Karl belongs to the following departments in the College of Education, Health and Human Services: Childhood Development and Education; Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies; and Curriculum and Instruction. He earned his undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in mathematics, at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. While teaching in the Rock Hill School District, he also received his M.Ed. in Middle Level Education with an emphasis in mathematics. Later, he attended Virginia Tech and earned his doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Mathematics Education. He then completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan before taking a position at Kent State University. His research interests include studies of student engagement in and teacher facilitation of mathematical communication with particular focus on whole class discussions and mathematical writing.