Karissa is the Civic Design Manager at The Lab @ DC. She is passionate about making government services accessible for all DC residents. Much of this work has focused on improving customer service through accessible form design, conducting conversational interviews with residents, user testing, and leading co-design sessions. Her work has centered heavily on alleviating income inequality and supporting families experiencing the effects of poverty.
Prior to joining OCA she worked for DC Greens, a local nonprofit that supports food education, food access, and food policy where she served as the Director of Operations. Karissa earned a B.A. in sociology and political science from Muhlenberg College and a Masters of Public Administration from The George Washington University. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, yoga, and exploring her Ward 2 neighborhood with her husband and son.