Karen Gerard is a Virginia native who grew up in the Tidewater area, attended James Madison University for undergraduate studies (B.A. in Art History, minor in English), moved to Richmond to start her career in the arts and then returned to Harrisonburg in 1997. Karen is the assistant to the director, where she oversees budgets, the academic schedule, faculty/staff searches, scholarships, purchasing of equipment and consumable class supplies, etc. For 10 years, she ran the JMU Summer Art Program.

Karen is a three-time recipient of the CVPA Staff Recognition Award (1999, 2005 and 2020). In 2015, she received the Agency Star Award. In 2025, she was awarded the Provost Award for Administrative Excellence. She is a Notary Public and works as an Officer of Election for the City of Harrisonburg.

She shares her life with her husband, college-aged son, and three cats. British TV, gardening, learning Welsh, baking, and games fill her spare time.