Dr. Karen Swanson

Dr. Karen Swanson is director of the Institute for Prison Ministries (IPM) at the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College. As director, she oversees the Charles W. Colson Scholarship Program, serves on the Christian Association for Prisoner Aftercare Advisory Board, and pursues the goals of IPM through collaboration, networks and strategic partnerships that provide leadership and training to those engaged in correctional ministries for the advancement of the gospel.

She began her correctional ministry by teaching in the Life Learning Program at Cook County Jail (Chicago, Ill.). She also served three years as executive director of LifeHouse Ministries, a Christ-centered reentry program. Karen continues to serve in jails and prisons and on a reentry board of directors.

Karen serves as faculty in the Christian Formation and Ministry Department at Wheaton College and teaches courses in correctional ministry. She earned her doctorate from Northern Illinois University in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum Leadership.