People with Purpose: Katie Thompson-Laswell

Long before anyone steps into adulthood, their childhood experiences lay the foundation for who they’ll become and the world they’ll help create.

As a senior instructor of human development and family science, Katie Thompson-Laswell believes that creating a better world starts by helping parents, teachers and caregivers understand what children need to thrive — finding her purpose in helping society give every child the start they deserve.

Are there any moments you saw a student's hard work pay off? How did you get to be a part of that story?

With the many things students today are balancing during their college careers, I can't choose just one story. I've seen students face difficult personal challenges and overcome them, confront and heal from difficult upbringings or tackle college as first-generation students and succeed.

I'm most gratified when a student reaches out to me years after graduation to say that I helped them become a great parent, a successful teacher, or simply a better human. I like to think that the seeds of compassion and understanding that I plant help grow future generations.

 

Besides a degree, what's one thing every K-State student should take away from their time on campus?

I sincerely hope that every student leaves campus knowing themselves better than when they arrived. It's incredibly satisfying to see students' "a-ha" moments in class when they learn something that allows them to see themselves or a previous experience differently. Through this self-understanding, I hope they have created a community where they feel seen, understood, supported and valued.

In turn, I hope that they go forward to make others in their world feel seen, understood, supported and valued. I want students to know that through engaging with the world, they can make it a better place.

 

What's something you do to make a welcoming space on campus for students?

Honestly, I share my real self with students. I let them see and hear my stories, my challenges and struggles, and my joys. I am compassionate and approachable. I truly understand that my students' struggles are different than the ones I faced in college, and I'm understanding of their needs. Our college motto is, "In a world focused on things, we focus first on people" – my approach to my students reflects this.

 

 

What challenges are you trying to solve through your work?

We live in a world where many of us did not receive what we needed to thrive growing up, and where many people feel isolated and alone. I joke with my students that I teach the classes I do because I want world peace. I go on to explain that, naïve or not, if more people understand what humans need to grow and thrive during development and strive to provide for these needs, the world would be a better place — perhaps even achieving world peace. Excessively optimistic, maybe, but imagine how much healthier our world would be if every human had their needs well and truly met!

 

How does your work transform lives in Kansas and around the world?

I'm fortunate to have had students in my classes from all over the world. I have taught students from most states in the United States. I've taught students in Romania, Brazil, Peru, the United Arab Emirates, Scotland, England and Canada. I've worked with graduate students from China, India, Iran, Ghana and Nigeria. I hope that I've contributed, in small or large ways, to their understanding of human needs and, more importantly, to their compassionate engagement with their fellow man.