Profile for Karolyn Bald
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Karolyn Bald
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Director of International Edu & Engagement
Intl Education & Engagement
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Karolyn Bald Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Director of International Edu & Engagement
Intl Education & Engagement
Specialty area(s)
Study Abroad: Wisconsin-in-Scotland, 1996
Staff/Faculty-Led Programs: Ghana, 2005 and Vietnam, 2009
International education and engagement, education abroad/away, international student programs, internship programs, job search strategies, resume and cover letter writing, graduate school tips, employment trends, academic advising, pre-health advising
Brief biography
My career started totally by happenstance. I loved college and was involved as much as possible as a student. UWL opened doors to me that I didn't even know existed - student government, residence hall involvement, academic clubs, and study abroad. As a first-generation college student, my parents were incredibly supportive but often wondered what all this involvement was really about but little did I know I stumbled upon my future career. It was an appt with my career advisor when I realized, "Wow, she really loves her job!" I grew up with parents that had "jobs" to pay the bills, but this advisor had a "career" - there was passion. So that was really the beginning of my career story. Thankfully, my parents let me follow my interests in part because they didn't know how to help. I just needed to be able to support myself and be independent. It is from their hard work and supports that I am where I am today. For nearly 20+ years, I worked in the Academic Advising Center & Career Services Office - the same office as my former advisor (in fact, she was my first mentor and boss). As of September 2020, I have served as the Director of International Education & Engagement. It brings all my experiences into one ideal position - experiential experiences and international. My advice for students is - work hard and volunteer (at work and in your community) to help because you never know who is paying attention and what opportunities might present themselves to you.
Personal notes: My partner is a Yooper with a fantastic sense of humor (yeah, you might need to look that one up), an adorable son (Jack), and two wild dogs (Miley & Kiwi).
I am #UWLProud!
Education
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI
Master of Science in Education – College Student Development and Administration
Bachelor of Science - Public Administration/Political Science
Career
Professional history
Director of International Education & Engagement, 2020-present
Assistant Director of the Academic Advising Center & Career Services, 2016-2020
Career Advisor for the College of Liberal Studies (CASSH), 1999-2016
Co-Founder of the UWL Peace Corps Prep program
Co-Leaders of 2 Study Tours - Ghana, West Africa & Vietnam/Hong Kong
Instructor for Career Preparation/Exploration Courses and Freshman Seminar
Family Cluster Facilitator, LeaderShape
News
Kudos
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