Mary Kay Quinlan, a seasoned journalist and educator, began her distinguished career in reporting after earning a master's degree in journalism from the University of Maryland in 1973. She initially worked as a suburban schools reporter at the Rochester, N.Y., Democrat and Chronicle before joining the Omaha World-Herald Washington Bureau in 1974, where she spent over a decade covering significant national stories. From 1985 to 1989, Quinlan served as a regional correspondent for Gannett News Service in Washington, focusing on Midwestern newspapers. During this time, she also held the prestigious position of president of the National Press Club in 1986 and was elected to the Gridiron Club of Washington.

In 2007, Quinlan joined the faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications, where she brought her extensive professional experience into the classroom. She was promoted to associate professor in 2014 and became the associate dean in 2015, a role she held until her retirement in 2020. Throughout her academic career, Quinlan was dedicated to teaching reporting and writing courses, mentoring students, and contributing to the development of the college's curriculum.

Quinlan also made significant contributions to the field of oral history, serving as the editor of the Oral History Association Newsletter and co-authoring several notable publications, including The Oral History Manual and Native American Veterans Oral History Manual. Her work in oral history has been recognized at numerous local, regional, and national conferences, where she frequently presented workshops.