Access and Inclusion Award Winner- Brian Mannion

What do you love most about working at Endicott College?

I love working at Endicott College because I love working with emerging adults on developing a greater understanding of who they are and how they fit into their world.  As a therapist I get the unique ability to work with students in the clinical setting as well as through student affairs programming. I have been so grateful to Endicott for all the opportunities to develop new programming to support our students of diverse backgrounds and identities.

Who inspired you to get involved in Higher Education?

My journey into Higher Education was a unique one as I am a Mental Health Therapist by training.  In college I wanted to be a school counselor until my mentor inspired me to look more broadly at what I could do in the field of Mental Health.  Ultimately, in my graduate program I interned at a college counseling center and fell in love with the emerging adult population. I am inspired by the unique opportunity that our students have to redefine themselves and how they understand the world around them.

What advice would you offer to new professionals who are starting their first professional position?

For those starting out in their first professional position I would encourage them to keep an open mind.  I started here with purely clinical pursuits in mind; it wasn’t until a colleague asked me to co-advise the LGBTQ club on our campus that I started looking outside my individual clinical work.  There are an infinite number of ways to accomplish your goals so make sure to remain open to all the possible opportunities, perspectives, and people that you will meet throughout your career. My other piece of advice is to remember that burnout is a real thing.  We do complex and hard work so it is important to take the time you need for yourself to recharge!