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Karen Wells is the inaugural fellow at the Family and Small Business Program at the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law. In her work, Ms. Wells is supporting the resilience of family and small businesses in South Carolina by identifying risk factors, providing resources and networking opportunities, and advocating for practical solutions. Her current research focuses on how environmental issues and land preservation efforts impact family and small businesses.

Prior to Law School, Ms. Wells worked in finance, including founding Wells, Canning & Associates (WCA), an investment consulting firm. WCA, a family-owned business, worked with financial institutions to help them develop, implement, and oversee their investments. In 2011, Karen Wells negotiated the successful sale of WCA to Towers Watson, a global consultancy, and oversaw the successful transition of employees and clients.

Ms. Wells has a B.A. in economics from Barnard College at Columbia University, a M.A. in biology from Miami University, and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She currently serves on the board of a life insurance company and a proptech startup.