Karen Whalen is currently the Assistant Director of Athletics charged with managing the financial resources and business office staff for the Department of Physical Education, Athletics and Recreation.  Additionally, as a member of the department’s administration, she assists the Director and the Senior Women's Administrator in the development of departmental operations and policies by providing a financial perspective to issues.
 
After being offered a scholarship in athletic training, Whalen graduated from Temple University in 1988 with a BA in Physical Education.  One year into Temple’s graduate program in athletic administration, Whalen accepted the position of Assistant Director of Athletics at Division I Lafayette College in Easton, PA where she served for three years.

In 1993 Whalen and her husband Mike moved to Colgate University, in Hamilton, NY where Karen served as the Administrative Coordinator in the Office of Admissions and Mike was the associate head coach of football. After three years at Colgate the Whalens moved to Williams in the summer of 1996.
 
Karen and Mike (now the Ephs head football coach) reside in Williamstown with their two sons Jake and Luke.