OCPE Department Administrator Rosemary Mahony and ADAP Director Keith Murphy on May 20 at the ADAP awards ceremony in Trayes Hall, Douglass Student Center.
Rosemary Mahony, department administrator at the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE) was honored by the Alcohol and Other Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) at Rutgers University. Mahony was presented with ADAP’s Lisa Laitman Recovery Champion Award in May at Trayes Hall, Douglass Student Center.
Bestowed each year on those who have gone above and beyond in service of people struggling with or recovering from addiction, the award presentation capped an evening celebrating the graduation of students living in the Rutgers Recovery House, a residence hall designed for students abstaining from substance use, as well as those from the New Brunswick and Newark campuses with similar backgrounds. The award’s namesake, Lisa Laitman, was a former director of ADAP and early champion of the Recovery House.
“I’m always appreciative of folks who are willing to go the extra mile for a group who is often unseen and unheard,” said Keith Murphy, director of ADAP said of Mahony’s contributions to the community. “She’s literally been a godsend.”
In her role as Department Administrator at OCPE, with support from Administrative Assistant Donna Rafano, Mahony oversees scheduling classroom space at the Bioresource Engineering Laboratory. The building has welcomed many support groups over the years, such as local chapters of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and Al Anon. One AA group has met in its classrooms for more than 40 years.
During the pandemic lockdowns, some of these groups dissolved or moved strictly online, leaving gaps in this vital community space. Mahony worked hard to ensure that those vacancies were filled with local support groups. She identified holes in the schedule, determined primary and secondary contacts for all interested parties and liaised with Murphy and ADAP to create shared documents and calendars, thus reducing friction in the reservation process and broadening access to community members in need.
“It’s service,” said Murphy. “It’s not something she has to do. She could have said ‘This is not my job.’ Not only has she been willing to do it, but she has done it gladly. She understands the vital importance of being a good community partner and helping a group that is often stigmatized and marginalized.”
The award came as a surprise to Mahony, who attended the event at the invitation of Murphy. Watching the proud family members of the graduates and hearing from the students themselves about their journeys to this moment, Mahony was moved by the occasion and reminded of the importance of the work.
“It was a very emotional night. It’s hard enough getting through school without the everyday burden of recovery,” she said.
Asked about the time and energy she has devoted to the 12-step community, Ms. Mahony was contemplative. “I lost my beloved niece to a drug overdose, so I understand the crippling effect on individuals, their families, friends, and communities. OCPE’s mission is to serve the people of New Jersey. That this little piece of my job has such a positive effect for so many is beyond humbling. The pride and joy that the graduates, their families, friends, advisors, Keith, and anyone in the room that night experienced was palpable. I am proud that as part of OCPE and Rutgers we can play a small but vital part in their journey.”
