Crushing the Game: Senior Brianne Karazsia Named Indiana’s Student Employee of the Year

If you want to know what IUPUI senior Brianne Karazsia is up to today, you might have to take a seat to hear the answer. The Midwest Association of Student Employee Administrators (MASEA) recently named Karazsia Student Employee of the Year for the state of Indiana. Nominated by supervisor Lauren DeHaan, Karazsia also received this award for the entire IUPUI campus. In the words of Grammy Award–winning singer Alicia Keys, “this girl is on fire.”

In the Office of Student Employment, Karazsia works as an employer relations ambassador. She helps plan employment events, facilitates communication between the office and various employers, and provides support to students looking for work opportunities. Each day, the job presents her with new challenges and exciting opportunities to improve student work experiences on campus. These challenges don’t phase Karazsia, however. As she puts it, “I’ve been spoiled working [at the Office of Student Employment]. It has been an amazing learning experience.”

This year, Karazsia planned and executed the IUPUI Part-Time Job Fair, a task she tackled with the work ethic of a full-time employee. To paraphrase her supervisor, Karazsia crushed it. The event had 1,800 student attendees and raised several thousand dollars for the program, a large increase from last year’s event.

In addition to her involvement with the Office of Student Employment, Karazsia has served on planning committees for Weeks of Welcome, Fall Career Week, and National Student Employee Appreciation Week. She also served as the event management intern for the Pass the Torch for Women Foundation. What do all of these activities have in common? They all provide intrinsically motivating factors to develop professionally. To Karazsia, there is nothing more motivating than the chance to work for an organization with a mission that aligns with her values.

A native of Linton, Indiana, Karazsia finds enjoyment in the unknown, seeking opportunities in various areas and disciplines as part of her love for the variety in life. Her interest in event logistics and the behind-the-scenes aspects of an organization began in high school when she helped to organize her senior prom.