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Congratulations Kathryn Petersen, one of the two 2021 Herman B Wells Distinguished Senior Award recipients.
Herman B Wells was a leader of uncommon vision and generosity. As the architect of IU’s rise to greatness, his legacy continues to permeate every corner of the university. Created in 1961 by the Indiana Memorial Union Board of Directors, the esteemed Herman B Wells Distinguished Senior Award honors seniors that have excelled academically and are established leaders within the IU community.
Kathryn’s Academic Accomplishments
Kathryn is an Internal Wells Scholar, a Phi Beta Kappa inductee and a former Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellow majoring in International Studies and Spanish Linguistics. She will also graduate with a management certificate through the Liberal Arts and Management Program and a minor in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures. She has served since 2019 as the Co-President of the Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society and was honored as the 2019 AATSP Indiana Outstanding College Student of Spanish.
Through her Spanish studies, she has studied abroad in Mérida, Mexico and Alcalá de Henares, Spain. Aside from her academic engagements, she also spent her summers at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C. as a research assistant investigating energy geopolitics in Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council. She also interned in the Relocation Department at the International Center in Indianapolis where she assisted expatriates in their move and acclimation to Indianapolis.
Kathryn’s academic and career interests encompass a broad range of topics, including education, language, cultures, energy geopolitics, and law.
Kathryn’s Student Involvement
Kathryn served as the President of the 99th Board of Aeons, a student research and advisory organization which advises President Michael McRobbie on issues of importance to the university. With incredibly talented peers and university stakeholders, Kathryn has researched two large-scale projects to confront issues facing Indiana University and presented recommendations to President McRobbie.
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Kathryn worked as Resident Assistant in Collins Living Learning Center for two years, which has informed her involvement on campus and her love for education. At IU, she was also involved in the Hutton Honors Council Association and worked as a manager at the IU Auditorium.
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Off campus, Kathryn volunteered in the Monroe County Community School Corporation as a first and second grade dual-language teaching assistant for two years. She furthered her passion for teaching as a tutor with the Volunteers in Adult Learners, working with adults in the English as a Second Language program. Off campus, you can typically find her on a hike or a run, enjoying the beautiful trails Bloomington has to offer.
Kathryn’s Post-Graduation Plans
Kathryn will be moving to New York City to teach through Teach for America after graduation. She is grateful for the opportunities provided by Indiana University to grow and realize her passion in education, and she is looking forward to her continued learning as a teacher in NYC.
Her Acknowledgements
Kathryn would like to extend her gratitude to her family and friends for their unconditional love and support. She would like to specifically thank her parents, Tom and Anne, for their constant support and encouragement, which has allowed her to further her curiosity, cherish her public education, travel the globe, and enjoy many laughs and family dinners along the way; and her IU mentor, Professor Israel Herrera, for his support in learning the Spanish language and for opening up to her so many opportunities beyond the classroom.
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