Katie Bowen, M.Ed., academic recruitment and retention coordinator for Kent State University College of Nursing, has called Kent State home for 15 years. A three-time alumna, Katie’s undergraduate experience was shaped through her participation on the varsity softball team. “My teammates were amazing and we had the extraordinary opportunity to travel across the country together. The energy and excitement that came with being part of the Golden Flash family is indescribable.” A self-described people watcher, Katie’s favorite spot on campus continues to be the steps of the Memorial Athletic and Convocation (M.A.C.) Center. “My teammates and I would often sit there between classes or while waiting for practice to begin. It’s definitely a spot I love, but that probably has more to do with the memories I associate with it.”
Katie Bowen, right, advises a nursing student.
In 2005, the College of Nursing welcomed Katie as a Graduate Assistant in the advising department. She accepted a full-time advising position within the college in 2007. From a student’s first days on campus, right up until they walk across the stage to receive their nursing pin, Katie enjoys working with students at all levels of the nursing program. “I have a small population of freshmen and also teach the First Year Experience course; however, the majority of my advising sessions are with sophomores through seniors in our traditional BSN program.”
Her favorite part about being an advisor is the growth she observes in her students. According to Katie, growth doesn’t always come from fun or exciting experiences. Most often she witnesses those ‘ah ha’ moments after a student has come through a challenging ordeal. “Our students are some of the most resilient students on campus. They are tough, determined and have their own community of support. Watching them grow in to practicing nurses, hearing they have passed the NCLEX exam and seeing them out in the ‘real world’ is beyond gratifying.”
Grateful to be able to still call the College of Nursing home after 10 plus years, Katie says it’s the amazing people she works with in The Office of Student Services that makes working at Kent State so enjoyable. “We laugh, joke, support and care for each other in a way that is extraordinary. I think you would be hard pressed to find a better group of people on campus.”
