by Kate Bernas, Advisor Training Academy

Kate Rendi is the new academic advisor in the College ofEngineering.  She is in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department.  I had a chance to get to know more about Kate's background.

KB: Tell us a little bit about your educational background and how it relates to your current position.   

KR: I have my BS in Kinesiology from Michigan State University (MSU) College of Education with minors in Health Promotion and Bioethics, Humanities, and Society. I have my M.Ed. in College Student Affairs Leadership from Grand Valley State University (GVSU) College of Education. I started my involvement in student affairs unexpectantly while a student at MSU as a student assistant in the Student Advising Office and as a student success coach through the Neighborhood Student Success Collaborative. Throughout my graduate program I was a graduate assistant in the Office of the Provost with the Office of Community Engagement and a graduate research assistant in the College of Education Educational Foundations Department. Throughout my education and experiences at MSU and GVSU, I built the tools to provide holistic student support.  I am excited to utilize these tools in my work within the College of Engineering Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.

KB: Can you please tell us a little bit about your student affairs background before joining WSU?   

KR: I have been at Wayne State University for just under two years, most recently I was a career advisor in the Mike Ilitch School of Business (MISB). This experience allowed me to further develop my skills in career readiness and speaking with students about the importance of career development alongside academic development. Throughout this role I was able to assist students with resumes/cover letters, interview preparation, career exploration, and career management. Prior to my role in MISB, I served as an academic advisor for the College of Arts and Letters at Michigan State University. I served current and prospective students across 12 different majors in 4 departments in the College of Arts & Letters. During my time at GVSU, MSU, and WSU I also served as an adjunct instructor teaching course subjects including First Year Seminars, Strategies for Success, and Student Success and Career Development.

KB: When you are not advising, what are some things you like to do for fun?  

KR: When not advising, I enjoy spending time downtown Detroit with my fiancé. We enjoy taking group fitness courses at the YMCA and attending Detroit sporting events, especially baseball games in the summer. I am also an avid reader, always looking for the next book to add to my list! Currently, I have been interested in historical fiction novels set in Greece as I will be traveling there this summer for my honeymoon.

KB: Any interesting or fun facts about yourself that you would like to share?  

KR: If you meet me for the first time via Teams or Zoom, it may be hard to tell that I am 6’ ft tall. While I played sports in high school and recreationally in college, I focus more on low impact sports now such as cycling and yoga.

We are so excited to have Kate join the College of Engineering advising team. Please welcome her to WSU!