by Caroline Duda, Contributing Writer

F or many Georgia College & State University students, the First-Year Academic Seminar is their initial foray into their intended major — and their first real impression of college life. One Bobcat is working to ensure that it’s a positive one. 

Dr. Kasey Karen, professor and biology program coordinator, first realized in 2019 that some students “felt kind of lost within a relatively big program on campus.” When the university embarked on a 2021 redesign of the First-Year Academic Seminar (FYAS), she made it her mission to ensure students felt at home and supported in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences.

“It was the perfect time to revisit our efforts to engage first-year students…so everyone felt more welcome,” Karen said.

In February, the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition honored Karen with its 2024-25 Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate Award.

The prestigious award, which recognizes “exceptional work in the areas of student learning, development and success,” is conferred to just 10 educators each year and is a testament to Karen’s student-first approach to teaching.

“Dr. Karen’s unwavering commitment to student success, innovative pedagogy and dedication to inclusive practices have made a significant impact on our first-year students,” said Dr. Dana Gorzelany-Mostak, associate professor of music and faculty success coordinator.

Gorzelany-Mostak nominated Karen for the award, adding, “Her efforts not only enrich the students’ academic experience, but also foster a supportive and engaging learning environment where students can grow as professionals as they acquire marketable skills.”

Karen teaches one of the department’s biology FYAS sections. Her seminar introduces students to the biology major, while also sharing strategies and resources for academic success.

Her FYAS section, which she first began to design at the Summer High Impact Practices Institute, has been so successful that she has since shared it with colleagues at other Summer HIPs Institutes and New Faculty Orientation.

As part of her redesign, Karen explores these elements through the lens of scientific literacy — a critical skill for biology majors. She helps students place biology within the broader context of the liberal arts and the world.

“It feels very rewarding to be recognized for my efforts,” Karen said of the award.

Karen joined the College of Arts & Sciences in 2013. “I was really excited about the prospect of working at a public liberal arts college that also had a master's program in biology,” Karen said. “It really felt like the best of both worlds, teaching and research.”

Her FYAS students are immersed in a Freshman Engagement Series (FES), offering a more casual environment in which to meet fellow majors and faculty. The series includes meet-and-greets with faculty members, social events like science trivia and table talks.

During table talks, “students enjoy free lunch with faculty members in the dining hall to get to know the faculty and learn about biology research,” said Kaitlyn Donovan, a senior biology major. With a maximum of six students and three faculty members per table talk, the resulting conversations often lead to lasting impressions and stronger faculty-student relationships.

“FES events are a wonderful opportunity for students to find friends in their major, get to know their current and future professors better, and even find research mentors,” Donovan said.

For Heather Vincent, who will graduate this spring with a bachelor's degree in Biology, Karen is a vital and long-term mentor committed to her academic, personal and professional success.

“I met Dr. Karen my freshman year after sending her an email inquiring about her research lab,” Vincent said.

The two met in person and Vincent quickly joined the lab. Over the almost four years since, she has also enrolled in three of Karen’s classes, participated in two of the student organization executive teams Karen advises, and helped to further develop the FES.

“I am so thankful to have met Dr. Karen my freshman year,” Vincent said. “She has given me advice that feels tailored and insightful to my experiences…I’ve gained invaluable communication, presentation and team-management skills by working with her during my undergraduate years.”

Vincent hopes to attend medical school and credits Karen with helping her prepare. “Dr. Karen helped me make the most of my undergraduate career, but it wasn’t just because she is a great professor or research advisor,” Vincent said.

For incoming first-year students, Karen offers some simple advice for making the most of their time in Milledgeville, “Be open to new experiences. Become more comfortable being uncomfortable – some of the most important learning experiences will take you out of your comfort zone.”

Header Image: Dr. Kasey Karen, center, accepts the award for Outstanding First-Year Student Advocate, awarded by the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition. (Photo: The National Resource Center)