Karen Sher, MAJCS, MA, MSW
Senior Director, Community Engagement
(314) 442-3824
Karen Sher is the Senior Director of Community Engagement at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. As a member of the Millstone Institute/JProStl team, Karen’s focus is on creating excellence in the community human resource pool. Her primary responsibilities focus on identifying, engaging, developing and strengthening lay leaders and community volunteers, serving as a primary referral source for community leadership positions. Karen is a graduate of Indiana University with a B.A. in Sociology and a Certificate in Jewish Studies, and she received her MSW from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and a MA in Jewish Studies from Baltimore Hebrew University. Karen has valuable experience as both a staff person and a respected lay leader. She has worked professionally in the Jewish communal field at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis as Campaign Associate and Director of the Young Professionals Division, as well as Human Resource Development Associate from 1992-98. She also worked in development at the St. Louis Hillel at Washington University and coordinated the Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Centennial event.
As a volunteer leader, Karen is co-founder and founding President of Nishmah: The St. Louis Jewish Women’s Project. Prior to rejoining the Jewish Federation of St. Louis staff in a professional capacity, she was co-chair of Jewish Federation of St. Louis’ Women’s Philanthropy and served on the Jewish Federation of St. Louis Board of Directors. She is an alumni of the Jewish Federations of North America’s National Young Leadership Cabinet and a Grosberg Young Leadership Award recipient. Karen was also chair of the Jewish Community Center’s Helene Mirowitz Department of Jewish Community Life, served on the J’s Board and is a past board member for St. Louis Hillel at Washington University.
Karen is married to Howie Sher, Founder and “Head of State” of “What-aya-nuts.” They are parents of three kids.