The North Campus Deans’ MLK Spirit Awards are given annually to acknowledge commitment to the ideals that mirror Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of social justice.
Karin Jensen, Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, recently received the North Campus Deans’ MLK Spirit Award for Mentoring and Inspiration. This honor highlights individuals who exemplify mentorship, community-building, and leadership qualities, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment among their peers and students.
The North Campus Deans’ MLK Spirit Awards are given annually to acknowledge commitment to the ideals that mirror Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of social justice.
Dr. Jensen has consistently demonstrated mentorship qualities through her work and interactions with students and colleagues. “I am very fortunate to have so many wonderful mentors throughout my career, and I aspire to be like them,” Dr. Jensen said. “I am honored to receive this award, and grateful for the opportunity to work with so many talented colleagues.”
Dr. Jensen has been working with a team to embed a new research-driven approach to student and faculty well-being within the engineering curriculum. The researchers have initiated several projects aimed at understanding and supporting mental health and well-being. One key initiative resulting from their work is the Engineering 100 course section, first offered in 2023, called Engineering Wellness. In the class, undergraduate students learn about wellness technology and benefit from research-based strategies to support their own mental health and well-being in the process.
Last summer, Dr. Jensen spearheaded the BME Summer Workshop @ Michigan called “Thriving in Academia: Flourishing in a Culture of Burnout.” This one-day workshop provided strategies for supporting positive well-being in academia and was open to faculty, staff, postdocs and students throughout campus. It addressed topics of burnout, overwork, and stress and offered strategies to support well-being and thriving in academia. Parallel sessions and discussions also highlighted thriving as a leader, cultivating well-being for graduate advisees, and supporting undergraduate student well-being.
The awards are hosted by the A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture + Urban Planning, the College of Engineering, the Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, and the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. They are presented in collaboration with ArtsEngine and the Duderstadt Center as a significant component of U-M’s annual MLK Symposium, which honors the life and legacy of Dr. King. Dr. Jensen’s contributions to U-M BME and the larger university community emphasize her steadfast commitment to nurturing an open, welcoming environment.