Dr. Karen Violanti, Executive Director of First Year Success Programs at UNLV, reflects on her journey since joining in 2022. She values the people most, finding joy in connecting with faculty, staff, and students. Karen's traits of kindness and empathy drive her interactions, while her pursuit of balance between work and life remains ongoing. Karen draws inspiration from her family and colleagues, emphasizing the importance of authenticity for women starting their careers. Her advice: believe in yourself and embrace your passions. Karen's story epitomizes dedication, compassion, and self-belief.
Tell us about your experience at UNLV?
I joined the UNLV community in February of 2022 with the launch of my position and the new First Year Experience (FYE) Office. It has been an incredible journey these last few years creating and supporting the growth of FYE and identifying how to best support our first year students!
What is your favorite thing about working at UNLV?
Without hesitation it is the people! I have loved every minute of the opportunities to meet and connect with faculty, staff and of course our incredible students who bring joy and purpose to each and every day that we are here.
What trait do you most like about yourself?
It is important to me to be kind, open, welcoming, compassionate and empathic in my interactions with everyone in my life so I feel like I do well, each day, identifying opportunities to find and do the "little things" that truly can and often do matter in people's lives.
If you could learn to master one thing, what would it be?
How to find the "right" balance in life between my work and everything else! It is so challenging (as we all know) and can be a struggle to find the right formula to support everything I love in life and want to give 110% to each day!
Tell us something that might surprise us about you.
A few fun things that may be surprising is that I am a distance runner and I am a passholder/magic key holder in both Disneyworld and Disneyland! In my passion for lifelong learning, I am also (as of this semester) pursuing a second Master's degree right here at UNLV!
What inspires or empowers you?
My biggest inspiration is my family who have supported me from day one and still to this day with work and life! I would not be who I am without them. My other largest inspiration are my colleagues at UNLV who work with and in partnership with me and the FYE Office - thank you to all of you! Your support and willingness to collaborate with FYE empowers all of us to work together to best support our students as a team and network - nothing better than that for students!
Tell us about a woman who has been a mentor to you.
There are so many! I have been so lucky to have incredible women in my life including my Mom, my sister, my best friend and many colleagues along the way who demonstrated to me what it means to be a strong and compassionate woman, leader and professional. I am so thankful for every woman who has crossed my path to share wisdom and offer support of my life path.
Any advice for women starting careers on campus?
Stay true to who you are as a person and dive in with your whole heart to what you love and are passionate about! Every single thing you do can and will make a difference, even in those moments when you feel as if they may not. Believe in yourself and "do hard things" as they say - you can and will do it!
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