In Memoriam

Dr. Karen Patty-Graham

We are so very sad to inform you, or readers, that one of the legends in our field has died.

Dr. Karen Patty-Graham left this life on January 15, 2026.

Karen worked for 30 years as the Director of Instructional Services, the academic support department, at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville (SIUE). Prior to working at the University, she taught elementary, middle school and community college students; she was also a Title I reading teacher. She earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University, a M.Ed. in reading from the University of Missouri, and an Ed.D. in the Instructional Process (Curriculum and Instruction specialization) from SIUE.

During her work at the University, she became involved and eventually served as president of the Midwest Regional Association for Developmental Education (MRADE) and co-chaired two national conferences with chapter leaders. She later served the National Association for Developmental Education (NADE) as Vice President (1998-2002), President (2008-2010), Emeritus Cabinet Chair (2010-12), and conference manager. In addition to the responsibilities in each of these positions, she strengthened infrastructure by creating organizational strategies: a conference planning manual and timetable; the Calendar of Responsibilities for Board members; an In Memoriam project; updates for the Policy and Procedures Handbook, and more. A flash drive from Karen was the ultimate gift for a new president – I can attest to that – her help and guidance as I entered into leadership in NADE were invaluable.

In her self-written obituary, she says she strove to be a “servant leader;” she was that and more. I remember her work as an author, with Dr. Linda Thompson, of the Teaching and Learning chapter in the NADE Self-Evaluation Guides. Thorough. Reflective. Informed by research and by best practices. I remember her work as NADE’s representative to Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS). She worked on multiple sets of Standards and Guidelines, including the one most pertinent to our field, the Learning Assistance Program Standards and Guidelines. It is of vital importance that such national organizations rely on the voices in our own field – those working, researching, and leading. Karen was that voice, and she did it well. I remember, too, her work on the NADE Accreditation Commission, dedicated to helping our professionals assess, monitor, and evaluate their programs and services, always with a focus on improving services and student outcomes. Her own program at SUIE earned accreditation in 2004, so Karen knew the value and benefits of self-assessment well.

Dr. Patty-Graham was awarded the 2006 Henry Young Award for Outstanding Individual Contribution to NADE and was inducted as a CLADEA Fellow in 2005. She was a frequent workshop presenter and speaker at local and national levels. Her charm, her quiet presence, and her dedication to the field are sorely missed.

~Jane Neuburger