Dr. Karnes comes to UW-Whitewater with graduate and undergraduate teaching experience from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her Ph.D. research focused on psychology and exercise physiology with her dissertation titled “Motivational Interviewing for Physical Activity Promotion.” Recent professional experience includes serving as a program evaluator and clinical coordinator for Midwest Rehabilitation Associates.

Now that you have completed your first year as a faculty member at UW-Whitewater, can you share one reflection on the year?

I am struck by how much my students inspire me and give me energy.  Even though this year I have endured many sleepless nights because of the two young people in my life, through my students I find that each day I am overflowing with enthusiasm for my role at UW-Whitewater. 

What is her favorite thing about UW-Whitewater so far?

The friendliness of the students and campus community.

What made her want to teach?

While Dr. Karnes was in her doctoral program, she had opportunities to give teaching a try, and found that she enjoyed it quite a bit. She likes to be able to pay it forward – take what she’s learned from her mentors and provide it to her students in a similar way.

What is her approach to teaching and what can students expect in the classroom? 

She prefers to be a facilitator rather than a teacher. She tries to guide students to find answers on their own and explore their own ideas instead of telling them what to get out the course. They can expect that she will provide the tools to learn. She likes to ask students to find a scholarly article to bring to class to share with their peers and have a critical discussion with the class about concrete topics in their specific areas of interest.

What is one experience that occurred during her undergraduate or graduate school experience that made a definite impact on her approach to her academic career?

The most impactful experience was very early in her undergraduate career as she explored a career in psychology. Dr. Karnes had very strong mentorship from a doctoral student mentor who she worked with as a research assistant.  It was here where she learned how much she enjoyed research and saw the value in being an academic.

What book would she recommend to her students?

GIMP by Mark Zupan and Tim Swanson.  It’s about a college athlete’s journey to accepting his new identity as a quadriplegic. The book helps students to see that when embraced, adversity can lead to personal growth

What is something that students would be surprised to learn about her?

She plays on a recreational roller derby league and used to play it competitively.

What does she like to do outside of work?

She has two young children, family, and rescue dogs that she likes to spend time with.  She is also a jogger.