To all who know her, Karen Jennings, M.S., Zoology, 1969, is the quintessential friend-the one you want in your corner in good times-and bad. Tireless, patient, caring, Jennings has a can-do attitude that gets things done and a sense of humor that eases the way.

Jennings is a founding member, prime mover and president-again-of one of Ohio State's most successful "friends" groups-the Friends of Stone Lab (FOSL). In the less than 20 years since its founding, FOSL has established and supported substantial student scholarships (having a market value of nearly $530,000), held phonathons, done fundraising, spent long week-ends twice yearly on Lake Erie refurbishing Stone Lab facilities, and lobbied steadily on behalf of the country's oldest freshwater biological field station.

So, it is very fortunate-but not surprising given Jennings incredible commitment to the things she believes in-that she has enthusiastically embraced and supported the idea of a College of Biological Sciences Alumni group and has lent her considerable energy and talents to the effort since day one. She is the Secretary of the fledgling group (now an official Ohio State Alumni Society!) and chairs both its Communications Committee and its Scholarship Committee.

"It was an idea whose time had come-and then some," she says.

Jennings has been a high school science teacher and a health-care administrator. As the editor of the Ohio Biological Survey for five years, Jennings shepherded many notable scientific works through the arduous publications process, including the Prairie Proceedings with Ron Stuckey.

After earning another degree from Ohio State, a MHA in 1988, Jennings' work life took a turn away from biology. She has worked for the Ohio Department of Human Services and currently is with the Ohio Department of Administrative Services where she manages a variety of special benefit projects in health and life benefit areas. Her life work, however, remains firmly rooted in the biological sciences.

So much so that she strongly believes a degree in one of the biological sciences imparts with it a responsibility to be an advocate for better awareness and understanding of biological processes. "It's scary to me, that we are on the verge of breakthroughs in biology on a par with the discovery of antibiotics, and yet there is a huge problem of science illiteracy even among very well-educated people."

No matter how busy people are, Jennings thinks there is always time to do something, "Take the time to judge a science fair, volunteer at local schools, serve as a mentor. Be proactive, take the opportunity to educate people whenever and wherever you can. It's worth it!"

Jennings has done all of these things and has long been active in AWISCO-the Association of Women in Science of Central Ohio, which plays an important role in mentoring young women and encouraging careers in science at all levels. Paraphrasing a friend who works at a water treatment plant who responds to questions of why he does it, with: "Water is life!," Jennings says, "Biology is life-it's your life! Educate yourself and other people about the importance of quality teaching and research in the biological sciences. Nothing is more important!"