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In 1996, Mary Pender Greene ‘70 was inducted into Kingsborough Community College’s (KCC) Alumni Wall of Fame, and for good reason. She has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as a thoughtful leader in the social service industry, a trailblazer whose expertise encompasses social work, psychotherapy, coaching, executive management and much more.
She is currently serving as President & CEO of MPG Consulting, a company that is committed to eliminating bias and structural racism in the workspace. Mary is also the former Assistant Executive Director at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services – America’s largest non-sectarian and not-for-profit mental health and social services agency. Among other publications, she is the author of Creative Mentorship and Career-Building Strategies: How to Build your Virtual Personal Board of Directors.
Yet for all of her prestigious accomplishments, Mary still cherishes her formative years as a Kingsborough Community College student, when she was provided the building blocks for the success she enjoys today.
“Before attending KCC,” Mary recalls, “no one had ever taught me the basics of being a student—be it study skills, writing papers, or even filling out applications.” At KCC, Mary was grateful for the smaller, more intimate learning environment of a community college. She even speculates that, had she opted instead for a larger 4-year college, she may have gotten lost in the academic shuffle altogether: “When I first entered KCC, I did so as the first member of my family to ever attend college. Without KCC, I would have never acquired such a strong foundation.”
As a KCC student, Mary was part of the College Discovery Program. There, she benefited particularly from the guidance of Martha Brown, an advisor: “Thanks to her career counseling, I began pursuing social work and never looked back!” Mary also found a mentor and role model in Dean Thelma Malle, a trailblazer in her own right in the history of KCC leadership: “She was the first and only Black dean I ever encountered in my academic career and was truly inspirational.”
Reflecting on her journey that began at KCC, Mary has the following advice for today’s students at her alma mater: “You do not have to do any of this alone. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and extra support. KCC will always be there for you, as it was for me.”
Learn more about Mary Pender Greene.
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