There may be many reasons to change jobs, but sometimes one reason supersedes everything else. A little more than 20 years ago, Mary Burke, PhD, was a psychologist in Syracuse University’s Counseling Center, but when she learned of the opportunity at Carlow University (then known as Carlow College), she was intrigued.
“I was attracted to Carlow because its values and mission truly aligned with my values and life mission,” said Mary, a professor of counseling psychology. She recalls hearing about Catherine McAuley’s work with women in Ireland and about Sisters of Mercy from Carlow taking students to Washington, D.C., to march for civil rights in the 1960s. Those stories sealed the deal for her accepting the position here at Carlow.
It’s no news flash that people matter to a counseling psychologist. The best qualities to have include empathy, compassion, and the ability to listen to what is being said, as well as what is left unsaid. Thus, it makes sense that when Mary first visited the campus, she noticed the people.
“What convinced me that this was a good place to work was the people I met,” she said. “There’s a strong sense of community here.”
While that sense of community drew her here, what has kept her here has been the ability to make a difference.
“This might sound a little obnoxious and naïve, but I was interested in trying to change whatever portions of the world that I could, to make it a better place,” she said. “I was keenly aware of the myriad social problems embedded in our systems, such as classism, sexism, and racism, to name just a few, and I wanted to work in a place that would allow me to address these in an impactful way.”
When Mary arrived at Carlow, the doctoral program in psychology (PsyD) didn’t exist yet, and she had a role in helping to shape that program with values that she believed in and also meshed with the university’s overall mission.
“I think I was able to actualize that in a really meaningful way through the doctoral program and by ensuring that the underpinnings of the program were aligned similarly,” she said.
In addition, Mary has been actively involved in some of the major social issues of the day. She was a forerunner in the anti-human trafficking field and has worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to raise awareness and bring justice to a problem that often goes unnoticed.
While it can be difficult and even intimidating to tackle such huge, systemic issues, Mary doesn’t let it deter her.
“There are problems that people may find hard to deal with, but I recommend digging in and trying to stay committed to make things better,” she said. “As I reflect on my time here at Carlow, I remain pleased that I made the decision to join this community so many years ago. Carlow is truly a good place to be.”