Get to Know HFC: Karen Sadanowicz
When she was a student employee in the admissions office at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, HFC Interim Registrar Karen Sadanowicz knew working in higher education was the right fit for her.
“I have always liked school and I love to learn new things. Higher education allows students to interact with many other students, faculty, and staff, while opening the doors to so many different opportunities to grow and learn,” said Sadanowicz, a Dearborn native who lives in Southgate.
She continued: “I have always wanted to help students successfully navigate the enrollment services processes because it can be overwhelming. I was a first-generation college student, and I needed guidance when I started college to ensure that everything was all set my freshman year at EMU. From that point forward, I knew that I wanted to work in higher education.”
Sadanowicz didn't know exactly what path to follow in higher education.
“I have worked in admissions, enrollment services, and registration,” she said. “I have learned so much and I am grateful for the opportunity to help students reach their educational goals.”
At home in higher education
An alumna of Southgate Aquinas High School, Sadanowicz completed both her undergraduate and graduate education at EMU. She earned her bachelor’s degree in social science with minors in management and psychology. She earned her master’s degree in education with a concentration in college student personnel.
Sadanowicz’s entire career has been in higher education. She worked for Lawrence Technological University in Southfield for 13 years and next door at the University of Michigan-Dearborn for three years. She came to HFC in 2014.
“I was ready for a change. I wanted to work at a community college to experience the culture and service approach that was different from other higher education institutions,” said Sadanowicz.
Prior to becoming Interim Registrar, Sadanowicz was the Assistant Registrar. She reports to HFC Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Holly Diamond. Her duties include:
- Supervising the registration team
- Overseeing all aspects of the registration process
- Serving as the College’s Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) administrator
- Serving as the resource contact on registrar policies
- Serving as transcript signatory
- Collaborating on the accuracy and completeness of reporting data
- Serving as the contact person for the Michigan Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI)
- Collaborating on the Graduation and Degree Audit
- Addressing/mediating student disputes on registration and records issues
Seeing students graduate is the best part of her job
One of the biggest challenges Sadanowicz faces is ensuring all communication from the HFC Registration Office is clear, concise, and up-to-date in order for students, faculty, and staff have the information needed to be successful.
“I like collaborating with the students, faculty, and staff to find the best path to success for each student,” she said. “Graduation and Commencement are the highlights of my job. It is so rewarding to see HFC students walk across the stage at commencement and knowing that I and the registration team had a small part in their success.”
Sadanowicz sees herself staying in higher education and enrollment services for the long run.
“Working in the registration office is a good fit for me, so I see myself working in this area for quite a while,” she said. “There is always something new to learn to enhance the services to our students.”