Honor Karen Kunimura
From left, Professor Debbie Blair, PE/Health/Athletics, John Ruden, Emeriti Affiliates, Dean Mitch Campbell, PE/Health/Athletics, Sharon Dutra, Emeriti Affiliates, Professor Connie Zuercher, PE/Health/Athletics, Professor Karen Kunimura, PE/Health/Athletics, Victoria Cornelius, Counselor, PE./Health/Athletics, Jan High, Emeriti Affiliates, Professor Trinidad Stassi, PE/Health/Athletics, Professor Paul Carmazzi, PE/Health/Athletics and Dr. Kathryn Jeffery, SCC President.
SCC Emeriti Affiliates Honor Karen Kunimura
The SCC Emeriti Affiliates, a group of retired faculty, staff and administrators, have selected Karen Kunimura as the recipient of the Emeriti Affiliates Faculty Achievement Award. The award recognizes a faculty member who has made significant contributions in the areas of community service, leadership, fine arts performance, professional activities, teaching innovation and/or special projects.
With more than 30 years as a valuable member of the Physical Education/Health/Athletics Division, Karen Kunimura has served in a variety of positions. She was the Women’s Track & Field Coach for many years and served as Department Chair, Athletic Coordinator, and is currently the faculty representative for the division on the Curriculum Committee and the SLO Advisory Committee. She was the college Curriculum Chair and district Curriculum Chair, and she served as the faculty leader in this role during the district re-numbering process and development and implementation of SOCRATES.
“Karen’s knowledge and leadership in this arena are invaluable,” says her nominator. “She holds bi-monthly workshops for faculty in our division so that they may get one-on-one assistance with SLO assessments.” Kunimura also served on the State Academic Senate Curriculum Committee, State Systems Advisory Committee in Curriculum, and is now the lead faculty member for Physical Education on the State Senate C-ID Committee. She is also a member of the district-wide Kinesiology Committee.
Kunimura is her students’ number one fan. “Karen has high expectations and maintains a high degree of professionalism,” says her nominator. “I believe [her students] understand that she genuinely cares about their success.”
For more photos of the Emeriti Affiliates Faculty Achievement Award luncheon, visit Faculty Achievement Award.