Karen L. Freeman was appointed to serve as the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Mission Director in Kenya in November 2012.  She has worked for USAID for 29 years, most recently as the Senior Deputy Mission Director in Islamabad, Pakistan, USAID’s second largest program in the world.

Freeman began her career with USAID in 1983 working in the Office of Central American Affairs.  In 1990, she joined the International Development Intern program and served in USAID/El Salvador.  She later moved into the Deputy Program Officer position in El Salvador.

In 1994, Freeman served as the Deputy Program Officer in South Africa. She was appointed as the Director of Program and Project Development in South Africa in 1998.  From USAID/South Africa, she moved to USAID/Uganda where she served as the Chief of Program and Project Development from 2000- 2002.

From 2002-2005, Freeman served as the Deputy Mission Director for USAID/Ethiopia.  During this time she served as Acting Mission Director during the height of the 2002-2003 humanitarian crises and directed the delivery of over $530 million in relief.  

In 2006, Ms. Freeman was appointed to serve as USAID Mission Director in Zimbabwe and served there for five years overseeing a program focused on ensuring the well-being of the people of Zimbabwe during the height of historic hyperinflation, political transition and violence.

Ms. Freeman holds an undergraduate degree in International Relations from Boston University and a Masters in Science Degree in Strategic Policy Making from the National War College.