Karen Handel
| Karen Handel | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Secretary of State of Georgia | |
|
In office January 13, 2007 – January 8, 2010 |
|
| Governor | Sonny Perdue |
| Preceded by | Cathy Cox |
| Succeeded by | Brian Kemp |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
April 18, 1962 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Steve Handel |
| Education |
Prince George's Community College University of Maryland, College Park |
Karen C. Handel (born April 18, 1962) is an American business consultant and former elected official. She served as Secretary of State of Georgia from 2007 until January 2010, when she resigned to run, unsuccessfully, for the Republican Party nomination for Governor of Georgia. In 2011, Handel was appointed senior vice president of public policy at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a leading charity in the cause of fighting breast cancer, and left on February 7, 2012, following the foundation's controversial decisions to end, and then restore, funding for Planned Parenthood which she voted yes on before leaving.
Handel was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. After graduating in May 1980 from Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro, Handel attended both Prince George's Community College and The University of Maryland, but did not complete any degree. She then went to work for Hallmark Cards. Later, she served as deputy chief of staff to Vice-President Dan Quayle's wife, Marilyn, where she worked to promote breast cancer awareness and research.
Handel worked at several major companies including global eye care company Ciba Vision and international accounting firm KPMG. She served as president and CEO of the Greater Fulton County Chamber of Commerce.
In 2002, Handel was named deputy chief of staff by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, where she served as a policy advisor and supervised constituent services, the Governor's Mansion, and general administration services.
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