Lori Collins was still attending college at Indiana University Kokomo when she began working there in 1984. Then “life happened,” and she left school to start a family. She continued to work at the university, though, and eventually took a position in the Division of Continuing Studies.
Collins’ supervisor, Donald Lane, encouraged her to go back to school, explaining that he couldn’t promote her without a degree. Using her previous academic credits, as well as credits earned from exams, Collins heeded his advice and earned an Associate of General Studies in 1998.
Lane continued to encourage Collins, reminding her that she would need a bachelor’s degree to qualify for a professional position at the university. She plowed ahead and in 2001 earned a Bachelor of General Studies. Earning the BGS was a bittersweet accomplishment, because it came six months after the death of her mentor, Lane.
After earning her BGS, Collins became a general studies advisor. She loved her work because it allowed her to work with adult students, but she also wanted to teach. She again returned to school, and in 2004 earned a Master of Science in Adult Education.
Collins’ work today demonstrates her dedication to serving the unique needs of adult learners.
During her master’s training, she developed a course to facilitate adults’ transition into school. The IUK administration added the course, College Colloquium for Returning Adult Students , to the campus curriculum, and it has been a tremendous success.
“It’s my favorite course to teach,” said Collins. “I enjoy students’ ah- ha moments, when things start to click and the students realize they can work it out. It’s wonderful.”
Collins also revised an existing computer course by dividing its content into manageable chunks that would better fit into
adults’ schedules. Introduction to Computers and Their Use is now available as an ACCELerated Evening College/hybrid course.
“I understand where adults are coming from because I was there,” said Collins. “A lot of them had bad experiences in college or high school. I use my personal experiences to relate to the fears and challenges involved in returning to school. I’m probably one of the biggest adult-student advocates on campus.”
In addition to her work in the IUK Division of Continuing Studies, Collins is also active in her community. She volunteers for Kokomo Urban Outreach, a group that works to improve lives in underprivileged neighborhoods. Services include food drives that benefit the food pantry, as well as job and life-skill training. Recently, the group secured 150 high-quality used computers from area high schools so that it could offer free computer training in the community.
The School of Continuing Studies Alumni Association named Collins the 2008 Distinguished Alumna of the Year. She received the award in August at an IU Kokomo Student Government Association event. “Receiving this award was very humbling,” said Collins. “Out of all of the School of Continuing Studies alumni, I was selected? That’s an awesome thing.”
