Meet the Staff: Karen Boyd

Communications Manager
,
OH-TECH
Tuesday, March 22, 2016 - 1:30pm (updated Wednesday, August 2, 2017 - 11:03am)

Karen Boyd, eTutoring Coordinator, has a passion for helping students reach the “aha” moment in learning. Before coming to eStudent Services, Karen worked in higher education as an adjunct faculty member at Central Ohio Technical College in communications.

She received her Master of Social Sciences from Ohio University, her bachelor’s degree in communications from Capital University and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Leadership Studies from Ashland University.

Karen recently discussed topics with eStudent Services such as why eTutoring is important for students, the touching story behind her kissing angels collection and why she tells people she is WYSIWYG.

 

How long have you been with eStudent Services? Since November 9, 2009.

What are your responsibilities as the Program Manager at eStudent Services? I’m responsible for building a collaborative system of higher education institutions that support online tutoring services. I also create training opportunities for synchronous and asynchronous tutors, monitor usage and encourage strategic marketing on campuses that supports student retention.

What led you to a position in higher education services? Being at the right place at the right time and knowing the right people. I am forever grateful for colleagues who supported my application and saw potential in my abilities.

Why do you feel eTutoring is such an important tool for high school/undergraduate students? Tutoring has long had a questionable reputation. As a student, admitting you need extra help comes with a negative stigma – as if to wear a scarlet letter. Online tutoring allows students to remain anonymous while seeking help. However, we don’t actually know who uses eTutoring, and that’s what I want to discover. I want to be able to answer the question, “Are we helping the students who are struggling or are we supporting the students who want the A over the B?”

What is one of your most memorable experiences with a tutor? As a student, I appreciated the patience the tutors gave me. As a professional, I love seeing a tutor and student interact and witnessing the “aha” moment when they reach common ground. Priceless!

What’s something about yourself that might surprise people? I am a harpist.

What goals do you have for yourself this year?  Professionally, I would like to continue spreading the word of collaborative efforts. Being a part of the North American eTutoring community allows us to share ideas among coordinators and institutions. It’s the best opportunity I’ve had as a professional.

Do you have something that you collect? Kissing angels. My mom and dad had a pair of small figurines and when they’d argue, one would put its back against the other. When the other spouse wanted to make up, they’d face them so they were kissing. These items were sold at an auction after my parents died unexpectedly. Retrieving them took more than 10 years, and I am forever grateful because I never knew the story about them until after my parents were gone.

Anything else about yourself we should know? In a survey for graduate school, an eTutoring respondent wrote about me as being “cloying.” It stung like a hive of bees because I’ve always told people, I’m WYSIWYG: what you see if what you get (an early desktop publishing acronym).