Karen K. Goh

Karen K. Goh is mayor of Bakersfield, elected in 2018 and reelected to a second term in 2020. She is also president/CEO of Garden Pathways, a community-based nonprofit that mentors and educates children, youth, and adults to build productive lives. She leads a broad spectrum of community initiatives to assist at-risk families move toward educational advancement, employment, family stability, self-sufficiency, healthy living, and improved quality of life. Previously, she served as fifth district supervisor of Kern County. Prior to her political career, she held executive positions in educational publishing at McGraw-Hill, including vice president of publishing operations. She serves on the boards of the Rotary Club of Bakersfield, Bakersfield Arts District Foundation, and Kern Leadership Alliance. She also serves as an advisor to Bakersfield Safe Streets Partnership and Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. She is a recipient of numerous awards, including the Community Action Partnership of Kern “2017 Humanitarian of the Year.” She earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees in music education from the University of Southern California.