Karen Emmons

Karen Emmons first became involved with Science Olympiad in Pittsford, New York in 2001 when her eldest child began middle school and came home one day telling her about this "cool" club she wanted to join. After three years of involvement in NY SO mentoring students in building events, Ms. Emmons and her family moved to Fairfax where she co-founded the Lake Braddock Middle School SO team in 2005 and founded the White Oaks Elementary School SO team in 2009, as well as writing and running events for VASO. Her husband, Ian, has been an active coach and event supervisor for the building and physics events and their children have all competed, mentored, volunteered, and judged events, as well.

In recent years, Ms. Emmons has served as a National event supervisor and has recently accepted the position of Deputy Chair of the National Physics Rules Committee. She served as State Director of Virginia Science Olympiad from June 2012 - June 2022 and now enjoys being State Director Emerita, as well as Chair of the Board for VASO. You will still see her judging at VASO tournaments, as well as working in the scoreroom.

Ms. Emmons has a B.A. in math and psychology from the University of Rochester and an M.Div. from the Pacific School of Religion.