Katarina Moore connects the next generation of Jayhawks to education & human sciences

After graduating in 2022 with a master’s degree in higher education administration, University of Kansas alumna Katarina Moore is now connecting the next generation of Jayhawks to education and human sciences fields as a Student Recruiter at KU.

We caught up with Moore, who told us about discovering her interest in higher education as a student in Iowa, how her M.S.E. studies shaped her journey, and landing her job in the School of Education & Human Sciences.

What are your academic interests?

I am most interested in student development and how students’ intersecting identities coincide with how they navigate and experience higher education. I’m also interested in how institutions administer resources and how stakeholders help shape institutional priorities.

How did you decide your program was right for you?

I knew that this was the right program for me when I visited KU for our program’s interview days. The faculty and students that I met during my visit were incredibly welcoming, and I could tell that there was a strong sense of community within the program and across campus.

Tell us what you do for a living.

I am a Student Recruiter for the KU School of Education & Human Sciences. In this role, I oversee and help facilitate our undergraduate recruitment efforts in collaboration with our Assistant Dean, Graduate Assistants, and undergraduate Student Ambassadors. I connect with prospective first year and transfer students as they visit us on campus or at events out in surrounding communities and states. Our team works with the KU Office of Admissions, and we also pursue opportunities to connect with future teacher education and Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences students.

“I connect with prospective first year and transfer students as they visit us on campus or at events out in surrounding communities and states.”

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love having the opportunity to supervise our Graduate Assistants and Student Ambassadors. They are an incredibly talented and passionate group of students, and I learn so much from them and their experiences at KU. Our team of students do an amazing job of welcoming prospective students to the SOEHS, and working with them is truly the most rewarding part of my job.

What do you think is most valuable about being a student in the School of Education & Human Sciences? What skills have you developed during your time at KU?

I have been fortunate to be both a student and Graduate Assistant for Academic Advising in the School of Education & Human Sciences. This opportunity has allowed me to apply what I am learning in my coursework to the work that I do in advising undergraduate students. I’ve also been able to form connections with staff and faculty outside of my specific graduate program.

What are you passionate about? And how does your program allow you to explore that passion?

As a first generation college student, I am very passionate about helping other students overcome obstacles to attain their educational and personal goals. The HEA program has given me resources as well as opportunities to build the skills needed to successfully help students navigate college.

What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned as a student in the KUSOEHS?

“We are truly never done learning.”

We are truly never done learning. Even after grad school, it is important to continue seeking out opportunities to grow personally and professionally, and there is much to be learned outside of the classroom as well.

What advice would you give to new Jayhawks?

Seek out opportunities to connect with peers and mentors. It can be easy to get caught up in school and work responsibilities; however, opportunities to connect with students, staff, and faculty in my program, and with people in the broader community are what have helped keep me motivated during the most challenging moments of grad school.

Favorite memory in the School of Education & Human Sciences:

KU Basketball games at Allen Fieldhouse with friends from the program.

Learn more about KU’s School of Education and Human Sciences, master’s degree in higher education administration (M.S.E.) and SOEHS admissions.