Focus on Staff With Karen Rolf

Karen Rolf, senior financial analyst for the department of internal medicine, provides pre- and post-grant administration support for five divisions within the department. Rolf attended Ohio University right after high school with a plan to study speech therapy, but she got married after her freshman year and started a family. "My husband and I have seven children—his, mine and ours—and seven grandchildren, with one more on the way,” she says. Rolf then went to work at Xavier University within the athletic department and attended some psychology and education classes. From there she made the move to UC, where she has been for 39 years.

When did you become an employee at UC?

"I started working at the university within the Evening College in 1973 and worked with them for five years. I then worked in medical center personnel for about a year and then went to work for Family Medicine. I worked for Family Medicine for about 26 years, then transferred to Internal Medicine and have been here for about eight years."

What are your duties?

"I’m a senior financial analyst in internal medicine and am responsible for grants administration for the department. I also provide support in personnel, accounting and anything else they may need.”

What is your favorite part of the job?

"My favorite part is helping the faculty with their grant submissions. I enjoy assisting them in putting their grant applications together and getting them submitted. It’s even nicer when their applications get funded!”

What do you like to do when you aren’t at work?

"I love doing things with my children and grandchildren and enjoy cooking and reading.”

That’s really incredible that you’ve been at UC for 39 years. Could you tell me what has been a standout moment for you in all of the years you’ve been here? Is there something that you’ve seen in your time here that is particularly memorable to you?

"A standout ‘moment’ for me has been watching the evolution of the university and how it has changed over the years. The changes to the campus have been incredible and very positive. It’s a beautiful campus. Over the past years, it’s been a pleasure to be involved in activities such as Tender Mercies with some great people from the university who have been providing meals and serving the residents of Tender Mercies twice a month for the past 15 to 20 years. I have also enjoyed being involved in the Helping Hands project, helping students and their families move their children into the dorms. It’s so much fun being a small part of that experience. It’s been the people I’ve met and worked with that have made my years at UC such a pleasure.”