Karen Bohnsack
Associate Director
Florida International University - Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Operations
305-434-9377
Karen works with the superintendent and deputy superintendent to support the day-to-day operations of Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary including leading FIU affiliate staff, supporting science and resource protection efforts, and serving as site lead for water quality and South Florida Ecosystem Restoration activities.
Prior to joining Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Karen worked with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection where she supported the state's co-management of the sanctuary, oversaw two aquatic preserves, and coordinated coral disease response activities.
Karen holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and a master's degree in coastal marine resources management from the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California-Santa Barbara. Born and raised in Miami, Karen spent much of her childhood in the Keys where she later began her career working for the Newfound Harbor Marine Institute and Reef Relief.
