Staff Spotlight – Carolyn Krause
Carolyn Krause
Each month, faculty and staff are recognized for their enormous contribution to Union. In the words of President Sublett, “Only people make a difference in an organization and only people are important in our lives.”
This month UI&U is highlighting Carolyn Krause, VP of Advancement. Among many other responsibilities, Carolyn works closely with President Sublett to coordinate and oversee the myriad details of National Commencement. This special day takes months of planning to make sure everything is perfect for our highly motivated adults as they culminate their studies and reach their professional goals, joining the 15,500 Union alumni who engage in a lifetime of learning, service, and social responsibility.
The 2017 National Commencement is Saturday, October 28 at the Hilton Netherland Plaza in Cincinnati, beginning at 11 a.m. The Most Honorable Portia Lucretia Simpson Miller, 1997 alumna, and former Jamaican prime minister, will present the keynote. Union’s trustees, faculty, and more than 75 commencers and their families will participate in the ceremonies.
Learn more about Carolyn in the Q&A below.
Q. What excites you about being a part of higher education?
A. Working in the non-profit arena makes my life meaningful. Higher education is so rewarding because we have the opportunity to serve so many as they achieve their long-held dreams and go out into the world with fresh perspectives and the desire to make a difference. Working in higher ed allows me to contribute and give back so others can succeed and pay their education forward. An added bonus is that higher ed is constantly changing and innovating. Exposure to so many great minds — all looking to make a difference– is always inspiring.
Q. What attracted you to become a part of the Union family?
A. From the day I walked in the door, the Union community has humbled me. We are surrounded by inspired and inspiring individuals with hard won goals. Our students are working — sometimes two jobs — raising children and/or caring for aging relatives. They are leaders in their organizations, active in their neighborhood, their churches, local and sometimes national government, and they are taking the little time they have left to pursue an advanced degree. They are hungry to better themselves and their communities and Union provides that pathway.
Q. If you could have any job in the whole world, what would it be?
A. The one I have, of course!, but I would also love to work for a foundation, seeking and funding projects that improve the lives of others, particularly through art.
Q. What surprises people about you?
A. I had the privilege and opportunity to grow up mostly overseas, living in three continents. That experience allowed me to learn about different cultures and better understand how the majority of the world’s population lives. There is so much good to be done in the world, and education is the best pathway to make a difference.
Q. What is your favorite book, and why?
A. I always say, “you mean, besides Toni Morrison’s ‘Beloved?’ I have so many favorites: anything by Jhumpa Lahiri (Interpreter of Maladies) Donna Tartt (The Goldfinch), Ann Patchett (Bel Canto). All of these award winning authors tell remarkable and memorable stories, and peel away layers of the human condition, all while writing absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous prose.