Karen Risser

Karen Risser is a U.S. Army veteran, dedicated social worker, and passionate advocate for people with disabilities. Born in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, and raised in the rural communities of Coudersport and Genesee, Karen comes from a family rooted in service and resilience.

Karen enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 2007, completing basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, before returning to graduate from Northern Potter Jr. & Sr. High School in 2008. Just months later, on her way to drill, Karen was involved in a devastating car accident that left her with a T6–T8 spinal cord injury.

Undeterred, Karen began the path toward recovery and purpose. With the support of Veteran Readiness and Employment (Chapter 31) and the Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, she enrolled at Penn West Edinboro, where she became a standout athlete on the Fighting Scots Wheelchair Basketball team. She went on to earn both a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Social Work, graduating in 2014.

Karen’s professional journey reflects her deep commitment to empowering others. She worked as an Independent Living and Peer Specialist, teaching life skills to individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, and later as a Behavior Specialist supporting adults with Autism and intellectual disabilities to achieve greater independence.

In 2020, Karen began her most rewarding role yet—motherhood. With the help of the VA’s Women’s Health Program, she became a single mother by choice to her now 4-year-old daughter. Today, Karen works as a Teacher’s Assistant at McLane Church Preschool in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, and is actively training to become a Peer Mentor for other veterans and individuals with disabilities through the Cleveland VA.