New Orleans Resident Welcomed;
Finds Temporary Employment at EIU
September 27, 2005
September 27, 2005
A month ago, Kimberly Crowley never expected she’d be
joining former colleague Dan Nadler as an employee of Eastern Illinois
University.
But a series of circumstances -- some good, some bad --
paved her a pathway that led from New Orleans to Charleston, Illinois.
“It’s a temporary appointment,” said Nadler, who is
preparing to begin his third month as Eastern’s vice president for student
affairs. “But it’s an appointment that’s going to benefit both Kim and our
university.”
Nadler, an Illinois native, left his post as associate
vice president for student affairs at New Orleans’ Tulane University to
come to Eastern. Although he and his family were safely in Illinois by the
time Hurricane Katrina hit, Nadler found it impossible not to be concerned
about his former colleagues.
“The Tulane campus suffered wind damage and, of course,
some flooding,” he said. “But it’s not one of the worst-hit areas of the
city. They are planning to re-open in January.”
Until then, however, many individuals could be without
jobs.
Crowley, who, as head of Tulane’s Substance Abuse Clinic
for the past two years, had worked closely with Nadler, temporarily moved
back to her home state of Missouri after Katrina invaded her adopted city.
Nadler and EIU President Lou Hencken saw that move as an opportunity –
both for Crowley and for EIU.
“The president knew Eastern had a need for a substance
abuse counselor and plans were in the works to eventually fill a permanent
full-time slot,” Nadler said. “As a result of his willingness to
reallocate some funding, we were able to offer Kim this temporary
appointment at Eastern’s Counseling Center and get someone in there
earlier than expected.”
News of the addition of another colleague pleased the
center’s staff, as well, Nadler said. “They’re really happy to see the
extra help. An increase in caseload is expected every year, but it seems
to be happening earlier this semester.”
The timing also seemed right when, on Sept. 11, the
Michael Andretti Foundation donated $20,000 from a $100,000 fund provided
by Jim Beam to Eastern Illinois University. The donation is earmarked for
the purpose of alcohol education programs on university campuses.
At Eastern, the money will be used to increase alcohol
education and awareness efforts. Crowley will be among those working with
Eric Davidson, associate director of Eastern’s health services, to develop
and implement these programs.
Crowley, who began her work at EIU on Monday, admitted
that when she got a call from Nadler to come interview at Eastern, she
really “wasn’t ready.” While she and her dog, Ruby (a catahoula, which
Crowley termed the Louisiana state dog), managed to evacuate New Orleans
without physical harm, her home didn’t fare as well. It escaped any
“significant flooding,” but not the winds. During a recent trip home, she
managed to tarp the roof, but doubts that tarp survived this past
weekend’s visit from Rita.
Her outlook changed when she actually arrived on
Eastern’s campus. “I was impressed,” she said. “It took a joint effort by
many people on campus to make this happen and to make it happen so
quickly.”
She noted, too, that a fellow therapist has opened her
home to her and Ruby, giving them both a place to stay for the next three
months.
“Everyone’s been so supportive and helpful…they didn’t
even know me and they had a care package waiting for me when I arrived,”
she said. “There was no way I couldn’t come; everyone was so
accommodating!”
She doesn’t anticipate staying at Eastern for long,
however. “I definitely want to return to New Orleans – at least for one
year,” she said. “I’ll fix up my house and see what develops as far as the
city goes.”
Crowley, who received her master’s degree in both social
work and public health from Tulane University, also has worked one year as
a staff social worker for the Jefferson Parish Human Services Authority,
two years as lead therapist at the Voyage House and two years as program
director at Responsibility House Social Detox, all in New Orleans.
In the mid-1990s, she served as a U.S. Peace Corps
volunteer in Hungary.
http://www.eiu.edu/~pubaff/headline/2005/0927200596.php
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