Staff Spotlight: Karie Maurer
Grant Administrator 2
Karie at a Reds game with her boyfriend, Court and his kids, Ainsley (15), and Avery (11)
When did you start at UC Blue Ash and what are your current responsibilities?
I started at UC Blue Ash in late January of 2025 in the newly created position of Grants Administrator 2 which was a very interesting time to get hired for such work as the dramatic change in the political landscape around grants, grant funding, and grant administration have done nothing but change in the past few months since I started. My responsibilities focus on using my grant writing and administration experience to enhance the grant funding stream and help support the amazing faculty, staff and students here at UC Blue Ash.
Prior to joining UC Blue Ash, I worked as Associate Director of the Pre-Award Services in the School of Medicine at Wright State University, ran a women's clothing boutique for a handful of years, worked as a Children's librarian, and ran a Domestic Violence Shelter.
What is your favorite thing about working or teaching at UC Blue Ash?
The diversity, the inclusiveness, the warmth of the close-knit campus and the truly exceptional and dedicated faculty and staff. The environment here is so much more familial and personal than my previous employ. I participated in UC Serves recently and was inspired by the volunteerism the university undertakes, facilitates, and believes in. Probably the most important things in a job, for me, are challenge and inspiration. This feels like the right place to ignite both of those passions. I have certainly met faculty that have instilled the seeds of both in me, and that is motivating and exciting for me. I am definitely needing to bring in my sneakers and set out around this beautiful campus, now that the weather is nice. I'm excited to see what my future holds for me here.
Ohio State graduation with my oldest nephew and godson, Evan
At Sonic Temple 2025, awaiting Beartooth, then Metallica
Is there a current/recent book or podcast you’re enjoying?
I finished my third semester of graduate school whilst at Wright State in mid-December of 2024, so I had no time for reading for pleasure, which is one of my favorite hobbies. My current fascination is with the book, "Beautiful Outlaw: Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, Extravagant Personality of Jesus". I find it so impossibly interesting because it homes in on the aspects of Jesus that I remember as a child reading the Bible. And I am always interested in non-traditional perspectives, original takes, and unpopular opinions. I am not into podcasts, heck, I still listen to old-fashioned radio and like hardcover books.
What kind of hobbies or activities do you pursue outside of work?
I love reading, I hope to regain the pleasure of it after the mandate of it in grad school. My boyfriend has kids, so we are very busy with their activities. I coach fifth grade volleyball with him for his 11-year old's team and am very active volunteering my marketing skills for the church we attend (where we met). I love being active an outdoors. I'm a road-racer (10K is my favorite), I love hiking, camping, kayaking, and just generally getting muddy. My true passion is seeing live music and sports, I recently attended Sonic Temple (again), the heavy metal/rock festival at the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus. I love the energy, the spontaneity, the passion of both music and sport. I'm also into shopping, mimosas, and brunch, if anyone is interested in that sort of thing.
Is there a fun or interesting fact you would like to share about yourself?
I am the eldest of 4 girls (insert joke about my poor father). I sang with the Ohio State choir in high school (band/choir nerd). Oh, and in 2011, while running the domestic violence shelter, I was selected by Mary Kay Cosmetics to film a documentary short for their annual anti-domestic violence campaign. I spent several weeks in Los Angeles on the production team, to work with survivors to best tell their personal stories of hope and perseverance. You can watch the finished doc short here: (I am the one each woman is talking to - you can get a peek at me on set at 10:51).
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Phone: 513-556-1100
Email: admissions@uc.edu