Karen Kearns is Option Head of the Radio Option in the Cinema and Television Arts Department. From 2009-2012 she was the General Manager of 88.5 KCSN-FM. She assumed that position after being Associate Dean of the Mike Curb College of Arts, Media, and Communication. She is a Professor in the Cinema and Television Arts Department specializing in radio and television production. Professor Kearns joined the CSUN faculty in 1985, after teaching radio production at the University of Maryland and speech communication at the University of Wisconsin.
Before moving to Los Angeles, Karen worked for National Public Radio in Washington, D. C. as a producer and a newscaster for All Things Considered. She also worked as a news writer and announcer for Voice of America. She continued to freelance for NPR, VOA and KOST-FM in Los Angeles. In 1989, Karen was awarded a Corporation for Public Broadcasting Fellowship. Under the fellowship, she produced a radio drama version of MCTEAGUE, featuring Stacy Keach, Carol Kane, Hector Elizondo, JoBeth Williams, Michael York, Katherine Helman, Ed Asner, Joe Spano, and many other well-known television and film actors for L.A. Theatre Works and KCRW-FM. Her professional background is in radio and corporate media. She also worked as a freelance video producer, writer and narrator for American Medical Productions creating Continuing Medical Education video and audio programs for physicians throughout the country. She is producer/director of a video documentary about the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet entitled “That All May Be One.” The documentary was screened at the Lafemme Film Festival in Los Angeles and the St. Louis International Film Festival.
As a professional voice talent and a member of AFTRA, she has created characters and narrated series and spots for NBC's Passions, PBS, NPR, the Japanese American Museum, and the Museum of the Rockies
Professor Kearns' audio and video work have received numerous awards, including a Peabody, a Golden Mike, several CINDYs, and a TELLY. She is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and was formerly a member of the board of American Women in Radio and Television.
AWARDS:
PEABODY AWARD
"Taylor Made Piano" 1982
CINDY AWARD
"Contemporary Western Europe" 1984
CINDY AWARD
"The Challenge of China & Japan" 1985
CINDY AWARD
"The Names Project" 1988
GOLDEN MIKE
"The Names Project" 1988
VOA AMERICANA
"Latin in the L.A. Unified School District" 1991
TELLY
"Clinical Encounters: Allergic Rhinitis" 1995
CINDY AWARD
"Managing Allergic Rhinitis" 1996
BEA 1st Place Audio/Educ. Instruction:
"Managing Allergic Rhinitis" 1995
CSUN Creativity Award
"The Second Coming" 1997
CSUN Distinguished Teaching Award 2003
CSUN Creativity Award
“That All May Be One” 2010