Rutgers GSE CMSI

Karen Gross

Karen Gross is an educator who specializes in trauma and its impact on student learning and psychosocial success. Gross works with students from pre-K — adult as well as faculty, staff and leaders. Co-written with Ed K. S. Wang, they have a forthcoming book titled: Mending Education: Finding Hope, Creativity and Mental Wellness in Times of Trauma (9/24 from TC Press); this book joins two adult books, Breakaway Learners and Trauma Doesn’t Stop at the School Door. (Gross also writes the children’s book series, Lady Lucy’s Quest.) Gross is a continuing education instructor at Rutgers School of Social Work. Gross blog regularly on issues in education, including leadership and crisis management. Gross is an an active artist showing both online and in brick and mortal galleries, often doing art as a trauma amelioration strategy. Gross was a former president of Southern Vermont College, serving many Pell eligible, first generation students. She was a senior policy advisor to US Department of Education during the Obama Administration. Gross was a tenured professor for two decades in NYC where she focused on insolvency and asset building in low income communities. Gross speaks several languages, having grown up speaking French in her home.