Karen Danielson

Karen Danielson is a Muslim American community leader, educator, and public speaker based in Chicago. She serves as Executive Board Secretary of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago and is Outreach Director for the Muslim American Society. She also works closely with the Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network to support interfaith outreach and public service. Raised in a Catholic household, Karen converted to Islam at age 19 after reading the Quran and felt a deep spiritual calling. She later earned a BA in Biological Sciences from Southern Illinois University–Carbondale and an MA in Islamic Studies from the University of Jordan. She also trained at Dar al-Islam Teacher’s Institute to support her teaching work. For the past two decades, Karen has lectured at mosques, universities, schools, and interfaith gatherings across the U.S. Her topics include converting to Islam, maintaining social ties while Muslim, and developing effective imams in Western contexts. Her lecture “Towards Effective and Contemporary Imams in the U.S.” addresses how mosques can train leaders who balance classical scholarship with relevance to American culture. She regularly appears in media such as NPR, and she serves on boards promoting health equity and religious literacy. Through her leadership, Karen Danielson continues to inspire both Muslims and non-Muslims with messages of unity, education, and community service.