Jenifer Koch Berthold, Arts '97, Grad '07
Young Alumna of the Year AwardCollege of Education
Young Alumna of the Year Award
Jenifer Koch Berthold, Arts '97, Grad '07
Jenifer Koch Berthold spells love r-e-a-d. Ask her who'd she'd like to have dinner with ("Any children's book author!") or her favorite book (Charlotte's Web), and it shouldn't come as a surprise that she is a National Board Certified reading specialist for kindergarten through fifth-grade students in the Wauwatosa, Wis., School District.
She set her sights on becoming a teacher at an early age and today passionately provides guidance to young students to help them succeed. "The ability to read and write not only opens practical doors in society, but also allows us to lead richer lives," she says.
Her dream to teach was reinforced while attending Marquette, where she realized her true vocation was reading education. "Marquette helped instill a sense of mission in my work and the desire to maintain high standards," she says.
For that, she is giving back to her alma mater, where she mentored pre-service teachers at the College of Education's Hartman Literacy and Learning Center, a teaching, research and service site that improves the quality of literacy instruction for urban children.
Not only are her students taking notice of her teaching, but Jenifer received a Kohl Teacher Fellowship from U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl.
"I am truly blessed to do what I do each day," she says.
Fun facts about Jenifer
Jenifer’s Marquette legacy: Her sister and husband. She also hopes her newborn son, Henry, will be part of the class of 2031.
