1. Kathy Geisbuhler
Brittany Bauer
Oct. 3, 2014
If there is one Bowling Green State University employee who reflects the
motto, “Once a falcon, Always a falcon,” it is Counseling Center secretary Kathy
Geisbuhler, who has been impacting lives on campus for over 30 years.
Student Assistance and Advocacy Specialist Patty Helyer, is one of several
staff members who has worked with Geisbuhler at the Counseling Center for over
four years and witnessed her contagious personality and strong work ethic.
“She always greets students with a smile when they come in and immediately
puts them at ease,” Helyer said. “She really invests in every interaction that she has.”
Geisbuhler is a life-long Wood County resident who was originally born and
raised in Pemberville and lived there for over 37 years, before moving to Perrysburg
where she currently resides.
“Pemberville is an awesome town to grow up in,” Geisbuhler said. “It’s a
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2. Kathy Geisbuhler
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progressive little town for a small town.”
Geisbuhler attended Eastwood High School and was very active as a 4H
advisor during her time in Pemberville. Moreover, Gesibuhler said working as an
advisor allowed her to form positive relationships with the kids involved by
recruiting them to do projects with sheep, horses, rabbits, dogs, cooking,
photography and more.
“It was an extended family,” Geisbuhler said. “What a fun can of worms it was
to open.”
One 4H member that Geisbuhler still maintains a strong relationship with is
an individual named “Muffy” who joined the program at the age of 12. In fact,
Geisbuhler also said her last horse was buried behind at the pasture at Muffy’s
house.
“She got quite attached to me,” Geisbuhler said. “Muffy is very near and dear
to me.”
Geisbuhler eventually went on to attend the university after graduating from
Eastwood to study under a former two-year secretarial program. As a result,
Geisbuhler said she always admired the family-feel of the university and eventually
obtained her first two secretarial jobs in the Alumni Department for six years and in
University Relations for three years.
“The person who hired me into the university is still a near and dear friend to
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me,” Geisbuhler said. “I always get very attached to people I work with.”
However, Geisbuhler said her longest and most memorable part of her career
occurred when she worked as a secretary for Intercollegiate Athletics for 20 years.
One of her favorite parts of working in the department was meeting and interacting
with so many various people and former coaches at the university such as Urban
Meyer.
“Coaches are a great type of person to work around,” Geisbuhler said. “I met
extraordinary fans and developed some relationships with them and numerous
coaches.”
However, the Athletics Department was a very intense department to work
in at times with over 60 employees and 21 intercollegiate sports, according to
Geisbuhler. However, this did not stop her from looking back on that part of her
career in a pleasant light.
“I had so many responsibilities and got paid well for them,” Geisbuhler said.
Gesibuhler retired from the university in 2002, but she did not stay absent
for good and she returned briefly in May 2010 to assist with commencements
through the Student Affairs Office.
“I wanted to stay active, so I was looking for part time,” Geisbuhler said. “I
figured where better than BGSU.”
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Geisbuhler made her official return to the university upon obtaining her
current position at the Counseling Center in September 2010.
“That one came around and I knew that I wanted it,” Geisbuhler said.
Even since returning to the university, Geisbuhler has continued to develop
more effective relationships with co-workers and make an impact on students and
staff alike.
Psychology Resident & Liason of Arts and Sciences Darian Mitchell is another
staff member at the Counseling Center who has felt lucky to work with Geisbuhler
since starting in 2010.
“She is easy to work with and very approachable,” Mitchell said. “We have a
level of openness with one another.”
In addition, Helyer said she has always admired Geisbuhler’s effort to help
others, especially with other fellow co-workers on a personal and professional level.
“She really wants to connect people with what they want,” Helyer said. “She’s
like a link.”
One particular instance where Helyer felt helped by Geisbuhler was when
she gathered travel information and other materials for her without even being
asked while she was planning a trip.
Along with having a healthy working relationship with Geisbuhler, Mitchell
and Helyer both also believe they have many valuable things from knowing her.
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“She seems like she really enjoys life,” Mitchell said. “I try to take from that
and hold onto that.”
Furthermore, Helyer said she always feels inspired by the undivided
attention that Geisbuhler always gives to everyone that she encounters.
“You can’t go to the front desk and just be like ‘Hi Kathy’ and then go right
back to what you are doing,” Helyer said. “When she’s sitting there talking with you,
she makes you feel like there’s no one else there.”
With that said, Geisbuhler will always have a special place for the university
in her heart.
“You kind of bleed brown and orange after that many years of working here,”
Geisbuhler said. “It never leaves your blood.”
If one ever needs to make a visit to the Counseling Center, they can always
expect to receive a warm and friendly welcome from Geisbuhler to get their time
there off to a better start.
“She cares about the students she interacts with,” Mitchell said. “She
definitely has a big heart.”
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