Karla is an award-winning reporter who loves living and working in her home state. Karla grew up in Forest Lake and graduated magna cum laude from St. Olaf College, where she majored in English and political science. She also received a Master of International Affairs degree from Columbia University. Among her academic honors: Phi Beta Kappa and a writing fellowship at Columbia.
Karla has reported for newspapers in Washington, D.C., Virginia and Alaska. She's also reported for KEYC-TV in Mankato, was an anchor and reporter at KAAL-TV in Austin, Minn., and was an anchor and reporter for WNWO-TV in Toledo. Most recently, she's worked as a reporter at WCCO-TV before deciding to join the KARE 11 team in April 2007. Karla has survived four marathons and loves international travel and spending time with her family, friends and cats (yes, cats)!
When I was young, I wanted to be: Executive editor of the New York Times (I'm serious. Can we say, 'influenced by older siblings?')
Favorite story you ever worked on: A story I shot and reported in Tanzania, Africa. It profiled a Minnesota-led effort to bring clean water to all of Tanzania (all by drilling wells).
Describe your perfect day: A long run, a long lunch with family, then an afternoon and sunset on the lake (Clear Lake in Forest Lake, my hometown).
Proudest moment: Giving my high school commencement address despite a medical emergency (I later ended up in the hospital).
Favorite Vacation spot: Hmmm...tough choice: perhaps Thailand and Cambodia. Avoid the mopeds, though (long story).
Favorite CD/Album: U2's The Joshua Tree
Favorite sport to watch: Football. Go Vikes!
Favorite book: Ernest Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises" (you know, Hemingway was a journalist before becoming a novelist...).
Alma Mater: Columbia University and St. Olaf College
Family: A fantastic husband, Gary, and sweet daughter, Grace, best parents ever, two talented sisters, two excellent brothers-in-law, two adorable nieces, two rambunctious nephews, tons of cool cousins, aunts and uncles and oh yeah, three cute cats (don't worry, one lives with my parents).
(Copyright 2011 by KARE. All Rights Reserved.)