The Liberal Arts Office of Undergraduate Studies (LAUS) would like to congratulate one of our staff members, Karen Sones, Lead Adviser in Crime, Law, and Justice and Sociology, on receiving the Liberal Arts Staff Employee Recognition (LASER) Award. The LASER Award is the highest award a staff member in the College of the Liberal Arts can receive. Recipients of the award have demonstrated superior performance in their position, have exceeded expectations, and have significantly impacted the College for the better.

Karen has been with the College of the Liberal Arts for thirteen of her almost twenty three years as an employee at Penn State. She began in the Liberal Arts as an adviser in the Crime, Law, and Justice and Sociology Departments. She is currently the Lead Adviser in the same department. Karen’s main responsibilities include advising students; supervising advisers in her work unit; and serving as project lead for College initiatives as well as University sponsored programs for the College, such as FTCAP and Accepted Student Offer Sessions. Additionally, Karen supports the department by overseeing a student newsletter and serving as a member of the Justice Association Advisory board, SOC Undergraduate Committee, and CLJ Undergraduate Committee.

In addition to her job related duties, Karen has extended her service to the University community at large. For the last ten years she has devoted her time to the Fast Start Mentor Program as well as taking an active role in adult learner advocacy by serving as a member of the Hendrick Best Practices Subcommittee for the Commission for Adult Learners. In other student support roles, Karen is a member of the LGBT Support Network and is a mentor for foreign exchange students.

Congratulations on this prestigious award, Karen!

See the Liberal Arts Staff Awards web site for a complete list of 2009-2010 recipients.