Karen Speaker, MS - Bio Sketch

Karen Speaker is a computer support technician for the Center for Rural Health (CRH) at the Center for Rural Health at the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Grand Forks.

In her position, Karen provides computer support for staff at CRH, installing licensed software on computers and maintaining the software inventory, as well as setting up and ordering new computer systems. Karen also serves as CRH records coordinator and software coordinator, maps drives for network servers and printers, and manages the departmental listserv.

Karen has been employed at UND since 1977. Her past experience includes working at the Human Nutrition Research Laboratory for 27 years. She initially worked as a dietary technician before transferring to the bio-physics laboratory. During her work as a bio-physics technician, Karen was responsible for the operation and maintenance of the most sophisticated Whole-body Scintillation Counter in the U.S. She also co-authored a paper on radon that was presented at the International Symposium on Radon and Radon Reduction Technology and a presentation on the effect of environmental radiation on copper-67. Karen then transferred to the psychology research laboratory and worked with the development and testing related to psychology research studies evaluating the effects of trace minerals and vitamins in humans and animals.

Karen received a Master of Science degree in education (general studies) from UND in 2009. She is a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society and served as treasurer and interim president from 2008-2009.