Karen S. Runyon has thirty years experience as a Forensic Document Examiner, consulting in both criminal and civil cases. Her formal apprenticeship training into the field was conducted at Indiana State Police from 1978 through 1982, after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in The Administration of Criminal Justice and Sociology from Anderson University in Indiana. She has received adjunct specialized training through the U.S. Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Rochester Institute of Technology, The Institute of Paper Chemistry and numerous agencies or institutions involved in forensic science, legal issues or the production of documents. Maintaining a fully equipped laboratory since 1988 for private practice, Karen conducts a full range of examinations within this discipline, consulting with law enforcement agencies, prosecuting and defense attorneys, civil law firms, corporate security and human resource personnel, insurance and banking industry staff, and private individuals. She has provided training and lectures to numerous organizations and institutions, including the University of Minnesota, Hamline University, the Minnesota Bar Association and the Minnesota chapter of the International Association for Identification. She serves as adjunct faculty for Hamline University, regularly teaching in their Forensic Science undergrad program and in the correlated law school curriculum. An advocate for access to reliable forensic science for all parties, Karen serves on the Minnesota Innocence Project Advisory Board and particpates in MNIP-sponsored educational seminars.

Since 1982, Ms. Runyon has provided testimony in approximately 230 cases in ten U.S. states including criminal and civil trials in state and federal courts, arbitrations, NASD hearings and depositions. She routinely uses multimedia and other demonstrative methods to illustrate and explain findings. Active in professional groups, Ms. Runyon is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Questioned Document Section, and a past member of the Midwestern Association of Forensic Scientists (MAFS). She has served on numerous committees with MAFS, as well as chairing the Document Section and representing MAFS on the F.B.I.'s Scientific Working Group on Forensic Document Examination (SWGDOC). Continuing to serve on SWGDOC where forensic document examination standards are drafted, Karen is actively involved in the subsequent publication of standards through the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), an international publisher of standards. Since 2005, she has served as Secretary for the ASTM E30 Forensic Science committee, as well as continuing her participation in the E30.02 Questioned Document subcommittee.

As part of her private practice, in 2006-2008 Ms. Runyon acted as a contractor to the U.S. Secret Service Forensic Services Division, examining current casework in the Questioned Document Branch, conducting peer review, mentoring new examiners in training, and assisting with F.I.S.H. (Forensic Information System on Handwriting) cases and contractors. This exceptional federal laboratory experience enhanced her professional understanding and knowledge of city, regional, state and private forensic laboratory systems and issues.

Ms. Runyon is proficiency tested twice each year through Collborative Testing Services (CTS) and her results may be accessed at (provide link).