Karen L. Weis, PhD, RNC-OB, FAAN is a Professor and Dean of the University of Kansas School of Nursing (Salina campus) and the Christine A. Hartley Rural Nursing Endowed Chair.

She is a 29-year Veteran of the United States Air Force. She completed five military deployments, one of which was as Director of the Joint Combat Casualty Research Team. She was the consultant to the Surgeon General for Nursing Research.

Her research is focused on perinatal mental health, birth outcomes and the associated maternal-fetal physiologic responses. Her work has led to the development of the Mentors Offering Maternal Support (M-O-M-S) Intervention.

She has been funded by TriService Nursing Research, DoD Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, and the Uniformed Services University. In addition to articles and book chapters, she co-authored the text Psychosocial Adaptation to Pregnancy.