Nancy Carlino, associate professor and chair of PennWest Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, is the 2024 recipient of the Nancy McKinley Leadership Award during the Council of State Associations Presidents meeting Dec. 4.

The award is given in memory of McKinley, CSAP president in 2001, who was the embodiment of a selfless volunteer dedicated to promoting the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology, and to supporting those who had chosen one of these professions as a career. The award recognizes a member of a speech-language and hearing association for exemplary contributions to that association.

Craig Coleman, interim dean of PennWest College of Health Sciences and Human Services, nominated Carlino. Coleman wrote that he has had the distinct pleasure of knowing both McKinley and Carlino in his career, and “Nancy Carlino would be a terrific exemplar of the Nancy McKinley Award.” He noted Carlino’s leadership during the summer of 2022, when California, Clarion and Edinboro universities integrated to form PennWest University, and he was promoted to associate dean of the college.

“Nancy stepped up and has been a tremendous leader for the new department,” Coleman wrote. “To my knowledge, Nancy and I are the only two people in the history of our field to chair a unified department across three campuses. Having a department that has worked together, built a successful curriculum, and continued legacy initiatives – while building new PennWest opportunities – is the definition of outstanding.”

Carlino began her tenure in 1999 at then-California University of Pennsylvania. She has been a medical speech language pathologist for almost 38 years, and her passion for the field is apparent.

“I love working with adults with neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders, and I still treat patients on a weekly basis.,” she said. “I primarily teach classes at PennWest that address adult cognitive and language disorders, but I have taught numerous undergraduate and graduate courses in the curriculum over my 25 years.”

Carlino also supervises graduate students in the speech and language clinic at the California campus. She previously served as externship director.

Her professional affiliations include service on the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association executive board from 2011 to 2022, during which time she was president, treasurer and vice president of membership and ethical practices. She was awarded PSHA honors in 2023 for her dedication and contributions to the state.

“She truly cares about making a difference,” Coleman said. “Nancy’s time on the board overlapped with mine for two years while we were finishing our efforts to secure updated state licensure, and Nancy played a key role in the success of the law being passed. She worked to develop an alliance with physical therapy and occupational therapy in the state of Pennsylvania to increase the advocacy power of all three professional groups.”

Carlino has served on the board of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association since 2010 and has been a leader, advocate and mentor for others. In 2021, she was awarded SWPSHA honors for her outstanding contributions.

Her service on the PSHA and SPSLHA boards benefits her students.

“I have strongly encouraged students to become involved in professional organizations and to advocate for the profession and those we serve,” Carlino said. “PSHA supports student involvement in advocacy through participating in Student Advocacy Days, where students can meet with state legislators at our annual convention, or by attending Hill Day in Harrisburg.  

She was involved in developing the PSHA Leadership Advocacy Network that supports students and young professionals in advancing their leadership abilities and positively impacting their organizations and communities.

“PennWest students have participated in PLAN and were sponsored by PSHA members to waive the cost of participation,” Carlino said. “We are starting our third year of PLAN.”