Gay Krause, executive director of the Krause Center for Innovation (KCI), is one of eight Penn State graduates selected by the Penn State Board of Trustees to receive the Distinguished Alumni Award this year. The award is the University’s highest honor presented to its alumni, and it salutes the achievements of outstanding alumni whose “personal lives, professional achievements and community service exemplify the objectives of their alma mater.”
“It is truly an honor, especially since there are so many University graduates from whom to have been selected,” Krause said. “I am earnestly grateful to be receiving such an important award.”
Krause earned her bachelor of science in elementary and special education from the College of Education and her master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University of Virginia. She holds credentials in administration from the University of San Francisco and San Jose State University.
“Throughout her career, Gay Krause has dedicated herself to ensuring that educators have access to, and training in, cutting-edge technology to help them succeed in their schools. We are fortunate to have been able to partner with her and her husband, Bill, in pushing the boundaries of what is possible in educating students,” said Kim Lawless, dean of the Penn State College of Education.
Through her vision of innovating education, Krause empowers teachers to deepen learning and to engage and inspire students by leveraging technology.
“As a former teacher, she is aware of the array of challenges that teachers face in the classroom, and she understands that today’s teachers are shaping the minds of youth in positive directions — many of whom may go on to become our nation’s next generation of exceptional educators,” Lawless said.
In addition to other initiatives, the KCI partnered with the California Community Colleges Maker Initiative to create a makerspace designed and equipped to amplify KCI’s creative approach to professional learning.
Krause also was honored in 2013 as a Penn State Alumni Fellow for her outstanding professional accomplishments.