From the 2019 Faculty and Staff Excellence Awards:
Karen Hanson is the Senior International Admissions Counselor in Enrollment Management. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Oregon, and began working at Portland State University in 1990 where she spent the first half of her PSU career coordinating the health sciences advising program within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and the second half in international admissions.
Karen noted that during the first half of her career, her best days were when a student, after spending four or more years taking classes in the incredibly competitive pre-health program and volunteering any spare time in healthcare settings, would tell her they had been accepted into a medical or dental school. The celebrations could get quite raucous! In her current role, she has the honor of traveling the world—mostly in the middle east and north Africa—to meet prospective international students and guide them through the often-confusing United States university admission and student visa processes. In both phases of her career, she has been student-centered, and takes special pride in helping students navigate the complex systems encountered within U.S. higher education.
“Karen has worked at PSU for over 28 years” says Tania Sanchez, PSU Assistant Director of Multicultural Recruitment. “While so much has changed during her time here, her passion and devotion to serving students has always remained the same. She deeply cares about her students and serves as a continuous advocate.”
“If I had to use one word to describe the relationships Karen fosters among her prospective (and eventually current) students, it would be genuine,” says Erin Jensen, PSU Assistant Director of Admissions. “For many students and their families, Karen is more than a resource; she is a friend, a family member. She is, simply put, the reason they are in the U.S., pursuing their dreams, and doing so at PSU. They visit her office frequently to share updates on their academics, ask for advice, and celebrate their accomplishments.”
The Mary H. Cumpston Award for Service to Students is given annually to an academic professional or university administrator, without academic rank, who has demonstrated excellence in the area of service to students. Mary H. Cumpston was a beloved colleague who truly embodied the meaning of excellence in service to students to the Portland State University.