Since graduating from Wittenberg, Kara Teeple has made it her life's pursuit to help individuals and families in need. Currently the public service administrator for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), based in Chicago, Teeple recently assisted with the implementation of a housing program on the city's southwest side that works to keep families intact through intensive supportive service delivery.

In addition, Teeple trains private agency and department caseworkers on the program, manages foster care and specialized foster care contracts, and coordinated a consent decree that aided families by offering cash and/or housing assistance in order for children to be returned home. Prior to her work with DCFS, Teeple was a part-time child and family therapist with CareWorks Inc., where she established treatment plans to monitor progress for both individuals and families.

After earning a B.A. in sociology at Wittenberg, Teeple served as childcare counselor with Allendale Association, where she supervised emotionally disturbed adolescent females in residential treatment programs and established treatment plans. Shortly thereafter, she joined Catholic Charities as a child welfare specialist, where she managed relative family care child abuse and neglect cases. For the last eight years, she has also directed, on a part-time basis, Dignity Diner, a restaurant-style meal program for the homeless.

"One of the things I'm most proud of is my work with Dignity Diner," said Teeple, who earned her M.S.W. from Loyola University in 2000.

Her alma mater also continues to be proud of all of her efforts, which is why it recognized her with an Alumni Citation Award during Homecoming 2007. Given to those who have brought honor to Wittenberg by their exceptional accomplishments in which service to humanity is placed ahead of personal gain or recognition, the award reminded her of where her desire to help others originated.

"Wittenberg's community service requirement inspired me to give back to my community," she said. "I'm proud to have been one of the many students at Wittenberg."

- Karen Gerboth '93