No staff member had more influence in challenging and reshaping Chico State’s party-school image, and the student behaviors that led to it, than Shauna Quinn.

Quinn’s 1988 hiring as director of the Campus Alcohol and Education Center (CADEC) was timely. Just one year earlier, the University had the dubious distinction of being ranked the top party school by Playboy magazine. Then a few days after her start date, police conducted a major drug bust on campus involving several campus organizations.

Within a short time span, and with the help of several grants, Quinn launched a number of successful programs that had a measurable impact raising student awareness about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Among them were the Getting Connected Program, an interactive first-year orientation; AlcoholEdu, a mandatory online education program for incoming students; Chico Safe Rides, which provided free taxi rides home for students near campus who had been drinking; and numerous educational and pro-social activities including the Shamrock Shuffle Run, the Fun Without Alcohol Faire, and Safe Spring Break.

Along with campuswide programs, CADEC under —Quinn’s leadership —provided services for individual students, such as alcohol and drug assessments for students in crisis and the 21st birthday card program reminding students to stay safe on the day they became legally allowed to drink alcohol. CADEC’s Peer Educator program also trained students in alcohol and drug education to present programs to fellow students in clubs and organizations.

Quinn’s success required many collaborations with partners including the City of Chico, the Chico Police Department, the federal Alcohol and Beverage Control agency, Chico Unified School District, as well as other regional and national drug and alcohol offices. One successful partnership was with the Butte County Sheriff’s department for Labor Day safety on the Sacramento River. Quinn and her staff provided water, sunscreen, and safety tips to students.

For her efforts Quinn was honored in 2009 with the Champion Award at the CSU Higher Education Alcohol and other Drug Education Conference.

After she retired in 2012, the University asked Quinn to return five years later to evaluate CADEC using Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education guidelines.

“Chico State is forever indebted to her leadership,” said Herman Ellis, retired associate vice president for student life and 2016 Hall of Honor inductee. “Her service saved student lives – no doubt in my mind.”

During her campus tenure Quinn was a member of the University Academic Senate for several years. In the community she volunteered at Paw Prints Thrift Store and Safe Space for unhoused Individuals and was a member of the Butte County Rose Society.