New Endowed Scholarship Honors the Legacy of Kean Alumna Karen Grace (Olsen) Goodwin ’74 ’81
July 30, 2026

Karen Grace (Olsen) Goodwin

The life and legacy of Kean University alumna Karen Grace (Olsen) Goodwin ’74 ’81 will continue to inspire future generations of students through a new endowed scholarship supporting graduate students in speech-language pathology.
Established through a $50,000 gift from her husband, Kevin Goodwin, The Karen Grace (Olsen) Goodwin ’74 ’81 Endowed Scholarship for Speech-Language Pathology honors Karen’s lifelong commitment to helping others and recognizes the impact of the education she received at Kean.
“Karen’s Kean education in speech pathology was an important part of who she was and how she served others,” said Kevin Goodwin. “By establishing this scholarship in her memory, I hope to support graduate students who are preparing to enter the same field and carry forward the kind of compassion, dedication and care that Karen showed throughout her life.”
A native of Rahway, New Jersey, Karen earned a Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology from Kean in 1974 and returned to complete a Master of Science in the same field in 1981. Between earning her degrees, she taught at the Bergen Center, a school serving children with special needs. The role reflected both her professional path and her caring spirit.
Karen and Kevin first met in the summer of 1974 while working at the Silver Bay YMCA Conference Center in upstate New York. They married 14 years later and shared 35 years together, building a life rooted in faith, service and partnership.
Through this endowed scholarship, Kevin’s generosity will help Kean graduate students pursue careers in speech-language pathology and ensure Karen’s legacy continues to inspire future generations.