Newsletter Editor & Website Coordinator

Karen Schmidt

Contact Info: karen.schmidt@unco.edu, 351-1394
Program: Educational Psychology Ph.D.
Year in Program: 4th year
Prior Degree Info:

  • B.M. in Music Education, University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
  • M.M. in Music Education from UNC

Karen’s research interests:

EVERYTHING. Seriously, though, I get sidetracked easily. Generally speaking, my primary areas of interest are: (1) equine-assisted learning, (2) music (music, emotion, & cognition; motivation to participate & persist in music activities), (3) teacher development, and (4) supplemental learning in higher ed. Oh, and scratching the surface of adult AD/HD.

What Karen currently does for work and research:

I’m a GA at UNC’s tutoring center in charge of data management and analysis. As part of that, I’m also helping with a First-Year Experience (FYE) course and piloting a study looking at the impact of cross-level peer tutoring on student academic self-efficacy. I’m also working with Dr. Pugh (and Cassie) on a project focusing on teaching for transformative experiences, and with Dr. Mark Smith (in the SES department) looking at the influence of favorite teachers on preservice teacher development.

What Karen does for fun as a graduate student:

I like to do active things like running and working out and swimming (I’m from the Northwest – I love water!) and hiking. I also spend as much time as possible with my big, goofy horse and you can find me playing in the viola section of the Loveland Orchestra. And I try to find time for the occasional cartwheels and swinging in the park, singing and dancing, playing board games, messing around in the kitchen, and spending time with friends and my wonderful boyfriend.

What else does Karen want us to know about her?

I love being a graduate student! While it can be stressful, it is fun and rewarding – and we should all be proud of ourselves and our accomplishments! But I’m also ready to get on out there in the world. And maybe move back to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to my family (Mom, Dad, and my three brothers). Oh, and I once got a hug from Ray Hunt. It was awesome.