Canon Dr. Karen Noble Hanson

Karen is the Canon and Chief Investment Officer and was previously the CFO and Canon for Finance, Resource and Community Development for the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, which she joined in 1999. She is responsible for the management of the Diocesan and parish endowments, Diocesan and parish insurance, real estate leases and property matters. Prior to joining the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, Karen was President of CORH Associates and Senior Vice President of Wilmorite, Inc., as an owner and developer of Hyatt Regency Rochester and developer of multi-state commercial, residential and public properties. Karen includes experience at FMHA, US Dept. of Agriculture (Carter Administration), where she served as a State Director for New York and US Virgin Islands and Region II USDA Coordinator. This included $500 million in loans annually for rural housing, farm credit, commercial businesses, and oversaw 500 employees in six Regional Offices. Karen began her career in 1969 at Program Funding, Inc. (now Pathstone, Inc.) as the State Director of Not-For-Profit Organization serving farm workers through advocacy, job training, housing, and economic development programs throughout New York State and Puerto Rico.

She attended Syracuse University and earned an undergraduate degree, cum laude from the University of Rochester, and completed the Senior Executive Service, US Government (Senior Management Degree). Karen also holds an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters at St. Augustine’s College (Raleigh, North Carolina) and an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the General Theological Seminary (New York, New York). Karen was also the recipient of the Athena Award: Top Women in Business in 1993.