Karen Kasmauski

Karen Kasmauski is a photographer, filmmaker, project manager, and educator specializing in documentary photography, global health, and visual storytelling. During her two decades as a National Geographic magazine photographer, Kasmauski produced 25 major stories on topics including the ecology of disease, human migration, viruses, aging, and genetics. Many of these stories were based on ideas she originated and proposed. Her assignments have taken her from the rainforests of Malaysia to the megacities of India and the north slope of Alaska. She has covered earthquakes in Japan, been arrested in Africa, and exposed to radiation in Russia.

Kasmauski’s work often focuses on family dynamics and the interactions between individuals, documenting people in challenging circumstances. Her global health projects led to collaborations with Emory University, resulting in the book "NURSE: A World of Care," which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her earlier book, "IMPACT: From the Front Lines of Global Health," examines the causes of infectious diseases worldwide. Both books include introductions by former President Jimmy Carter.

Kasmauski’s documentary film, "Fall Seven Times, Get Up Eight—The Japanese War Brides," aired globally on BBC. She received a Getty Images grant and a Knight Fellowship to study at Ohio University, where she earned an MA in visual communication. Kasmauski leads photography tours for National Geographic and teaches at George Washington University and George Mason University. Her photographs have been exhibited at the United States Congress, the Centers for Disease Control, and the National Geographic Society. She is a senior fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and has spoken at events such as TEDx MidAtlantic. Kasmauski’s work emphasizes the role of photography in connecting people through shared human experiences.