Having gotten an early start on her college education through Mary Baldwin’s Program for the Exceptionally Gifted (PEG), alumna Charlotte Auen ’99 is now working with Khan Academy creating STEM curriculum for students of all ages seeking to further cultivate their education.
Auen came to Mary Baldwin in 1995 at the age of 13 from her home state of Louisiana to major in mathematics and computer science. She also spent her free time at MBU fencing and working with the theater department and on the yearbook committee.
“I enrolled in PEG so that I could feel engaged in my courses,” Auen said. “I’ve always loved learning, and Mary Baldwin allowed me to do that both in and out of the classroom.”
Developed in 2006, Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization that produces short lectures in the form of YouTube videos, creating an easily accessible place for people to further cultivate their education. Khan consumers can access all forms of study material that range from introductory biology to advance art history material. Khan also provides SAT test preparation.
Auen is an advocate of individually paced learning and has applied that principal in her own life and career.
“It was through my experience in PEG that made me want to develop curriculum for Khan,” Auen said.
After graduating MBU, Auen went on to attend Cincinnati Christian University, where she double majored in Biblical studies and middle grades education, and she also obtained an associate’s degree of arts in deaf education. Auen earned her master of education degree from Milligan College in 2008.
Auen, who lives in Staunton, is an active member of the local deaf community and enjoys hikes in the Shenandoah Valley with her husband.