10 questions with

Karen Klassen Harder

Why do you enjoy teaching at Bluffton?
What makes it unique?
I like that I can integrate life experiences into the classroom. I think that I can influence students in the classroom as well as outside. I like being a part of the community at Bluffton.

What excites you about teaching business and economics?
It teaches that people who are leaders within an organization can make a difference both within the organization but also within the community.

Favorite class to teach and why?
Principles of Management. Good managers are so crucial to a company. It is a challenging course to teach students because they don't have a lot of experience in the area.

Favorite time/place/event on campus...
May Day and the whole graduation weekend; alumni come back, families are on campus, students are excited about their futures and their accomplishments. Also, I like the combination of early spring with the colors of the weekend...at the May Pole dance, at commencement and at the many special events on campus

When I'm not teaching I enjoy...
Traveling and spending time with my family.

My first job was...
I was an elevator operator at a department store. I wish I had a dollar for every time the doors would close and a person would say, "My goodness, you're tall!"

Favorite vacation destination/activity...
We travel a lot, I enjoy any travel that includes a combination of significant physical activity and lounging. Some places we have visited include Chile, Argentina, China and India.

Someday I would like to...
I don't believe in bucket lists. I want my life to be shaped by learning new things, meeting new people, going to new places and making a difference in the lives of others.