Karen Dean was elected to the CCSD Board of Directors in the November 3, 2020 Presidential General Election and her term expires on December 6, 2024.

Karen grew up in Connecticut, coming to the west coast at the end of her junior year of high school to help her sister in Washington. She completed high school in Edmonds, WA, and continued her education in Seattle to become a Certified Dental Assistant. Karen met her husband Allan while he was stationed at Whidbey Naval Air Station, and after his service in the Navy was completed, they moved to Fresno, California where Allan was from. Karen and Allan raised two sons, and have two grown grandchildren.

Karen worked as a dental assistant at a periodontal dental practice in Fresno, becoming the supervisor of the patient care side of the practice, which included overseeing several other dental assistants, hygienists, X-ray, sterilization, supplies, controlled drug inventory  and regulatory reporting, and patient education.

After the birth of their youngest son, Karen explored a change in career in order to have more flexibility to spend time with her young family. She worked part time as an assistant manager of a retail business, and taught craft classes. During that period of time, she met some well known local interior designers,  began working with them and learning that profession. Discovering her passion for creativity and design, Karen pursued a career in interior design and started her own Interior Design & Fabrication business, which she owned and operated for over 25 years. Karen was also very proud to have won first place in a national design competition for design and fabrication in the specialty window treatment category.

The Deans moved their family up to the foothills of Fresno County, and concurrent with her design business, Karen also served on the Board of Directors of a Property Owners Association for twelve years, ten years of which as President. In that position, her duties included overseeing the maintenance and repair of several miles of privately owned roads and equestrian trails, culvert and creek crossings, including obtaining bids and contracts, as well as  enforcement of Codes and Ordinance, architectural review, chairing meetings, etc. This position also involved many interactions with the County Code Enforcement, Planning and Building, the Sheriff Department, and  Fish & Wildlife.

Karen and Allan bought their home in Cambria in 1994 with the intention of retiring here this most beautiful place to live, and did retire and become full time residents in 2012. Wanting to give back to the community she loves, Karen served on the Board of Directors of Greenspace in 2018/2019, on the NCAC as an area representative for three years, was the Vice Chair of the CCSD Standing Committee on Resources & Infrastructure for three years, becoming the Chair of that committee after being elected to the CCSD Board of Directors in 2020. She became the Vice President of the Board of Directors in December of 2021 and Board President in December 2022.