Karen E. Peterson, Senator of the State of Delaware

Karen Peterson is an American politician, currently serving in the Delaware General Assembly as a State Senator. First elected in 2002, she is a member of the Democratic Party.

District: 9 (Newport, Stanton, Christiana, parts of Newark and Pike Creek)

 

 

Current Senate Committees:

  • Adult & Juvenile Corrections
  • Community/County Affairs
  • Finance
  • Health & Social Services
  • Highways & Transportation (Chair)
  • Labor & Industrial Relations
  • Natural Resources & Environmental Control
  • Veterans Affairs

Education:

  • B.S. (Summa Cum Laude), Neumann University
  • Paralegal Certification, Widener University
  • Labor Relations Certification, University of Delaware
  • Cornell University School of Labor & Industrial Relations
  • National Employment Law Institute
  • Governor’s Center, Duke University
  • University of Pennsylvania, Graduate work

Past Occupations:

Director, Division of Industrial Affairs, Delaware Department of Labor (retired)

Other Service, Awards, Memberships:

  • Delaware Department of Labor (27 years)
  • New Castle County Council, President (8 years)
  • Hall of Fame for Delaware Women, inducted in 1997
  • Good Government Award, Civil League for New Castle County
  • Woman of the Year Award, DE Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs
  • Woman of the Year Award, Delaware Jaycee Women
  • Woman of the Year Award, Columbus Day Committee
  • Invictus Award, Women’s Political Caucus of Delaware
  • Societal Justice Award, National Association of Forensic Counselors
  • Humane Legislator Award, Humane Society of the United States
  • Good Government Award, Common Cause
  • Courageous Legislator Award, Delaware Progressive Democrats
  • Freedom of Information Award, League of Woman Voters & DE Coalition for Open Government
  • Legislative Service Award, State Council for Persons with Disabilities
  • Legislator of the Year Award, Delaware Stonewall Democrats
  • Featured in: A Legacy from Delaware Women, Middle Atlantic Press, Inc. (1987)
  • Woman of the Year, Wilmington Jaycee Women
  • Gerald E. Kandler Award, ACLU of Delaware