Karen and I first crossed paths in the lush forests of Costa Rica at a Sacred Movement retreat, a space where yoga, dance, and nature wove us into a shared rhythm. Amidst conversations about spirituality, feminine embodiment, and collective liberation, I felt a deep admiration and a heartful connection.

Our experience together planted the seeds of friendship, and a few years later, Karen invited me to photograph her — not just as a professor or professional, but as a whole woman: scholar, spiritual seeker, community builder, yoga teacher, and fierce advocate for embodied theology. It was an invitation to witness and reflect back the fullness of her being, and I was honored to say yes.

We met in Chicago at Promontory Point, a meeting place of earth and architecture. Nestled between city and lake, it holds the perfect balance: trees and stone, stillness and motion, structure and flow. It felt like the perfect mirror for her work, rooted in ancient wisdom, alive in contemporary city life.

Formal doctoral researcher and lecturer at Loyola University and graduate program director at Marquette, Karen Ross, PhD. now leads the Pathways@CTU program at Catholic Theological Union, centering the voices and visions of young people, especially those from historically marginalized communities. Her academic work is steeped in feminist ethics and Catholic sexuality education, and she brings this rich, rigorous foundation to every space she enters.

Karen has also brought her work beyond the classroom with Magdalene Circle, a sacred space she founded for women. She holds monthly gatherings, retreats, and classes that explore the intersections of body, gender, and spirit. It’s a place where feminist theology meets lived experience, where sacred texts are not only studied but felt and reimagined. It is a space where women are invited to see their bodies as divine and their voices as oracles of truth.

Karen brought along a few sacred objects from her life for her soulful brand photo session—a yoga mat, books, mala beads, and a candle. We moved slowly as she meditated, journaled, and flowed through gentle movement. The sun filtered through the trees, and the lake offered its steady flow as we honored and captured her essence and calling.

What I admire most about Karen is her integrity. She is warm and open, yet strong in her convictions. Soft but fierce. She invites others in with kindness while holding clear and powerful boundaries. And in all she does, she walks with the intention to help women remember who they are: sacred, whole, and worthy of reverence.

Whether in a lecture hall or a candlelit circle, Karen’s soul medicine is her embodied wisdom and heartful presence. She is a woman who walks her truth in each moment. And it was such a gift to hold space for her to be seen, to witness her rising, and to reflect her undeniable radiance.

Karen, thank you for the work you do, rooted in justice, alive with spirit, and always in service of collective healing. It was such a joy to co-create with you.