Kelli Burns is the director of undergraduate programs at The Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications. She believes the transition from high-school to college can be overwhelming and can affect students’ confidence in their ability to achieve their goals and connect to the USF community.
Burns said that students can feel lost in a world of 100-person lecture halls, and under pressure to meet strict professors’ standards.
She said that you come to USF and she thinks that many students may feel like they are just another number. There’s not always that community feeling that they might have experienced in high school.
As an associate professor, Burns makes an effort to construct a communal environment in her classroom with simple acts like remembering all of her students’ names.
Personally, I want to know every student’s name in my class, she said. I’ve had [classes that were]Just 90 students, but quite a few [I knew] everybody’s name.
Burns assists students in transition by making house calls to various on-campus communities through the USFs faculty Fellow Program.
Burns aims to break down the professional divide between students and professors by encouraging them to make personal connections during meetings. Burns wants students to have strong support systems, whether it’s answering questions about university life and how to succeed academically.
She said that many students may feel intimidated by their professors and not know how to get the help they need. We just want to let them know that people care about them here at the university.
Dean of Students Danielle McDonald stated that Burns dedication to student engagement shows her genuine intent to make USF campus a more welcoming place.
McDonald’s said that when I think about her, I think about how she gives her time to her students both in and outside of the classroom. She is invested in their success, no matter if they are at her school or not. She also creates community in real-life and online. She is one of my favourite people.
Burns is passionate about inspiring young women to feel empowered and confident, despite her desire to make students feel welcome.
Burns has suffered from gender discrimination, and has had the unfortunate experience of having to deal with it. She is optimistic about the future but feels it is especially important to help young women achieve leadership positions.
Burns stated that it is difficult for her to understand why women are still subject to gender discrimination despite decades of progress. It is encouraging to see women leading this university, including Judy Genshaft, former President, and Rhea Law, Interim President. [former President]Betty Castor was a woman who lived before my time.
Burns is the Gamma Phi Beta public relations advisor, helping young women navigate college life. Burns, who was an undergraduate in the same sorority, said that it was a pleasure to help young women develop leadership skills.
She said that she is passionate about supporting young women and building their confidence. I believe sororities can be a great way to develop leadership skills and build leadership opportunities.
As an adviser, she helps members bond with each other and helps them find career opportunities. She also collaborates with local philanthropies in order to organize fundraisers.
Burns and her sorority teamed up with charity to reflect the goals she set and the leadership values she believes are important to instill in youth. Girls on the Run is a philanthropy that teaches young girls in Tampa Bay to run a 5K.
Burns stated that the incremental progress of running teaches girls early on that they can achieve anything if they set their goals.
If you didn’t think you could run 5Ks, then you can run 5Ks. You can say to yourself that you have the ability to do anything. Take that philosophy and apply it to everything in your life, whether it’s your schoolwork or a job you’re trying to pursue, or any other endeavor.
Burns is optimistic about the future of the young women she works alongside, both in and out of her classroom.
She said that the young women in her classes are inspiring. Because they are skilled at organizing their fellow classmates, many of them become leaders in their project teams.
Although progress has been slow, I hope that Gen Z women will break the barriers that hampered many of their predecessors.