Karen Gran ’96 is an internationally recognized fluvial geomorphologist whose research has profoundly shaped how rivers and sediment transport are understood and managed worldwide. After studying geology at Carleton, she earned an MS from the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities in 2000 and a PhD from the University of Washington in 2005. Currently a professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Minnesota–Duluth, Gran is a prolific scholar who has authored over 34 peer-reviewed papers and earned more than $4 million in research funding. Her 2013 paper on landscape evolution received the 2018 Kirk Bryan Award, one of the most prestigious honors in the field of geomorphology. A fellow of the Geological Society of America and a sought-after mentor, she has advised 27 graduate students and many undergraduates, whose work has had a wide-ranging scientific and environmental impact. She serves as the chair for the society’s Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology division. Beyond her academic rigor, she is a Minnesota Master Naturalist and a dedicated community volunteer in Duluth. Equally distinguished for her leadership and service, Gran exemplifies academic excellence, generosity, and commitment to the broader scientific community.