Beverly Joyce Alford

I am an educator by profession as I have been teaching since I graduated college in 1977. My career started in junior high school, now known as middle school, teaching Language Arts. I have been an adjunct professor at Mercy for the past 18 years.

After graduating from college and teaching for 5 years, I returned to school and obtained a Dual Masters Degree in Education with a specialization in Reading and Special Education. I was also able to expand my knowledge base and became a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor, (CASAC) in 1998 and with further learning I was granted, by NYS Office of Services and Supports, (OASAS), the distinction of CASAC Master, having completed the supervisory requirements along with having a Masters Degree.

While doing substance use counseling and teaching at Mercy, I have been able to integrate that which is academic with every day living experiences. It is important to bring the literature to life in order to make substantive relationships with the community and the world. I have taught the classes out of the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. They include Introduction to Sociology and Psychology; Ethics; Families in Transition; Social Psychology and Alcohol, Drugs and Behavior; just to name a few.

For the past 5 decades, I have been devoted to teaching whether it is in the classroom or in a therapeutic environment. This has and continues to be my purpose as it has been truly rewarding and gratifying. I know this to be true as evidenced by not only encountering students I had in junior high school but also Mercy students who have graduated and pursued their career dreams.