Nina Quirk
Role and Responsibilities
As Campus Culinary Services Director, Nina Quirk oversees culinary services across The Commons in Lincoln’s entire campus, including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care and the Sub-acute Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing neighborhoods. Her role is centered on shaping a dining experience that reflects residents’ preferences, tastes and traditions, while maintaining a deep commitment to quality and hospitality.
Nina is passionate about cooking from scratch and sourcing exceptional ingredients to ensure every dish is thoughtfully prepared.
“I will not allow our kitchens to buy prepared foods,” she says. “I want to ensure we use quality ingredients in every part of the operation. This takes time to build, but that is always my primary goal.”
Industry Expertise
Nina grew up in a family restaurant, and after graduating from college, she went into kitchen operations management, focusing on senior living.
Passion for Senior Care
Her connection with her grandmothers—especially one who was a home chef featured in magazines—served as a model for Nina. “She inspired me my whole life as a woman who worked and raised six children while creating homemade food for her family,” Nina says. “During my master’s, I wrote one of my theses on ‘Grandmother Cuisine’ and how it plays a role in society. I conducted many of my studies around the senior population, but she was the inspiration.”
Nina says connecting with The Commons’ residents and creating meaningful experiences centered around food is what she likes best about her job. “I love hearing their stories and passions as they relate to food,” she adds.
Milestones
In 2026, Nina was promoted to campus culinary services director at The Commons in Lincoln, reflecting her leadership and impact across the campus dining program. She holds a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University.
She has been honored for her creativity and commitment to excellence by WTWH Healthcare’s 2026 DISHED Senior Living Dining Innovation Awards, where she was recognized as a “Elevating the Experience” for her innovation in menu creation, use of ingredients and culinary techniques.
Personal Interests
Nina is a forager and gardener in her spare time, and she and her husband Mike are renovating an old farm. They have two sons.