Biography for

Karen (VanBelleghem) Murany

After Karen graduated from Bowling Green State University, Karen taught math in Columbus for a year. She married Andy Murany and moved to Horseheads, NY where Karen taught high school math and Andy taught at Corning Community College. Living in the Finger Lakes area, boating became their favorite summer activity which continued throughout their marriage. During this time Karen earned her Master’s from Elmira College. Four years later they moved to the Detroit area where Andy joined Price Waterhouse, and earned his CPA.

The Detroit area offered many opportunities to teach at the college level. Initially, Karen taught part time and soon worked herself into a full time position at Lawrence Technological University where she taught a total of 16 years. She then took a position at Oakland Community College where she currently works, just completing her 20^th year at OCC as a mathematics instructor.  Karen finds many challenges and rewards in this position, especially the work with math tutors and student instructors.

Karen and her family have thoroughly enjoyed the joys of the outdoors over the years. They regularly boat and water ski and hit the hiking trails in the Ludington, MI area. They also continue their annual summer vacation trips to Canada at the same lake where Karen has visited since her teenage years. During the winter, they also frequently visit the slopes for snow skiing.

Andy was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2005. Andy maintained a positive spirit throughout, learning how to operate a computer with his feet and drive his wheel chair with his head. He courageously fought it for four years and Karen lost him in November, 2008.

Karen and Andy had two daughters. One daughter lives in Michigan, near Karen and the other daughter lives in Maumee, OH. Karen is fortunate to spend time with her five grandchildren on a regular basis.