Profile: Karen (Pugh) Kline, ’83

For as long as she can remember, Karen (Pugh) Kline, ’83 was immersed in all things Albion. As a child, she would stumble upon her father’s Albion sweatshirt that was neatly folded in his dresser. And like all little girls that love to play with their mother’s treasures, Karen remembers the Kappa Delta pin that sparkled in her mother’s jewelry box. She grew up in a family where stories of formal dances and band concerts were shared around the dinner table, and her son now makes up the third generation to march with the British Eighth. It’s no wonder that Karen describes Albion College as a part of the fabric of her family.

Karen’s ties to Albion don’t just end with memories, or of watching her son march in the band at football games. Just as Albion is an important part of her life, she too is an important part of Albion. Karen serves on the Parent Leadership Council and is highly involved as an Admission Ambassador. “My involvement with Albion as an alumna is not dissimilar to being a good hostess in my home,” Karen said. “I want others to be able to share the Albion College experience, feel welcome in the community and of course, get a great education and launch into the world!”

There are many ways to be involved as an Admission Ambassador. Some of Karen’s favorite aspects are sharing her personal experiences with prospective students and their families, in addition to participating in recruitment events. These events can range from attending a college fair in her hometown, or speaking to guests at an Admission Open House hosted at a local restaurant or in someone’s home. By welcoming each person with a smile and enthusiasm, Karen said she hopes to help them realize that, “With our small campus, each student not only counts, but is counted as important and special.”

Describing herself as one that bleeds purple and gold, Karen uses her strengths to give back to Albion in tangible ways as an Ambassador. She changes lives by helping students see the value of the Albion Advantage and by comforting parents with the reassurance that Albion will take good care of them. “For parents who have children already on campus, I generally just give them a hug. After all, we are family.”

For more information on how you can get involved as an Admission Ambassador, visit the Admission Ambassador page or call the Office of Admission at 800/858-6770.