Koen Burger

Coordinator, Informal Recreation and Programming Specialist

I know how powerful our work is and what it can do for students beyond the obvious benefits to their physical wellness because I was someone that found their place in life and their chosen family through campus recreation.  
College is hard and being an adult is even harder. Our students feel so much pressure to succeed and figure out their entire lives by the time they graduate that so many of them forget to play. Our job is to provide them with opportunities to engage with each other and be together in the moment in an environment that encourages them not to worry about everything else that’s happening. Then, when they do go back to the challenges in their lives, they can face them with a fresh perspective and group of people supporting them through it. 

 

Our job is to provide them with opportunities to engage with each other and be together in the moment in an environment that encourages them not to worry about everything else that’s happening. ~Koen.

My passion

I’m deeply passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), especially when it comes to the LGBTQIA+ community’s relationship with recreation and athletics. Research by Dr. Sean Basso at the University of Tennessee shows that LGBTQIA+ individuals both participate less with campus recreation when compared to non-marginalized populations and are the least likely to identify recreational programs as a contributing factor to their connection to campus and quality of life. As someone that both identifies as queer and loves being involved with recreation, I know how important representation and belonging is in these spaces. We’re here for all students, and as more of the higher education population identifies as LGBTQIA+, it becomes more vital that we ensure our programming is inclusive for every single person. 

Can't stop watching

My favorite Broadway shows are The Rocky Horror Show, SIX, and Wicked.

If I didn't work at UREC

I would be a paramedic. Pulling towards the emergency care side of my experience and my enjoyment of rapid problem solving, I think I could transition well into the Emergency Medical Services world. In my time in campus recreation, I have had to respond to every injury from a severed toe to full on respiratory and cardiac trauma, and I love being able to be there to help people when they truly need it most.

Education

BS - Business Administration, Human Resource Management, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville 

Contact Koen

kburger@lsu.edu 
225-578-4466
102 Student Recreation Complex