Karen Lovaas

Karen Lovaas is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair in the Department of Communication Studies at San Francisco State University. She also serves as Co-Coordinator of the Global Peace, Human Rights and Justice Studies Minor Program and Interim Director of the Conflict Resolution Certificate Program. Dr. Lovaas holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa, following B.A. and M.A. degrees in Communication Studies.

Her research focuses on sexualities and communication, decarceration, ecology, and environmental justice. For over 16 years, she has volunteered at San Quentin State Prison, teaching college courses and co-facilitating social justice curricula. Her work bridges academia and activism, emphasizing practical applications of communication theory in social justice contexts.

No specific articles or awards are listed in the provided materials, though her scholarly contributions are implied through her roles and activism. Grants and lab affiliations are not explicitly detailed in the text.