Margaret R. Allen of the National Center for State Courts was announced as the 2019 Karen Thorson Award winner at NASJE’s Annual Conference in October in Denver. The Thorson Award goes to a NASJE member who has made a significant contribution to both NASJE and judicial branch education nationally and is NASJE’s highest recognition of excellence and contributions to the field of judicial branch education. Ms. Thorson was the first recipient of the eponymous award in 2012.
Ms. Allen currently serves as the Director of National Programs at the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), where she collaborates with existing and new partners to deliver Institute for Court Management (ICM) educational offerings around the country, including Court Management Program (CMP) courses, online courses, and other standalone, customizable programs. She is also involved with updating the CMP courses, creating new course offerings, and providing assistance to partner states, Consortium states, licensees and others, including but not limited to our very own NASJE and National Association for Court Management (NACM) and the International Association for Court Administration (IACA) associations. She previously worked for the Ohio Courts as a judicial educator.
Ms. Allen’s service to NASJE is exemplary. She has held, and continues to hold, positions on several NASJE committees, and served as NASJE president in 2015-2016. She continues to be a co-facilitator of NASJE’s Fundamentals course, thereby ensuring our newest members have the foundational tools necessary to become the best possible judicial educators. Ms. Allen has taught, supported, or facilitated classes at every NASJE conference she has attended, and is a frequent presenter at NACM and other conferences as well.
Ms. Allen is a special educator who genuinely cares about education and the development and sustainability of judicial branch education. She has a passion for education and cares deeply about people, making her a valuable friend who freely and sincerely provides counsel, critique, and friendship to those who know her.
Upon receiving the award Margaret said, “I have grown into my self-hood in this profession and found the joy that we all seek. As the saying goes, those who do what we love, don’t work a day in our lives. And I think you’d agree that it is enormously gratifying to be able to serve our fellow citizens in this important way.”
NASJE is proud of Ms. Allen’s contributions to the field and honored that she continues to humbly serve the organization and the profession. Congratulations, Margaret!