Karen Paula O'Connor (born February 15, 1952) is the Jonathan N. Helfat Distinguished Professor of Political Science and a Distinguished Professor of Government at American University in Washington, D.C., where she is also the Founder and Director Emerita of the Women & Politics Institute.
[1] She has also served on the editorial boards of numerous political science journals.
O'Connor has written, co-authored, or edited several books, including American Government: Continuity and Change, 15ed.
(2012), Women in Congress: Running, Winning and Ruling (2002), and No Neutral Ground: Abortion Politics in an Age of Absolutes (1996).
In June 2005, O'Connor testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the effect of Roe v. Wade.