MONMOUTH, ILLINOIS (January 26, 2026) — A college education can be difficult enough as students wrestle with academic rigor, time management, and new surroundings. But add in such challenges as a disability, being a first-generation college student or coming from a low-income family, and that level of difficulty can be raised.
That's where new Monmouth College staff member Kari Fischer enters the scene. Fischer is the college's new director of TRIO, an initiative funded by the US Department of Education. Her role is to work with Monmouth's students who have those additional challenges - approximately 20% of the school's enrollment.
"The goal is to help them be successful, to help them graduate," said Fischer, who joined the staff this month after spending the past 2-1/2 years in a related position at Knox College.
"We want to make sure they have the academic support they need and that they're aware of the opportunities they have for student services such as counseling, advising and tutoring. We also want to make them aware of scholarships and help them be comfortable talking to the financial aid office. In general, we just want to make life easier for them."
"Kari brings the personality and energy we hoped for in the person to lead TRIO," said Karen Ogorzalek, Monmouth's dean of students.
"Her understanding of campus life and the needs of students will serve our campus well. With her experience, we're excited to see how she'll grow TRIO."
Fischer, who's from Rochester, Minnesota, earned a Bachelor's degree in Recreation and Tourism from Winona State University. She holds a Master's degree in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Iowa.
Simply put, Fischer — whose office is located on the main floor of Hewes Library near the east entrance — said she was attracted to this type of work because "I like helping people."
Her early to-do list in her new role includes "meeting a lot of people and marketing what TRIO is and what it's all about," she said. "I'll work on getting students interested and getting faculty and staff interested. I love working with college students — I love how creative and adventurous they are. I'm constantly blown away by the things they accomplish."
Fischer is no stranger to adventure herself, as she's worked with birds and animals in prior positions. She's handled eagles, given a penguin a bath, and even "bit a wolf once," an assignment she first thought might be razzing the new girl on her first day but was, instead, a way to teach dominance to a ten-week old wolf puppy.
