Kat Owens (’12)

Sociology/Anthropology Major – Anthropology

What co-curricular or extracurricular activities were you involved in?

APO, Marching Band, Anthropology Club.

 What are you doing now?

Picking up 2 more degrees from Lindenwood University (Art History and Graphic Design), and will soon be completing an internship at the Foundry Art Center in St. Charles.

How did you get to this place in your life/ career?

After graduating from Truman in 2012 I landed two internships in the summer of 2012 one was at the World Aquarium which used to be part of the City Museum in St. Louis MO. My other internship was with Dickerson Park Zoo, which may have turned into a full-time zookeeper position. Sadly my internship came to an abrupt halt when I did something stupid and tore out my ACL and damaged the meniscus in my right knee. I took a 3-year hiatus from my career path and focused on my rehabilitation while I worked at Wal-Mart full time. During this break from life so to speak, I did some searching as to what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I applied to Lindenwood in 2015, since it was close by so I could commute and take classes as a part-time student to get a BFA in Art and Art History. (If only I was closer to Truman or I would have gone back.) I thought I might as well pair my anthropology degree with some art history to become a “more rounded student” and to open up some more job options. Of course, with multiple catalog changes, I’m now a Graphic Design and Art History BA and studio art minor. During my third semester at Lindenwood, I saw an ad in their school paper for an opening for a graphic designer, I applied and landed the job as Design Chief for Lindenlink.com and the Legacy Newspaper. Being the Design Chief I made the template file from scratch to put together the Legacy Magazine and did the majority of the layouts. The University cut the funding for the Legacy magazine last semester. Now we have a new 40-page magazine coming out the week of April 12, 2019, called Link, also using one of my original templates and a lot of my own artwork and designs. I’m hoping it will win just as many awards as the first magazine I designed.

Have you been to graduate school? If so, where did you go? Did you go right after graduating from Truman?

I did not go to graduate school, but since I am picking up two more degrees from Lindenwood University, it’s like I’m going to graduate school. I waited 3 years after Truman to go back.

Do you have any advice for Truman students who are interested in going to graduate school?

If you are wanting to go on to grad school, start looking before your junior year. The application process can be lengthy and the dates when they can be turned in don’t always match up with the semester schedule of undergraduate universities.

How has the education you’ve received from Truman helped you?

I use the education I received from Truman on almost a daily basis here at Lindenwood, from the critical thinking skills, research methods, study habits, how to find books in a library, and the best way in which to write a paper. It makes most of the Lindenwood classes seem easy. My Truman education is also the only reason why I’m able to design and help run a student media website, even though I’ve never taken a class in journalism. You could say the schooling Truman gave me has opened way more doors than any other university in the state ever could.

Is/are there any particular class(es) you’re glad you took? Did you like it/them at that the time?

Research Methods and Library Science are the two classes I’m so glad I took. At the time I took them I wasn’t really a fan but both have helped me get where I am today. It’s also really surprising how many young people don’t know how to search for something on the internet when most of them grew up with the internet in existence.

What is your favorite memory of your time at Truman?

This one is hard with all the good times I had while I was on campus. I’d have to say it’s a tie between playing HVZ (humans vs zombies) on campus, any and all of the marching band shows I participated in and just hanging out in Barnett Hall having real scholarly discussions with Professors. (Using college-level vocabulary and not having to dumb down the discussion for those that can’t follow along.)

Why is Truman a good school at which to study?

The amazing access to materials that Pickler Memorial Library has is one of the main reasons anyone should come to Truman. Out of all the other universities I toured before I became a student, and now with the lack of a “real” library on lindenwood campus, It’s one of the buildings I miss the most. Really it’s the access to all the books I miss. And if you can’t find it at Pickler they have their ways of getting what you need either through Mobius or ordering the materials to become useful for other students as well. Truman isn’t joking when they say they are the Harvard of the Midwest. The classes may be hard but you really get the opportunity to learn stuff that can be applied to almost all areas of life. I may have laughed at the thought while I was a student, but now after attending other universities, I can say its Truman I miss the most.

Do you have any advice for someone wanting to go into the same line of work as you?

This one is a tad hard since the career path I wanted while attending Truman was derailed due to physical injury. I guess I could suggest to current students not to climb on things that shouldn’t be climbed on. But truly, the best advice I could give is not to give up. I know that sounds cheesy, but the education you get from Truman can and will give you all the tools you need to work your way through almost anything life throws at you. You just have to keep trying and never give up.

What do you miss most about campus life/ living in Kirksville?

Pickler Memorial Library, I miss having access to all of those books, movies, CDs, audiobooks, and sheet music. Living in a small town without a public library you don’t have access to any of that unless you go online and purchase it. Which can make a big dent in one’s wallet and curb the want to learn new things.

If you could teach current students one thing, what would it be?

Don’t take for granted what Truman has to offer, yes it is in the middle of nowhere, but you’re going to miss it when you are gone. Go to all the free events on campus that you can, and don’t forget to take breaks from your school work, as long as you go back to it. Enjoy the Truman community while you can, it’s a special thing and isn’t something you can find everywhere.