“There are some people in life who don’t just teach; they change the direction of your story.”
For former Kellogg Community College student Robin Bolz, that person was Dawn Larsen.
When Bolz first arrived at KCC, she wasn’t sure she belonged. Having only completed school through the sixth grade, she often felt overwhelmed and questioned whether she could succeed.
But Dawn Larsen saw something different.
“She did not treat me like I was broken or too far behind,” Bolz said. “She treated me like I was capable.”
That belief stayed with her through some of her most difficult moments and all the way to graduation day, where Larsen was there waiting with open arms as Bolz crossed the stage for the first time.
For more than 25 years, Dawn Larsen served Kellogg Community College as a leader, educator, and mentor. As dean of the Arts and Sciences department, she helped shape programs, support faculty, and guide students, making an indelible mark on campus.
College president Paul Watson reflected on that impact, describing Larsen as someone who made those around her feel seen and valued.
“She had the rare gift of making every person she encountered feel seen, valued, and, in that moment, the center of her attention,” he said.
He added that her influence is woven throughout the college through both her leadership and her relationships, shaping programs and strengthening the campus community.
Colleagues say that the ability to make others feel seen and supported was at the core of who Larsen was.
“She always saw and assumed the good in people and was committed to helping them be happy and successful,” said the dean of arts and communication, Barb Sudeikis.
The two worked closely for years, forming a bond that extended beyond the workplace.
“We became close friends and sisters, and a part of each other’s families,” she said. “Dawn never met a stranger.”
Dawn’s commitment to others extended beyond personal relationships and into the programs she helped build and lead.
Colleagues credit her as a driving force behind the college’s Early Childhood Education program, which has impacted students and professionals in the field for more than two decades. She also played a key role in developing pathways for future educators at the college.
For Ann Miller, director of Education and Human Services, that impact was life-changing.
“Professionally, everything changed the day I met her,” Miller said. “With her encouragement, I began as an adjunct instructor, which quickly opened additional doors for me at the college.”
Miller added that much of what she learned came from watching Dawn’s approach to working with others.
“I learned by watching Dawn, especially how she interacted with students,” she said.
For students like Bolz, Dawn’s impact is part of a story that is still unfolding.
“She helped change the direction of my story by believing in me until I could believe in myself,” she said.
At Kellogg Community College, her legacy lives on in the students she inspired, the friends she supported, and the community she helped shape. This impact is evident not only in the lives she transformed but also in the lasting opportunities that will arise in her name.
In the coming months, the Kellogg Community College Foundation will collaborate with Larsen’s family to create a scholarship in her honor. This initiative will ensure that her dedication to supporting students will continue for generations to come.
