Dr. Karen J Beard, EdD, Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist

Bio-Dr. Karen J Beard, EdD, Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist and tobacco industry disruptor.

Dr. Karen J. Beard is a member of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council and national spokesperson for Amplify, the statewide Coordinating Center whose mission is to prevent and eliminate tobacco/nicotine use in African American and African immigrant communities.  She facilitates Amplify’s smoking cessation masterclasses.  Dr. Beard earned her certification as a tobacco treatment specialist from Florida State University in 2014. Since 2014, she has helped people who smoke overcome the challenges of living without nicotine. One person who attended her masterclass had this to say about the masterclass… “it was an amazing experience! I learned so much that day while also having fun”. 

Dr. Beard is the community principal investigator in the “Regulating Menthol Cigarettes” study, a two-year partnership between USC and the California Black Women’s Health Project.  study being conducted in Los Angeles county.

Dr. Beard earned a Doctor of Education degree in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University and a Master of Arts degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of South Florida.  She has extensive disability and rehabilitation experience working with the United States Department of Labor, Veterans Administration Services and Social Security Disability Administration.  

Dr. Beard teaches graduate level counseling and human services courses.