Karen Lightman is the Interim Executive Director of Safety21 as well as the Executive Director of Metro21: Smart Cities Institute at CMU. Karen is an internationally recognized leader in building and supporting communities based on emerging technologies. Her diverse background spans the consumer, military, healthcare, manufacturing, and automotive sectors. Karen is ranked by EETimes as one of the top 25 “Women in Tech.”  She is a passionate advocate and spokesperson for technology solutions to real-world problems and has held several board positions and is currently treasurer on the board of the MetroLab Network. She has a BA from the University of Vermont  and a MS in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College.  Mom to two great young adults, Karen lives in Pittsburgh with her husband and dog.