Mary B. Kelly

Title:

Social and Behavioral Sciences Faculty

Program classes taught:

National Louis Applied Behavioral Science Program:
ABS 331 Dynamics of Group Behavior,
ABS 300 Adult Development and Learning Assessment,
ABS 340 Effective Interpersonal Relationships,
ABS 407 Applied Communication in Society,
ABS 426 Critical Perspectives of Difference,
ABS 431 Organizational Behavior and Professional Development,
ABS 400 Methods of Inquiry in the Behavioral Sciences, 
ABS 401 Independent Inquiry in the Behavioral Sciences,
ABS 305 Philosophy of Values and Ethics,
ABS 406 Leadership in a Changing World,
ABS 435 Senior Seminar Integrating The Applied Behavioral Sciences.  

Triton College/Morton College:
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology,
PSY 201 Introduction to Social Psychology

Areas of Expertise:

• Spiritual Growth and Reflection – Direction of Spiritual retreats and workshops
• Courage to Teach "Circles of Trust" group facilitation
• Restorative Justice – Peace Circle Keeper
• Racial Healing Practitioner
• 25 years of experience, teaching, coaching, training, and managing people of all ages in all areas of aquatics, fitness, wellness and water safety, emergency response and crisis intervention
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• Life transition counseling and coaching

Biography:

I am a lifelong Chicagoan and spent the first 25 years of my work life with the Chicago Park District Lifeguard Service, serving in neighborhoods all across the city and on the beaches along the Chicago lakefront in the field of aquatic safety and recreation. During these years I coached, taught in all areas of aquatics and safety, managed and trained large staffs and was a citywide director. I engaged in water safety public education efforts around the United States and managed a national publication, American Lifeguard, while serving on the Board of Directors of the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA). Water was my world! 

The continuation of my professional journey has included entering the realm of Higher Education, beginning in the areas of recruitment and outreach and evolving to teaching, curriculum development, and a love for adult students. My lifeguard days were centered around the notion of paying attention and protecting life. This idea has continued to weave its thread as my vocational direction expands. I have been a Professor with NLU since 2004, and in 2014 gratefully joined the Full Time Faculty in the Applied Behavioral Sciences Program. As a teacher, I encourage students to pay attention to places their lives may be inviting them to explore.

My path has also led me to studies and work in the area of Spiritual Direction, Clinical Pastoral Education, life transition research and counseling, and devoted work in the facilitation of spiritually based retreats, presentations, healing circles, and workshops. I believe that when we honor our inner stirrings, we perhaps protect and "save" our own lives.

I am a partner in an organization called Soul Play, which is dedicated to bringing experiences of inter and intra connectedness to communities and workplaces.

Philosophy of Teaching:

As a teacher I look upon classmates and classrooms as microcosms of our communities and of the world. It is my desire to encourage students to delve more deeply into themselves and towards recognizing their connection to the greater universal whole.
I believe that education is about so much more than learning facts and skills. Education results from practices that open minds and spirits to ideas that may not yet have been considered. Every course, every subject can be an opportunity to make something happen between people.
I believe that a good teacher both respects and challenges the use of every student’s unique intelligence. A good teacher vigorously prepares by knowing what is going on in the world and by utilizing it all, bringing in arts and media when appropriate to enliven the minds and hearts of the students and to engage them in the subject. Students are not objects of education – they are the subjects. I believe that a teacher does not do anything for students, but works with them – on their behalf.
I feel so strongly that it is never too late for learning and for personal growth; and I believe that every person who has the desire to learn and to change can do so when given the opportunity. I have been influenced by many educators as my own experience as a teacher has evolved and grown. I have been most moved by the work of Parker Palmer and his notion that as teachers we need to “weave a web of connectedness” with our students – to connect ourselves and our subjects with our students. I embrace Palmer’s contention that we need to engage our students’ souls. I agree with him that the only way I can do this as a teacher is to be actively involved in continually knowing myself – and then to show up for my students – not to be there just presenting subject matter and performing for them, but to really be there with them in learning and exploring, helping them to see the wisdom within themselves.
I know from personal and teaching experiences and observations that fear is often what keeps students from believing that they can learn. The most common of these are fear of failing, of not understanding, of being exposed or having their ideas challenged in some ways. I have learned, and continually remind myself, to keep my own fears and vulnerabilities at hand so that I am not separated from my students, and so that I might help them reach deeper personal understanding of the subject matter as it relates to themselves and the world.

Education:

Loyola University

National Louis University
MA Psychology Graduate Certificates, Organizational Psychology, Career Assessment (2004)
National Louis University BA - Applied Behavioral Science

Harold Washington College – Substance Abuse Counseling Certification

DePaul University –Communications/Spanish

Selected Recent Continuing Education:

2020: Certified Racial Healing Practitioner, Truth, Reconciliation, Healing and Transformation (TRHT)

2019: Great Colleges Network Summer Institute, Charlotte, NC

2019: Adult Higher Education Alliance (AHEA) annual conference (presenter)

2019 – 2020 Facilitated Renew My Church Retreats for staff and congregation leaders involved in church regrouping transitions - for the Archdiocese of Chicago

2019: “Know Your Neighbor’s Rights” A Workshop for Allies of Immigrants” event – co sponsored by OSP Immigrant & Refugee Rights Committee and McEntee Law

Social Justice Activism – Crossroads Community Center and North Lawndale Kinship Initiative

2011 - 2017: Parker Palmer’s Center for Courage and Renewal training workshops for Retreats and Circles of Trust facilitation for groups – including educators.
2013 – 2017: Continued studies and certification in The Daring Way™ ,an experiential methodology based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown, which explore topics such as vulnerability, courage, shame, and worthiness, the understanding of which is vital elements to our work as teachers, parents, community and organization leaders and members, and individuals.
2012 – present - Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC), Albuquerque, New Mexico. Semi-annual CONSPIRE conferences and workshops
2011- 2019 present: Spiritual Directors International (SDI), Emerging Wisdom Annual Conferences

Research and Interests:

Current Research: Adult Student Spiritual Experience of Liminality/Life Transition

NLU Alumni Community Impact project.  Collaborated with Civic Engagement Committee on collecting, coding and analyzing data.

I am active in Restorative Justice and Racial Healing work in Chicago. I continue to serve on the Board of Directors for the United States Lifesaving Association. I compete in Triathlons and sing with a choir!

Contact Information:

Mary Kelly

Faculty  - Applied Behavioral Science

Phone & Fax: 312-261-3874

Email:  mbkelly@nl.edu

National Louis University - 122 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Il 60603