Karen Givvin
Co-Founder

Karen Givvin, PhD, is an Adjunct Professor at UCLA with joint appointments in Psychology and Education. Her work centers on teaching/coaching, learning, and motivation in achievement settings. At CourseKata, Karen contributes to the design and evaluation of instructional tools that support motivation and engagement, especially in statistics and data science.
Karen’s research background includes studies of teaching practices, motivation theory, and cultural differences in learning. She has played a key role in shaping CourseKata’s learner-centered philosophy, emphasizing the importance of helping students believe in their ability to grow and succeed. Whether designing learning sequences or analyzing student feedback, Karen brings a sharp eye for both the psychological and pedagogical dimensions of student success.