Karen Beckett, University Registrar, has been in education her entire professional career—first as a middle school teacher, then as an intern in finance, and for the last 16 years at UM’s Office of the University Registrar. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. she leads a team of 35, tasked with managing everything from course registration to scheduling classes, and supporting the University with internal processes and reporting.
When not in the office, Beckett can be found spending time with her three pets—a six-year-old dog Aladdin “Laddie” and two 15-year-old cats, Jitterbug and Tres (like the number three in Spanish). She enjoys going to the theater, searching for new and interesting books and authors, and has an affinity for all things Great Britain. But she has another passion that fulfills her on a different level—fostering dogs.
Did you have any pets growing up? Tell me about your first pet(s).
Yes, we had dogs my entire childhood—two poodles who were around before I was, and a Keeshond when I was a teenager going into college. My first pet that was my own was a rescued Shetland Sheepdog named Candy. I found her at the Humane Society after being confiscated from her first owner. Not only did she teach me about the responsibility that comes with pet ownership, but she also was the personification of unconditional love and she got me through some difficult times.
Why did you start volunteering to foster dogs and what does it mean to you?
When my first dog, Candy, died young due to heart damage she experienced as a puppy, I wasn’t ready for another full-time commitment but I missed having a dog. I have cats but it is not the same thing. I learned that the county animal shelter has a foster program so I registered and completed the training. Through that program I met a lot of great people who work with the different local, state, and national rescue groups—it is amazing how they work together and really change these animals’ futures. Eventually, I began fostering for a non-profit rescue group called Their Lives Matter.
For me, this ability to help gives me such satisfaction because animals who were left to a terrible fate— either by being surrendered or abandoned, now have a chance at a wonderful life. I love getting updates or seeing the posts on Facebook and Instagram about their new lives!
What does fostering a dog entail? How long do you care for them and what kind of care do you provide?
Fostering is basically taking care of a dog but having the expenses covered by the rescue group or animal shelter. When you foster an animal, you are tasked with housing, feeding, exercising, and in some cases administering medicine to the pet. Depending on their age and needs, you may be asked to help socialize or train them, but mostly it is just about loving them and helping them prepare for their forever home. Depending on the situation, fostering can be for a specific or undefined amount of time.
Who inspires you?
I would say published authors because I am fascinated by—and envy—how they can develop stories from one tiny idea (e.g. J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series). I also admire scientists because their use of logic in the pursuit of knowledge. Both fields require creativity but they are expressed in completely different ways.
What’s the last book you’ve read or film you’ve seen?
Right now I am reading “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman as part of a book club. I also recently saw “Crazy Rich Asians” in theaters after having read the book during the summer.
Editor’s note: Know anyone with an interesting hobby or passion project? Share your story ideas with us at LifeatTheU@miami.edu.
