Karen Meunier
My early years were pretty standard, following a set of unspoken rules. School, marriage, and children, all while building my career.
My career began in disability services, next working in counseling before becoming a police officer. I enjoyed being a police officer, finding it incredibly fulfilling. However, I faced challenges from within the department due to discrimination, which at times, made my mission more difficult.
Despite these difficulties, I believed in the mission, and I was proud of the work I was doing. I moved on and became a senior investigator and then a supervisor of investigations in the Office of the Inspector General, in Washington, D.C., tackling government corruption.
I received awards from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and other agencies for my high-profile investigations, but internally, I was still dealing with the same prejudices I experienced as a police officer. Different environment, different individuals, but the same attitude toward women who are getting recognized for their work. I would take it in stride, thinking this is the way it is in this line of work. But after many years of this it eventually took a toll on my happiness. This led to a pivotal moment when I decided to quit my job without a backup plan. I bought an RV, sold my home, and traveled solo across the U.S. for seven transformative months. With my children grown and on their own, this journey allowed me to reconnect with myself outside of societal roles, helping me realize my true passions.
After earning my degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University while working full-time, I pursued my dream of teaching. Despite often hearing that I wouldn’t be hired due to my age, I knew in my heart that it would work out. I often say that if you can picture yourself in a position and hold onto that thought without giving up, it will happen.
Since starting my new career, I secured a position as a full-time temporary instructor at a Pennsylvania university, where I worked for two years. Within a month of leaving this position, I was hired for a permanent role as an Associate Professor at a prestigious university, where I led courses in law enforcement. Teaching felt right, and I enjoyed it immensely.
What I learned from listening to my female students is that many of the negative comments and attitudes I experienced in my career were occurring—albeit subtly—in the academic setting. I had hoped times had changed, but unfortunately, they have not. I founded an organization called Women4Women in hopes of creating a support network where women would help each other and assist newly graduated students interested in similar careers.
Upon retiring, the desire to continue building a network to support girls and young women as they navigate their life paths never left me. In fact, it seems that in recent years, we are regressing —which strengthens the need for support even more.
The book To Be . . . Me is just the start. To Be Me Forever is a project developed from the book—a place where women will provide support, mentorship, and guidance to younger generations.