Attending early morning meetings anywhere from Evansville, In. to Louisville, then instructing her business students on career choices during the afternoon in her X410 class, Donna Ulrich, adjunct business professor, still finds joy in what she does years later.
Even at the start of her college career, Ulrich knew that she wanted to work in a people-oriented field; more specifically, career counseling.
“I enjoy working with people. Always have,” Ulrich said, “So often we think there is a defined path to the same job, but there is more than one way to get there.”
After receiving her degree in psychology and pre-law from IU Bloomington, Ulrich began work in the social service field.
She also took several other part time jobs to help pay for her MBA in finance at Bellarmine University, where she met her husband, Paul, in 1985.
While working on non-credit programs at IU Southeast and by aiding in research projects at Purdue University, mainly with organic vegetables, Ulrich succeeded in landing a few consulting jobs with small local companies.
“Donna really has the ability to make anything come alive, she’s very much involved and engaged,” Jim Kanning, Career Services director, said.
These consulting positions opened up a floodgate of opportunities and kick started her human resources consulting business.
Ulrich remembered after one of her first seminar presentations that she held at IU Southeast on careers, a woman approached her with her four young boys and asked her to help her find a job.
“The woman had a terrible stutter, but I helped her out. Unfortunately, I eventually lost track of her,” Ulrich said.
“Then one day after another seminar, years later, one of her boys approached me and thanked me for helping his mother. That memory always makes me feel good about what I do.”
Ulrich still maintains her human resource consulting to local companies and, due to the fact her meetings are sometimes far apart, her office is located in her vehicle.
Ulrich also volunteers with Right to Life and occasionally holds seminars and lectures with botanical societies at Purdue.
However, when she is not working or volunteering she is busy running around her 20-acre farm with her son, Ryan, her daughter, Christine and her husband, Paul, tending to fallen trees, organic garden or just relaxing with a good book.
“You’ll frequently find me in jeans, boots and sloppy shirt,” Ulrich said.
By GRACE STAMPER
Staff Writer
gstamper@ius.edu