{"id":4308,"date":"2025-03-06T19:32:43","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T19:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4308"},"modified":"2025-03-09T22:26:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-09T22:26:15","slug":"womens-history-month-spotlight-dr-dawn-korte-ph-d-91","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4308","title":{"rendered":"Women\u2019s History Month Spotlight: Dr. Dawn Korte, Ph.D. \u201991"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Dawn
Dr. Dawn Korte<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

For Dr. Dawn Korte, Southern Illinois University Carbondale was more than a steppingstone\u2014it was the foundation for a career defined by leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to others. A proud graduate of SIU\u2019s College of Health and Human Sciences with a major in paralegal studies, Korte has dedicated her career to fostering professional growth, advocating for women in leadership, and giving back to the institution that shaped her journey.<\/p>\n

Raised in Carterville, Illinois, she initially enrolled at SIU to study piano performance, securing a scholarship that made her college education possible. However, a deep-rooted interest in the law led her to switch majors to paralegal studies\u2014a decision that ultimately shaped her mindset.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had been interested in the law, so I changed my major and focused on law school after graduation,\u201d she said. \u201cThat switch taught me to always keep an open mind, work hard, and accept ambiguity as a part of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Korte credits her parents as her earliest role models, instilling in her the values of perseverance and dedication. At SIU, professors such as Dr. Steven Barwick and Dr. Albert Melone, along with lecturers Kenneth Hughes and Pamela Lacey, played instrumental roles in her academic development. One defining moment took place even before she was officially a Saluki\u2014her scholarship audition in Shryock Auditorium.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was terrified, played way too fast, and made some mistakes,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen I finished, I thought I had blown my audition. But Professor Barwick stood up and said, \u2018Welcome to SIUC\u2014we will figure out the rest!\u2019 That moment solidified SIU as my home.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leadership, Challenges, and Breaking Barriers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Throughout her career, Korte has been a strong advocate for people-focused leadership, emphasizing that the most valuable asset of any organization is its people.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf people gave me their time and trusted me to lead them, I was going to create a place in which they could thrive,\u201d she said. \u201cI built relationships rooted in honesty and mutual respect, creating a strong foundation to weather professional storms.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a woman in the workplace, Korte faced challenges in establishing herself in executive leadership roles. She navigated these obstacles with a combination of preparation, networking, and relentless effort.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remained crystal clear on my goals, asked for honest feedback, and used it as fuel to improve,\u201d she said. \u201cI worked relentlessly to produce meaningful results that benefited both the organization and myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among her proudest achievements, Korte became the first in her family to earn a Ph.D. after completing her MBA, demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning and excellence.<\/p>\n

The Power of Mentorship and Giving Back<\/strong><\/p>\n

Korte is passionate about mentoring young women and supporting SIU programs that foster female leadership. As a founding member of the Women\u2019s Leadership Council, she recognizes the power of mentorship in shaping future generations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWomen need to support other women because we understand the demands of life and work,\u201d she said. \u201cEvery woman has a story that can inspire another if she shares it. The Women\u2019s Leadership Council provides a space for those stories to thrive and motivate others.\u201d<\/p>\n

She believes philanthropy at SIU\u2014through scholarships and mentorship\u2014has a measurable impact.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe track metrics to see our impact, but the true success is in the continuation of mentor-mentee relationships long after graduation,\u201d she said. \u201cThe heartfelt thank-yous, the stories of students helping each other through challenges\u2014these are the untold metrics that prove what we\u2019re doing is working.\u201d<\/p>\n

As SIU continues to nurture future leaders, Korte hopes the work of the Women\u2019s Leadership Council and other initiatives will instill confidence in young women.<\/p>\n

\u201cI hope we give them a light that shines in their soul through dark moments,\u201d she said. \u201cThat light is the confidence that they can, and will, prevail.\u201d<\/p>\n

Women\u2019s History Month holds special significance for Korte, serving as a time to honor those who paved the way. She draws inspiration from her mother, a dedicated nurse and community leader whose legacy of service continues to guide her.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe made an indelible mark on the lives of her patients and those around her,\u201d Korte said. \u201cI work to have her spirit, values, and wisdom live on through me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reflecting on her career, Korte hopes to leave a legacy of commitment rather than mere contributions.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy dad always used to say that the difference between making a commitment and a contribution is like bacon and eggs\u2014the chicken makes the contribution, but the pig makes a commitment,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019ve tried to do in my personal and professional life\u2014make a commitment to something bigger than myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Korte, giving back to SIU is a way to invest in the future and ensure that young Salukis\u2014especially women\u2014have the support and resources they need to succeed.<\/p>\n

\u201cSIUC helped chart a course for my life, and I will be forever grateful,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Women\u2019s Leadership Council and how you can get involved, visit siuf.org\/wlc<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For Dr. Dawn Korte, Southern Illinois University Carbondale was more than a steppingstone\u2014it was the foundation for a career defined by leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to others. A proud graduate of SIU\u2019s College of Health and Human Sciences with a major in paralegal studies, Korte has dedicated her career to fostering professional growth, advocating … Continue reading Women\u2019s History Month Spotlight: Dr. Dawn Korte, Ph.D. \u201991<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,11,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-donor-stories","category-philanthropic-women","category-siu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4308"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4308\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4330,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4308\/revisions\/4330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}