Dr. Karen Hammel is a classroom special education teacher with Minneapolis Public Schools in Minnesota. She is licensed in Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD), Developmental Cognitive Disabilities (DCD) and as a Director of Special Education (administration). Dr. Hammel currently works with students 18-21 from all disability areas.

She has a BS from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, in Psychology and Special Education, an MEd from the University of Minnesota, specializing in EBD and Specific Leaning Disorders (SLD) and has earned an EdD from the University of Minnesota in Education Policy and Administration.

Dr. Hammel also worked as an adjunct professor of special education (Hamline University, St. Paul, Minnesota, and St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota). She considers herself fortunate to be involved in the development of the Master of Special Education program at Hamline University for students from Teach for America and Teaching Fellows. With this experience, she went on to collaborate on the development of a nontraditional teacher education program.