Karen Phillippi

As the Senior Policy Advisor, Karen works to advance immigrant and refugee inclusion and stakeholder engagement as an embedded priority of the federal government. She develops and strengthens partnerships and communications with state/local government, community-based organizations, and the private sector to further the development of immigrant inclusion policy and infrastructure at all of government.

Karen has been working in the field of immigration law and immigrant/refugee integration for over 30 years. She began her career by serving as the Immigration and State Department Specialist for U.S. Senator Don Riegle. She then worked in various law firms for 20 years developing and managing employment-based immigration practices before joining the State of Michigan where she directed the Office for New Americans developing programs and policies supporting immigrant and refugee integration at the state level. Karen is active in promoting the cultural and economic benefits that immigrants and refugees have on communities and striving for a more welcoming nation.

Karen has a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from Michigan State University. She lives in her hometown of Plymouth, Michigan and is most proud of being a mom to her son.