Karen O’Donohoe has been named director of the Occupational and Life Skills program at NorthWest Arkansas Community College.
The Occupational and Life Skills program (commonly referred to as OLS® at NWACC) is a new associate degree program. It gives adults with cognitive disabilities the opportunity to earn a 60 credit hour associate degree, achieve gainful employment and become self-sufficient, contributing citizens. OLS at Bellevue College is the originator and the model for the program.
O’Donohoe previously worked in the college’s Disability Resource Center, first as a case manager and then as assistant director from August 2012 to May of this year. She assumed the role of director of the Occupational and Life Skills program on May 26. She also has experience as a contract technical writer for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Department of Psychiatry and was a compensated work therapy intern for the Veterans Administration.
O’Donohoe holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Arkansas and expects to complete her doctorate there in 2016. She resides in Springdale.
The deadline for applications for the 2015-16 program is July 15. More information about the program is available at online.