Katherine Blanchard ’10 is the 2022 Student Research Symposium keynote speaker
Whether Katherine Blanchard ’10 is presenting to her colleagues at the Smithsonian Science Education Center or in a room full of scientists, she’s confident in her ability to effectively communicate and connect with her audience. And now, Katherine is returning to her alma mater to share her educational, personal and professional journey with Kohawks as the keynote speaker for Coe College’s celebration of student academic achievement at the annual Student Research Symposium April 12.
“I feel very honored. Part of me is like, ‘wait, am I old enough to impart wisdom to young people?’ I feel like I was in college a few days ago,” she laughed.
“I’m not a scientist, but a lot of my experience at Coe set me up to confidently talk about science. As an educator, I’m often the youngest person and sometimes the only woman in a room full of scientists. I have the confidence to talk about complex topics and gain the respect of the people I’m working with because of my experiences at Coe,” she added.
Coe’s academic reputation, interdisciplinary studies and study abroad opportunities drove Katherine to apply for admission. Soon after, she was on campus auditioning for a Visual and Performing Arts Scholarship and a Writing Center Fellowship where she found far more than opportunities – she found a community that cared.
Katherine’s two-day trip to campus from New Mexico extended to three when she was unable to board her flight home due to a blizzard. At the time, Director of Campus Engagement Jill Kuhlers was Katherine’s admission counselor.
“I had to stay one more night. Jill took me out to dinner with her husband and she arranged for me to stay overnight at Clark Alumni House. This sense of care and community, in addition to the interesting classes, scholarships and community feel of the college helped me with my decision,” she said.
A self-proclaimed theatre kid, Katherine knew she wanted to pursue a theatre arts major at Coe. She was also interested in government and history which led to pursuing a political science major as well.
Outside of class, Katherine took advantage of the fact that 100 percent of Kohawks are guaranteed an internship, research or off-campus study opportunity during their time at Coe. She explored her options among the more than 40 off-campus study programs Coe offers, spending a summer at the Wilderness Field Station, a May Term in Serbia, New York Term and six months in India.
“May Term is a great introduction to students who don't feel ready for a full term. I was excited for the New York Term to experience living on my own in a city. It’s an incredible city with opportunities that you wouldn’t have available in Iowa and New Mexico, but it’s possible at Coe. That is the great thing about Coe. The world is your oyster. There is so much to do beyond the boundaries of campus that Coe makes possible,” Katherine said. “Those opportunities really set me up for life beyond Coe and for my career. I reference them all the time with colleagues and students because it was so fundamental to my development as a human beyond academic experiences.”
Katherine’s time abroad propelled her to pursue a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Serbia. As a recipient of the award, she joins a long line of Kohawk Fulbright winners, including 32 in the last nine years.
This experience sparked Katherine’s interest in non-profit organizations engaging culture and education. One year after returning to the United States, she moved to Washington, D.C., with her now husband, and quickly secured an interview with the Smithsonian Science Education Center.
“My experiences at Coe and Fulbright landed me an entry-level position at the Smithsonian. I learned about science education and I wanted to bring it together with my international experience so I decided to pursue a master’s in international education at George Washington University while working full-time,” she said.
After completing her master’s degree in 2016, Katherine continued to grow in the field and essentially created her current role as assistant director of professional services. Katherine helps science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educators across the world access quality teaching development resources in the sciences. Plus, she’s leading a new initiative to help educators in STEM support their students in becoming global citizens invested in social justice.
“The research opportunities at Coe are so robust and really allow students to develop their own voice about what they are learning about. I don't know that all of my peers in my professional career had something like this in their undergraduate experiences,” she said.
As for Kohawks anxious to present at the Student Research Symposium, Katherine’s advice is to remember it’s a safe space to step outside comfort zones. After all, for Katherine, Coe is all about people who want Kohawks to succeed.
Interested in the research and off-campus study opportunities available at Coe? Enroll at www.coe.edu/apply to learn more.