Brianne Karazsia’s story with the Fairbanks School of Public Health is one of continuous engagement, professional growth, and heartfelt connection.
From her days as an undergraduate to her current role as an instructor, Brianne has maintained strong ties to the institution that helped launch her career. Now, she is channeling her passion for human resources into teaching, preparing the next generation of health services leaders with real-world knowledge and insights.
Brianne graduated from Fairbanks in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management, a degree that provided a solid foundation for her career. But her connection to the school didn’t end there. Over the years, Brianne has returned in various capacities—whether participating in alumni panels, mentoring students, or, more recently, teaching human resources.
“Fairbanks played such a crucial role in shaping my personal and professional development,” Brianne says. “I’ve always felt a responsibility to give back to the school, to the faculty and community that supported me. During my time as a student, I was very intentional about building relationships. I conducted numerous informational interviews with professionals in the field, regularly reached out to faculty for guidance, and stayed connected with staff who helped me understand trends in public health. These experiences were invaluable, and they fueled my desire to remain involved even after graduation.”
This sense of responsibility has driven Brianne to stay engaged with the school. Whether it’s through alumni events, mentoring students, or now, stepping into the classroom, she’s found a variety of ways to contribute.
“Staying connected with Fairbanks has allowed me to continue giving back to the community that helped me,” she adds. “I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in panels, mentor students, and now teach—it’s incredibly rewarding to come full circle in this way.”
As a former student who was deeply involved in campus life, Brianne’s experiences outside the classroom were just as formative as those inside it: “My involvement in campus activities played a huge role in preparing me for my professional career.”
During her undergraduate years, she served as a lead campus ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, where she honed public speaking, time management, and organizational skills.
“These experiences helped me become confident in representing an organization and managing multiple responsibilities, skills that are critical in both HR and teaching,” Brianne explains.
Her role as the employer relations ambassador for the Office of Student Employment proved particularly pivotal.
“That position gave me a foundational understanding of HR early on,” she says. “I was organizing job fairs, reviewing résumés, and conducting mock interviews. Those hands-on experiences were crucial in helping me learn core HR functions, which I now teach to my students.”
Brianne’s transition from student to professional has given her a unique perspective as an instructor: “What excites me most about teaching is learning from my students,” she says. “They bring fresh perspectives and new ideas that not only enrich the classroom but also keep me evolving as an HR professional. This generation has different expectations when it comes to work environments, and I’m constantly learning about what they value.”
Her dual role as an instructor and a lead recruiter at Riley Children’s Foundation offers her the advantage of staying closely attuned to workforce trends.
“Being in both roles allows me to bridge the gap between what’s happening in the real world and what we discuss in the classroom,” she explains. “As a recruiter, I’m always looking for innovative ways to attract top talent, and that gives me insights into what today’s job market is really like. Sharing those insights with my students makes the course more relevant.”
Brianne believes that the most important lessons in HR aren’t always found in textbooks: “It’s one thing to learn about HR theory, and another to see how those concepts play out in the real world.”
Her experiences at Riley Children’s Foundation have provided her with real-world case studies on topics such as performance management, employment law, and workforce planning—insights that she eagerly shares with her students.
“My goal is to show students that HR is about so much more than just hiring and firing,” Brianne emphasizes. “It’s about organizational development, employee relations, and workforce strategy. By sharing stories from my career, I help bridge the gap between theory and practice.”
In addition to bringing real-world HR experience into the classroom, Brianne is passionate about the importance of building and maintaining professional connections. Her own network, cultivated during her time as an undergraduate, has played a key role in her career progression.
“The relationships you make in college can extend far beyond graduation,” she says. “For example, I still keep in touch with professors, classmates, and supervisors that I met during my time at Fairbanks. Those relationships have allowed me to return to campus for panels, participate in job fairs, and even secure this teaching opportunity. It’s a reminder that staying connected can open unexpected doors down the road.”
Brianne encourages current students to take advantage of every opportunity to engage in campus activities and build relationships.
“Whether through LinkedIn, email, or in-person events, keeping in touch with the network you build during your college years is incredibly valuable,” she advises. “You never know when someone you’ve met will re-enter your life and offer an opportunity that aligns with your career goals.”
Reflecting on her own undergraduate experience, Brianne counts her recognition as Indiana University Indianapolis Student Employee of the Year as one of her proudest moments. In 2018, she was named the top student employee in the state of Indiana—a recognition of her hard work and leadership in various on-campus jobs.
“Receiving that award was incredibly validating,” she recalls. “It gave me the confidence to pursue bigger goals after graduation.”
Today, as Brianne continues to shape the future of public health professionals through her teaching, she remains a steadfast advocate for staying connected to the Fairbanks community—a community that she says, “has always felt like home.”
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