Once a Bobcat, always a Bobcat! Below you'll find our most recent Alumni Spotlight interview.
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Alumni Spotlight: Karen Nagy '81
Karen Nagy was a Pitt-Greensburg student before transferring to the Oakland campus from which she graduated in 1981 with degrees in biology and music.
What brought you to Pitt-Greensburg?
My mom was one of the first students to attend Pitt-Greensburg in the mid-1960s. She was also one of the first female students who had kids (I was 7; my brother was 5), ushering in an era in which more and more older adults, particularly women, began their college studies. It seemed natural to follow her path, as I'd already heard many of her stories and met some of her professors.
Were you a commuter or a resident? Commuter
What activities were you involved with as a student?
There weren't that many extracurricular activities at Pitt-Greensburg in the mid-70s if you weren't an athlete. So, I stayed involved with several performing groups outside campus, groups I'd been in since high school. We did shows throughout western PA and West Virginia. Later, when I transferred to Pitt-Oakland, I was heavily involved with the Heinz Chapel Choir. We toured France three times, and it had a huge influence in my life, to the extent that I added on music as a second major.
Did you have a favorite professor, staff member, coach, or mentor that really impacted your life?
I was a biology major at the time, and I remember fondly Dr. Estrella Ang and Dr. Kerry Holzworth. Dr. Ang and I stayed in touch for years. Dr. Levin, my French professor, was wonderful. Dr. McWhinney, esteemed English professor--loved him, as did everyone!
Of all the classes you took, what is the one class you would recommend everyone take? Who taught the class? Why would you recommend it?
All my professors were great. Dr. McWhinney's American Poetry class was a delight. My History of Jazz class, taught by Dr. Bill Lindberg, opened my eyes to another form of music that I hadn't known well at the time. Interestingly, Bill ended up being my choir director when I sang professionally at Ascension Church in Shadyside. He even played for my wedding and his daughter helped with my reception. And, also interestingly, I teach pop and jazz history myself these days, as a music professor at Miami-Dade College.
What do you remember most vividly from your time at Pitt-Greensburg?
The smell of hot dogs and burnt coffee in the snack shop in the basement of Lynch Hall, while The Year of the Cat played on the small stereo system. Also, the time I set the Organic Chemistry lab on fire because I tried to boil ether!
What have you been up to since graduation?
I will try to condense this answer. I went on to get my masters in music theatre at the University of Miami and have taught at Miami-Dade College for 37 years. I also became a professional singer/actor, doing shows throughout our three counties. I still sing, but get my theatre buzz now as a member of the bands--I play keyboard--that accompany professional theatre. Big plug for live bands! So much better than tracks! I also am the proud author of a book called Girlfriend of Bill: 12 Things You Need to Know about Dating Someone in Recovery (Hazelden, 2014). And I have another, not at all similar, book ready to be shopped around. More info on that later!
How did your experiences and education at Pitt-Greensburg prepare you for life after college?
Pitt, and Pitt-Greensburg particularly, showed me I can do more than I thought I could. I had professors who believed in me. Dr. Senor, my organic chemistry professor, was so encouraging that I actually got an A in his class. The professors and students were like family--classes were really small back then. They took us on field trips to the Oakland campus. They supported us and stayed in touch. I try to do the same with my own students.
As an alum, how do you support Pitt-Greensburg?
Well, I bought a townhouse this past year in Greensburg and have attended all of Pitt- Greensburg’s summer events! I hope to be involved whenever I'm in PA. In south Florida, I was very active in our local alumni chapter. I also support the Heinz Chapel Choir.
What advice do you have for your fellow Bobcats?
These will be the best years of your life--enjoy every moment of them. Also take time to walk around your beautiful campus in every season. Be present. Savor the smells of fall and the quietness of winter. Create your own memories.
For fun:
What is the last book you read? All I Ever Wanted by Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go's. Great, honest, heartfelt autobiography!
List 3-5 fun facts about yourself that most people probably wouldn’t know.
- I'm a sucker for music documentaries, like the recent "A Complete Unknown."
- I’m a huge fan of bluegrass and the blues.
- I helped run a theater company in the mid-90s to mid-2000s.
- I love old diners and anything rustic.
- I've followed a metaphysical and mystical Biblical path for many years, but I am friends with people of every persuasion.