Dr. Karen Quinn served as the 1992-93 NCLCA President (then Midwest College Learning Center Association).

Before her untimely death from cancer, she had been a very active leader. She was the driving force behind developing our professional journal, The Learning Assistance Review during her term. A scholar herself, she served as the first co-editor with Dr. Martha Casazza. 

Karen was the director of the Center for Academic Excellence at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Karen participated as a mentor and presenter at the 1993 and 1995 NCLCA Summer Institute at Loyola, Chicago. She was a mentor for the Reading/Writing to Learn component. Karen presented us with large notebook of journal articles on improving learning assistance in writing and reading, her areas of expertise. Her presentation was insightful and extremely helpful.

The NCLCA Summer Institute was changed in 2008 to the NCLCA Institute. NCLCA is honored to name the Karen Quinn Institute Scholarship in Dr. Quinn’s memory.

Are you in your first two years as a learning center professional? Here is an opportunity for you to attend the annual NCLCA Institute with a registration scholarship. The Karen Quinn NCLCA Institute Scholarship will be awarded the spring prior to the Institute. 

The NCLCA Institute gives you an opportunity to receive professional development in greater depth. Outstanding presenters and mentors will help you with various aspects of learning center management from tutoring to technology.

The Karen Quinn Scholarship will be presented annually to one member of NCLCA in order to develop his/her professional skills in a college learning center. Primarily, recipients of this scholarship will be first- or second-year professionals who demonstrate a desire to grow in the profession and who may not be able to participate otherwise.

• Nominees should be a full-time employee in a learning center.
• Nominees must have a current membership to NCLCA.
  
• Preference will be given to members in their first two years of employment in a learning center environment
  

The application will consist of:

• An application letter, not to exceed three pages, sent by the nominee or someone professionally associated with the nominee
  
• A letter by the nominee’s supervisor explaining a rationale for the nominee’s financial need for the award
  
• The nominee’s resume
• The nominee's job description