Dr. Kathleen Hart is the assistant director for student services in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, where she works with both undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Hart is recognized by peers as the "foundation" that keeps her department functioning smoothly, volunteering beyond her assigned roles to lead recruitment efforts, graduate admissions and the accreditation process, and offering encouragement to all around her. It is well known that her door is always open to help students with scheduling, advising and part-time employment. She has served on the President’s Awards Advisory Committee, Banneker-Key Selection Committee, as an Advise 5 advisor, as a College of Behavioral and Social Sciences mentor and as a member of the Maryland Chorus. Dr. Hart has also worked in advocacy organizations at the national, state and local levels and has recently been trained in local emergency preparedness and response.