Local StoriesDecember 18, 2025

Inspiring Conversations with Dr. Kar’retta of The Venable‘s Education and Training Services

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Kar’retta.

Hi Dr. Kar’retta, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Having a strong will to excel, Venable had joint enrollment at Columbus State University and Kendrick High School through the Future Teachers of America program, which required her to teach special education students in elementary school, and 4th grade students to fulfill the program requirements.

Among her many extracurricular activities Venable worked at the Mildred L. Terry Public Library. “In addition to my duties I took a special interest in the history of the library. I had the privilege of working with Silvia Bunn, the library’s 3rd Black female head librarian since it opened. As part of the Young Historians Club, we collected oral history stories together.”
“The library is where Black people and groups like the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People held meetings, and where many people learned to read. There was a book mobile, which was important because it brought reading and learning materials to people who did not always have transportation to get to the library. Many people at that time had to ride the back of the bus during the Jim Crow era to get to the library. It was called the Colored Library, or Fourth Avenue Library,” Venable explained. “It was renamed after its first librarian, Mildred L. Terry, a Black woman who received a BS in Library Sciences, then attended graduate school at Fisk & CSU, which was a rare accomplishment in those days.”
The stories that Bunn and Venable collected became backing for the research to have the library designated as a historical building. Without this designation the library was facing closure due to low service volume. “I authored the manuscript supporting the Mildred Terry Library Historical Marker,” Venable shared,
“and now a new
modernized library will be available for current and future generations to come.”
Venable became the first in her family to graduate as valedictorian when she graduated from Kendrick High School in Columbus, GA in 2004. Her classmates voted her most likely to succeed.
Although Venable had many options for college, she accepted a presidential academic scholarship to attended Jackson State University as a W.E.B. Dubois Honors College student. She explained, “This decision was made in part because there were no institutions of higher learning in the state of Georgia that offered meteorology degrees, and Jackson State was one of the first HBCUs (Historic Black College or University) to offer a degree in Meteorology.”
In effort to diversify her academic portfolio, Venable transferred to Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech) after two years. Shortly thereafter her mother, Ernestine Jones, became ill. Venable’s desire to help her mother coupled with a financial decision led to her transferring to Columbus State University (CSU).

“Venable, who has taken part in a wide array of internships and hands-on learning experiences reflected on those opportunities. “I interned at The Weather Channel, several National Weather Service offices, The National Severe Storms Laboratory, and the American Red Cross. These experiences helped shape my career path.” A protector of the environment, Venable has participated in environmental research projects around the world. As a student at CSU she conducted field research in the Chattahoochee River, which is the water source for Coca Cola beverages and Dasani bottled water.
An avid researcher, Venable has coupled her love for traveling with her passion for environmental sciences. She visited to Africa twice and conducted field research in remote locations in Ethiopia. The experience was life-changing, as Venable had limited resources including potable drinking water during the project. “It was both eye-opening and humbling,” she said, “and it made me appreciate the little things in life. I was able to visit regions mentioned in the Bible and saw the headwaters of the legendary Nile River.”
The relentless hard work Venable exhibited proved fruitful as she earned a B.S degree in Geology in four years, despite attending three different institutions of higher learning, and missing a semester to aid in her mother’s recovery. “My journey comes from the necessity of survival. Failure was never an option. Because of that, it is the beast within that chooses to come out and play when necessary to ensure that my family and my legacy is protected. Although my educational path has been untraditional, not completing my degree was not an option.”
Venable persisted and completed her master’s degree in 2010 in Environmental Science from CSU.
Much to Venable’s delight, President Barak Obama was the keynote speaker at her
2016 PhD graduation ceremony from Howard University’s Program in Atmospheric Sciences (HUPAS).
“To my knowledge, l am the 7th Black woman to have earned a PhD in atmospheric science as an alumnus of the Jackson State Meteorology program.” Venable is one of less than 1% of Black female PhDs in the atmospheric science field.
After graduation Venable worked up to three jobs at a time to make ends meet. She was working as a cashier at Toys R Us, tutoring online, and teaching as a professor at both CSU and Columbus Technical College (Columbus Tech). “It wasn’t easy, but I persevered,” she explained.

“An accomplished entrepreneur, Venable is the founder and CEO of V.E.T.S.
(Venable’s Education and Training Services). The organization offers First Aid/CPR training (in-person and virtual), Tutoring, STEAM Educational Outreach, STEAM-Themed Birthday Parties, and STEAM Summer Camps.
“I want to make sure people have the tools to succeed, whether that be First Aid/CPR training, learning basic math, Algebra or Calculous.” Venable shared, “I’m available to assist with business set ups, and enjoy helping people excel with their education.”
As a private tutor, Venable successfully assisted multiple students with learning disabilities to achieve academic success. She remarked on the accomplishments of some of her students and shared that “Two young men that I tutored during critical learning phases in their educational journeys overcame their disabilities and graduated with honors from high school. One recently made the Dean’s List in College!”
Sensing a great need for curriculum development within the sciences, Venable is taking matters into her own hands. “If there isn’t something, I develop it. I’m a gap filler.” Her future plans include writing and creating textbooks. “I’m going to create two textbooks. One on environmental science and chemistry exchange, and a second about applied environmental research (coding), with learning tutorials designed to analyze different earth and atmospheric spatial and temporal datasets.”
Venable’s newest venture is returning to one of her first loves, music. “I am a composer, song writer, and a producer. I am looking forward to building and expanding my catalog, while helping upcoming musicians achieve their goals.” When she’s not working, Venable loves to go fishing, travel, and spend time with family. “I am passionate about environmental equality, sustainability, and am a very spiritual person. I encourage you to be the change you want to see.”

Dr. Kar’retta Venable, part of the “Obama Class” and 2016 Alum of the Howard University Program in Atmospheric Sciences (HUPAS), is an environmental and atmospheric research data scientist, software developer, technical writer, presenter, and entrepreneur. Currently, she is Physical Scientist and Watershed Coordinator with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Applied Sciences and Environmental Solutions developing mitigation tools for hydrology and green infrastructure to protect water resources. Additionally, she develops software for sediment fate and transport within hydrologic systems. She is also a former commissioner with the Keep Columbus Beautiful Commission in Columbus, GA. A former professor at Columbus State University and Columbus Technical College within the Earth and Space Sciences and General Studies Departments for 2017 – 2019, has taught over 1200 students of all ages over the past 20+ years and countless others through her Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) educational outreach and advocacy. In her additional time, she provides mentorship, college prep, and tutoring for K-12 and postsecondary students. Because of her passion for protecting people from environmental hazards and providing educational resources, she also developed a business called The Venable’s Education and Training Services (V.E.T.S.), to provide First Aid CPR training and activities related to STEAM Educational Outreach services. Her newest endeavors include music producing, science innovation, and writing STEAM textbooks. While at Howard, she completed a research fellowship supported by the NOAA Center for Atmospheric Science (NCAS) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) with the Johns Hopkins University Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering. This enthusiastic interdisciplinary environmental scientist also holds a B.S. in Geology and a M.S. in Environmental Science from Columbus State University. Her specialties in research are on aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions, extreme climate events, wildfire science, water quality and sustainability, the hydrologic cycle and flow regimes, geo-spatial analysis, data science, and environmental and atmospheric interactions. Dr. Venable continues to reach audiences of all demographics to spread knowledge pertaining to environmental equality and sustainability through continuous public speaking events, scientific conferences, networking, and community activism.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
From birth, I’ve always endured struggles to become the woman I am today. Progressing from my premature birth, navigating college, to finding lucrative and meaningful employment and even home ownership, I have had to consistently research progress and plan in order to navigate through life struggles.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Because of our passion for protecting people from environmental hazards and providing educational resources over the past 25 years, the Venable’s Education and Training Services (V.E.T.S.) provides, First Aid CPR training and educational activities related to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) educational outreach services. Our passion to engage and foster the next generation of scientists has lead us to support the advancement of K-12 and post secondary students with tools to accelerate and optimize their scientific educational matriculation and careers. Furthermore, the V.E.T.S. specializes in providing assistance to students with learning disabilities providing the necessary skills and tools to advance their educational path.

We provide personalized educational services and training courses tailored made to learners of all ages? Whether it’s First Aid courses, personalized tutoring services, or curated individual College & Career Plans, or STEAM themed birthday parties you can always bet on the VETS!

Dive into our American Red Cross Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR courses onsite and online and empower yourself with the confidence to handle emergencies effectively. Here’s why you should enroll today:
🔹 **Comprehensive Training:** Master CPR, first aid, and AED techniques for adults and children. Be the calm in the storm when every second counts.
🔹 **Specialized Pediatric Care:** Learn expert techniques tailored for children, ensuring you can handle any pediatric emergency with confidence.
🔹 **Realistic Scenarios and Equipment:** Provides relevant realistic emergency responses and life-like equipment to equip you with skills to perform reliably.

In a world where emergencies can happen unexpectedly, being prepared can mean the difference between life and tragedy. At Venable’s Education & Training Services, we are committed to empowering individuals and organizations with the skills they need to handle emergencies effectively. Our American Red Cross Adult & Pediatric First Aid/CPR courses are designed to provide comprehensive training, ensuring you can confidently respond to various critical situations. Advantages with the VETS First Aid Courses include:

🔹 **Digital Certificates:** Receive digital certificates upon completion, making it easy to showcase your qualifications whenever needed.
🔹 **Singular Renewal Dates:** Organizations, ensure all employees share the same certification renewal date, simplifying management and saving time.
🔹 **Eliminate Certification Record Hassles:** Say goodbye to record management woes. We handle it for you, letting you focus on being prepared.
🔹 **Flexible Learning:** Choose onsite or online learning based on your preference and schedule.
Don’t miss out! Equip yourself and your team with skills that truly matter.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Participating in symphonic and marching band, even getting the opportunity to create my own field show. Music brings me so much joy and happiness.

Pricing:

Adult and Pediatric First Aid CPR AED – $125
Adult First Aid CPR AED – $115
Private Tutoring- $30/hr
College & Career Coach-Counseling – starting $100 per session
College & Career Coach-Counseling Group Session – $500(K-12)/$1000(Post-Secondary)

Contact Info:

Website: https://www.venables-ets.com
Instagram: drksay23
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karretta-venable-phd
Twitter: @DrKSay23

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