Karen Swensen Biography
Karen Swensen is an American five-time Emmy award-winning self-employed business owner and former anchor and host. She is well known for the time she spent working at WWL-TV where she served as an anchor till her departure in March 2022. Swensen now works for LIfe’s About Change serving the team as the Business Owner.
Karen Swensen Education
She earned an Honors degree in Political Science with a minor in Spanish from Penn State University Phi Beta Kappa. Karen also has a journalism master’s degree from the same university. Karen received an honorary doctorate from the University of Holy Cross in 2017. She also received a fellowship from Loyola University of New Orleans’ Institute of Politics.
Karen Swensen Career
Swensen is a self-employed owner and founder of a business designed to help people navigate life’s challenges through products of partnering with artisans, intention, sharing stories on air online (www.lifesaboutchange.com), (Today Show with Hoda and Jenna), and in person (speeches) of people who’ve successfully navigated change. She is well known for the time she spent working at WWL-TV where she served as an anchor of Eyewitness News on WWL-TV in New Orleans between the hours of 5 and 6 p.m.
She is a five-time Emmy Award-winning journalist who has covered everything from the long-term effects of Hurricane Katrina to Pope Francis’ visit to the United States to local and state politics, including moderating governor, Senate, and mayoral debates in New Orleans.
Karen has received six Edward R. Murrow regional awards for investigative journalism, writing, and feature reporting, as well as numerous Gracie and Gabriel Awards, Associated Press and Press Club Awards, and the Press Club Award for Best Broadcast Writing in New Orleans. She was also named “Best Anchor” by the readers of New York’s Gambit newspaper.
Karen was the only female anchor at WWL who was in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit and covered the aftermath. WWL-TV received the George Foster Peabody Award, the Edward R. Murrow Award, and the DuPont-Columbia Award for its uninterrupted coverage of the hurricane.
Swensen also worked as a morning anchor for NECN in Boston for over five years. Karen created and produced many movies while she was there, including “Katrina: A Flood of Tears,” which aired at Harvard University and was followed by a panel discussion about the disaster.
Swensen is the creator and founder of “Life’s About Change,” a seasonal t-shirt company featuring a character named Delta, whose mantra encourages people to embrace change. She has donated all profits, nearly $20,000, to cancer research and remains committed to finding a cure in memory of the love of her life, her late husband, John.
Karen Swensen Age
She likes to keep her personal life private hence has not yet disclosed the year and month she was born. It is therefore not known when she celebrates her birthday.
Karen Swensen Height
Swensen stands at a height of 5 feet 4 inches.
Karen Swensen Family
Swensen posted a photo of his father on his Facebook Page on the 11th of September 2019. Then, she posted a photo of his father wishing him a Happy Birthday. Asides from this, he stated that his father came out of retirement during his birthday on the 11th of September 2001 in order to head up to Homeland Security in New England.
Previously, on the 10th of May 2019, she also posted a photo with her mother wishing her a Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms outside. She stated that her mother is the woman she most admires. Asides from this, she has always been who she had hoped to become.
Karen Swensen Husband
Her late spouse, John Patrick Ronquillo, was her husband. On September 4, 2018, he died of cancer at the age of 64. He was born in New Orleans, where his family has origins dating back to the 1700s. In the company of their family and friends, the couple tied the knot and celebrated their wedding in St. Louis Cathedral. Swensen and John went on to have a daughter named Catherine and a boy named Matthew.
Karen Swensen Net Worth
Swensen has an estimated net worth ranging between $1 Million – $5 Million which she has earned through being a journalist.
Karen Swensen Salary
Swensen earns an annual salary ranging between $40,000 – $ 110,500.
Karen Swensen Leaving WWL
Swensen left WWL in March 2022 where she served as an anchor and reporter. She left the station and started focusing on her own business where she is now the owner and founder of a business designed to help people navigate life’s challenges through products of partnering with artisans, intention, sharing stories on air online (www.lifesaboutchange.com), (Today Show with Hoda and Jenna), and in person (speeches) of people who’ve successfully navigated change.
Karen Swensen WWL
Swensen worked at WWL where she worked alongside other famous WWL anchors, reporters, meteorologists, and sports anchors including;
- Chris Franklin
- April Dupre
- Paul Dudley
- Alexandra Cranford
- Devin Bartolotta
- Payton Malone
- Charisse Gibson
- Michelle Morgan
- Sheba Turk
- Thanh Truong
- Leslie Spoon
- Eric Paulsen
- Doug Mouton
- Katie Moore
- Ricardo LeCompte
The table below answers some of the frequently asked questions about Swensen.
| Who is Swensen? | She is an American five-time Emmy award-winning self-employed business owner and former anchor and host. |
| Age | Not Available |
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches |
| Spouse | John Patrick Ronquillo |
| Salary | $40,000 – $ 110,500 |
| Net Worth | $1 Million – $5 Million |