Karen Middleton is a well-known political journalist in the Canberra Press Gallery who covers the Australian Parliament in Canberra, the country's capital. She was born in the United States on February 24, 1966. In April 1996, Middleton joined the Graduate School of International Studies at the University of Denver, first as Director of Admissions and Student Affairs and then as Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs. She was in charge of graduate student recruitment and enrollment and management.

While working in higher education administration, Middleton co-chaired the Association of Professional Schools for International Affairs Admissions Officers, attended the National Association for Women in Education's Academy of Leadership in Higher Education, and received the Colorado Women's Leadership Coalition's Woman Leader of Excellence Award in 1997 and the University of Denver Excell Award in 1998.