Senator Karen Kwan was elected to the Utah Legislature in 2016 to represent the residents of Taylorsville, Murray. Millcreek, and West Valley City. She was appointed to the Utah Senate District 12 in 2023 upon the retirement of Senator Karen Mayne. She is a long-term resident of Taylorsville, where she lives with her family.

Senator Kwan earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology both from Pepperdine University. She has a doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. She is Associate Professor of Psychology Emeritus at Salt Lake Community College, where she was named the SLCC 2014 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer. She retired from SLCC in 2023.

Senator Kwan has always been passionate about serving her community and has served selflessly through various community and civic engagement organizations. She worked as program assistant at the Asian Association of Utah and Adviser at the Center for Ethnic Student Affairs at the University of Utah. Before running for office, she sat on the Governor’s Asian-American Council.  Senator Kwan is proud to be the first Chinese-American in the Utah Legislature but hopes she will be the first of many.

As a member of the Utah State Legislature, Senator Kwan avidly works on legislation to support local businesses, invest in quality education, enhance the care of senior communities, preserve family values, and advance equality for all Utahns. She is grateful for the opportunity to represent Utahns and looks forward meeting constituents throughout the district.

She currently serves on the following legislative committees:
Administrative Rules Review and General Oversight Committee
Business and Labor Interim Committee
Federalism Commission
Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee
Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee
International Relations and Trade Committee
Senate Business and Labor Committee
Senate Business and Labor Confirmation Committee
Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee
Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Confirmation Committee
Senate Ethics Committee
Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee
Senate Retirement and Independent Entities Confirmation Committee
Senate Rules Committee
Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee
Transportation Interim Committeeiw