[1] After graduating from the University of Illinois at Springfield with a bachelor's degree in psychology and elementary education, Hasara was a teacher at Christ The King Elementary School for two years before she began her government career by being elected to the Sangamon County Board in 1975.
[1][3] In 1995, Hasara won a highly contested election, to become the first female mayor of Springfield, Illinois.
[1] Since leaving elected office, she has worked in Russia and several Eastern European countries, in the fields of tourism and economic development.
In 2007, Hasara endorsed Aaron Schock in the 2008 Republican primary for the U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois's 18th congressional district, and appeared both in mailers and a television ad for his campaign.
[4] Karen was appointed to Governor Pritzker's Special Committee on Administration, Reform, and Innovation.