Karla worked as a school librarian at the elementary, middle, and high school levels for over 17 years before earning her PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at Old Dominion University. Her research interests are related to the instructional role of the school librarian and how the library addresses the diverse needs of students. She is highly involved in research and advocacy for the educational needs of students with color vision deficiencies and for increased awareness about the condition. Karla is actively involved with the Virginia Association of School Librarians, the American Association of School Librarians, and the Association for Library and Information Science Education.