Karen McKinney

Karen McKinney serves as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's School of Architecture & Design and Office of First Year Experience. She has taught architecture courses since 2013 and first-year programs since 2018. As a registered Louisiana architect, she holds a Bachelor of Architecture, Graduate Certificate in Historic Preservation, and Master of History, with additional certifications in building evaluation and online education design.

Her research focuses on:

• Historic Preservation: Documenting vernacular architecture through National Register nominations
• Architectural History: Analyzing Louisiana's built environment from coastal communities to industrial settlements
• Cultural Heritage: Examining relationships between building systems, historical contexts, and community identity

Her publications demonstrate concentrated expertise in Louisiana's architectural heritage, particularly vernacular structures in Grand Isle and industrial worker housing. Recent works explore international comparative studies in Costa Rica and preservation theory, utilizing interdisciplinary approaches across history, architecture, and cultural geography.

Awards and Grants:

• Historic Preservation Grants ($15,000 total) for National Register documentation projects
• Mayor's Community Service Awards for legislative work in Washington, LA
• Professional service recognition from Louisiana's Construction Code Council

She actively contributes to preservation policy through the International Code Council's Existing Buildings Committee and chairs Washington's Historic District Commission while serving on the Vermilionville Living History Museum Foundation board.