Dr. Swanson has been the Director of the Institute for Prison Ministries (IPM), Billy Graham Center for Evangelism at Wheaton College since 2005. As Director, she oversees the Charles W. Colson scholarship program and pursues the goals of the Institute for Prison Ministries through networks, collaboration and strategic partners. She has more than 25 years of higher education experience and developed and taught Correctional Ministry courses at Wheaton College, now offered through Christian University GlobalNet. Currently, Karen provides the volunteer training for Cook County Jail religious volunteers. She has presented at multiple conferences and has co-authored, with Lennie Spitale, the book Released.