Profile

NAME: Elaine Karn
OCCUPATION: Secretary II, College of Human Ecology

Although Elaine Karn has worked at MSU for 25 years in various departments, she enjoys positions involving work with students best.

Karn, currently a secretary to four advisers in the College of Human Ecology, pulls student folders, changes their majors when they decide to come from other colleges and helps them get credit for classes that are similar to the core-class requirements.

“I love working with students,” Karn said. “They are always so invigorating. They come into the advising office full of dreams of what they want to do.”

Karn worked at the National Food Safety and Toxicology Center, then switched to a secretarial position at the Institute for Children, Youth and Families where she had contact with students. She scheduled their advising appointments and supervised and made schedules for student workers.

She has taken some business-related courses at Greenville College and Lansing Community College. Outside of work Karn is involved with Operation Carelist. With the organization, she has traveled to Russia seven times, visiting orphanages, schools and hospitals to provide humanitarian aid efforts, including helping children and assisting with parties at hospitals.

By Amanda Carra

Copyright 2001 Michigan State University Division of University Relations.