member at the Tahoe Environmental Research Center, where she was part of the Education and Outreach Team. In this position, she engaged with students, community members, and visitors on issues concerning sustainability and conservation through environmental education lessons, public science center tours, and outreach opportunities.
Prior to entering her graduate program, Karen was a CH-53E Helicopter Pilot and Officer in the United States Marine Corps. She served in eight different leadership roles in program and team management, from Administration to Quality Assurance. The majority of her roles were in Operations, developing long-range plans, building detailed schedules, and creating and implementing training strategies.
Karen holds a BS in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and was awarded military recognitions for achievement in operations and leadership. Always looking for ways to improve herself and her surroundings, Karen is a trained yoga instructor, avid trail runner, and committed trash-picker-upper.