About Me

My name is Mary Casey.  I am an alumna of Lehman College and a student in the SPS MS in Business Management and Leadership Program.  I will have 3 more courses to finish after this semester, and I expect to graduate in June 2014.  I am an administrator in a NYC university and I have many years of business experience in the corporate, non-profit and educational fields. 

I grew up in the Bronx, spent 30 years in the suburbs raising my family, and I am back in the Bronx.  I enjoy living, working and playing in NYC.  I believe in lifelong learning, and I plan to continue my education (I am undecided about pursuing another formal degree) for the rest of my life.  I love to travel, and I want to see as much of the world as possible.

I have had the privilege of serving as a student rep on the Governing Council for the 2012-2013 school year, and I hope to continue in 2013-2014.  I have attended every Governing Council board meeting, every Curriculum Council board meeting to which I was assigned, joined in other SPS sponsored events and meetings, actively participated in discussions, raised questions, and voted on every issue that was a voting item.  In addition, I have been a contributor to the SPS Community Blog.  I have proven that I have the time and commitment to be the ears and voice for all students.

Besides my 35 years of business experience and Governing Council experience, I was PTA president for two years and attended every Board of Education meeting in my school district.  I was an activist for the kids and parents.  I believe in collaboration but accountability, open discussions but not talking points, maturity but not staleness.  While the Governing Council is a forum that is different from a School Board, I ask questions and offer my opinions.  I understand the needs and concerns of working adults who are pursing a college or postgraduate degree.  I welcome and embrace collaboration, while never hesitating to speak up or make a decision. 

I am a product of the CUNY system.  My daughter graduated from a small private college in Pennsylvania and my son is currently attending

Lehman College.  CUNY provides an outstanding education at a reasonable price.  I could have enrolled in an adult masters program at my university that would have been tuition-free, but none of its programs match the SPS MS in Business Leadership and Management Program.

I come from a working class background and have earned everything I have achieved.  I am grateful for what I have accomplished, and I believe that a low-cost yet high-quality education should be available to everyone.  For a long time, I dreamed of going back to school for an advanced degree and I decided as my kids approached the end of their college years that it was my time.  The affordability and convenience of SPS made it possible.

Although I have met just a handful of classmates and professors face-to-face, the online experience is very collaborative and social.  I learned in one of my classes that someone worked for the same employer and we became friends.  Where else can you find individuals from so many diverse backgrounds and go to school with people who live in California or the Cape Verde Islands or who are serving in Afghanistan?

Thank you for your support, and I would greatly appreciate participating in the process for one more year.  I welcome your questions and suggestions.