Founder of Cooke School & Institute, Karen P. Robards is a businessperson who has been at the helm of 20 different companies and holds the position of Co-Chairman at BlackRock New York Municipal Income Trust, Co-Chairman of Blackrock Preferred Partners LLC, Co-Chairman for Blackrock Science & Technology Trust, Co-Chairman for BlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund, Inc., Co-Chairman at BlackRock MuniYield California Fund, Inc., Co-Chairman at Blackrock 2022 Global Income Opportunity Trust, Co-Chairman at BlackRock Municipal Income Investment Trust, Co-Chairman for BlackRock Municipal Income Investment Quality Trust, Co-Chairman of BlackRock MuniYield Investment Fund, Co-Chairman at Blackrock MuniYield Investment Quality Fund, Co-Chairman of BlackRock Municipal 2030 Target Term Trust, Co-Chairman for BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund II, Inc., Co-Chairman for BlackRock New York Municipal Income Quality Trust, Co-Chairman for BlackRock MuniYield Quality Fund III, Inc., Co-Chairman for BlackRock MuniHoldings California Quality Fund, Inc. and Co-Chairman-Trustees Board at BlackRock Health Sciences Trust II. Ms. Robards is also Principal at Robards & Co. LLC and on the board of 58 other companies.

In her past career Ms. Robards was Vice Chairman of BlackRock Investment Quality Municipal Income Trust, Investment Banker at Morgan Stanley, Co-Chairman at BlackRock Muni New York Intermediate Duration Fund, Inc. and Vice Chairman at BlackRock MuniYield Michigan Insured Fund II, Inc.

She received an undergraduate degree from Smith College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.