Karen Gendron

Faculty of Health, Public Safety and Community Studies

Karen is the Student Success Specialist for the Faculty of Health Public Safety and Community Studies. She continually goes out of her way to assist students and can often be found in her office well into the evening hours, as she meets with students at times that work for them. It doesn’t matter how long an issue and/or concern might take, Karen doesn’t look at the clock she gives each and everyone that she comes in contact with her undivided attention.

Karen is always seeking out ways to “reach out to the students” making herself more visible. For example, she was aware that some mature students were having difficulties adjusting to College life so she started up a Coffee House where students can come and meet other mature students and form connections. Student Success is always at the forefront of Karen’s initiatives!
To Karen’s credit, the Victimology Program has not lost one student this year. Several students who have faced financial difficulty appreciated Karen as she was able to connect them with bursaries or other financial resources to assist and thereby ensuring that they were able to continue their studies. Faculty, staff and students alike know that when they bring a question to Karen that she’ll address the answer forthwith without delay and if she doesn’t know the answer will find it out and advise. This is another testament to her character.

It takes a special person to do the job she does and we’re very blessed to have her in our faculty as an advocate for our students within the various programs. It has been a privilege to work with such a remarkable woman who demonstrates on a daily basis the meaning of “here to help”!!

Nominated by: Tess Porter and Ruth Campbell

Presented on: March 14, 2012