Officially, he was her master’s thesis advisor in mechanical engineering.
And unofficially? “Professor (Helmut) Korst was actually my personal wellness coach,” Karen Thole says.
“Professor Korst had a profound effect on my career, but more importantly on my life,” says Thole, a two-degree UI mechanical science and engineering grad, 2013 distinguished alumni award winner and Penn State professor.
“He and his wife, Rudy, took me into their home for wonderful discussions and dinners. He took me for ice cream when the experiments were not going well. He had the confidence in me to succeed.
“He will forever be an inspiration to me as an educator myself.”
