Taking her own advice

Katherine Kellner (Nick Pearce Photo)

When asked to provide words of wisdom for incoming students, Katherine Kellner suggests they “fully engage themselves in any opportunity that presents itself. Find the balance between academic and social experiences but make sure you discover more about yourself and the world.”

It doesn’t take long to realize that Ms. Kellner takes her own advice. The Milton, Ont., native decided to make Dalhousie her new home after a 48-hour visit.

“I was so comfortable in my surroundings and excited to be here I just knew it was the right fit,” she says. Since that decision she has embraced the East Coast lifestyle and has poured herself into her studies.

She has always been drawn to the health professions and enjoys the kinesiology program’s supportive atmosphere. Ms. Kellner has co-authored several studies and her research explores the effects of glaucoma on visual search tasks. Committed to helping others and making her university experience the best possible, it’s no wonder she has worked as a lab demonstrator and teaching assistant and was also a peer tutor.

When not in school, Ms. Kellner can be found volunteering at two local hospitals, providing support services in the emergency department of the of the IWK Health Centre and meal support at the Camp Hill Veterans’ Memorial Building. Ms. Kellner was awarded the Craig Williams Scholarship for her community involvement and recently placed third at the 2008 IDR conference where she competed against professional, graduate and undergraduate students.

She also is the internal coordinator for the Dalhousie Student Union Food Bank.
Ms. Kellner will pursue an advanced degree in health professions. She has been accepted to the nursing program and the master’s of kinesiology program at Dalhousie for September; the hard part will be deciding which to take.