Meet The Team

Karen Johnston currently serves as the University of Delaware’s Cooperative Extension Director for New Castle County. She works statewide as an educator where she leads multiple youth and adult healthy living initiatives with emphasis on tobacco, drug, and alcohol prevention through wholistic wellness.

Through pursuit and implementation of grant funds, Karen develops health initiatives that promote Health and Wellness Ambassadors who work in community on topics such as food access, fitness, environmental wellness, and mindfulness. Karen is a contributing author of GEM (Get Experience in Mindfulness) twice nationally award-winning curriculum. Karen believes that youth and adults should be encouraged to develop their communication, leadership, fitness, and wellness skills to prepare them to be advocates for self and community. Karen has over 10 years’ experience facilitating National Issues Forums to engage in community conversations and develop action plans through youth and adult partnership. Karen served on the ECOP Positive Youth Development Health Action Team who together published in the Journal of Youth Development, Journal of Extension, and Journal of Human Sciences and Extension. Prior to the University of Delaware, Karen worked in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors in senior management in the healthcare industry.

Karen holds a master’s in business administration from Wilkes University and is an avid runner, fitness enthusiast, and is active in her church and her community. She is married with two sons, a daughter in law, and a grand dog and resides in Newark, DE.