Karen Gordon

Karen Gordon (BA 1977, MURP 1983, The George Washington University) began her service as the City of Seattle's Historic Preservation Officer in 1984.

She has served on the Board of Directors of the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation (1985-97) and as the Washington State Advisor to the National Trust for Historic Preservation Board of Advisors (1989-1997); and also on the Board of Directors of the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions from 1985-1993 and on its Board of Advisors. She has taught preservation planning at the University of Washington and also at Goucher College, since 1995 as an Adjunct Assistant Professor.

Her AIA Seattle Honorary Member recognition in 2006 acknowledged her major achievements in preserving important structures and neighborhoods and in furthering public appreciation of quality in design, while effectively engaging architects in public processes.

Since 2012, she has worked as the Neighborhood Programs Manager in the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods, managing programs including Historic Preservation, Major Institutions and Schools, and the P-Patch Community Garden program.