Faculty Spotlight: Maryann Krieglstein

Maryann Krieglstein infuses her Human Services students with the same passion that she uses to approach her work outside of the classroom.

In addition to a wide range of volunteer activities at organizations such as Family Shelter Services, Hamdard Center, SARET, Questioning Youth Center and the YWCA, Krieglstein has maintained leadership roles in the development of many college and community events, including the Child Abuse/Sexual Assault Awareness Fair, Domestic Violence Awareness Fair and Take Back the Night.

A state-certified Domestic Violence Professional, Krieglstein remembers when her drive to serve others began.

"I have this figure on my desk I received years ago from my friend's mother when I started my career as a social worker – it's a boy carrying his little brother with a placard that says, 'He ain't heavy, he's my brother.' I first saw (this statue) when I was in grade school, and it really stuck with me," she said.

Currently a professor in Human Services at COD, Krieglstein tries to include students in most of the activities she's involved with at the college to "give them lots of practice in developing community activist skills." In addition, being part of a college community has provided "tremendous support" for her service work, Krieglstein said.

"Working (at COD) has provided me with this wonderful community and vast resources to tap into," Krieglstein said. "The college has been very supportive, from the administration to the individual members of the college community, including students."

Helping others "is just something we should do," Krieglstein said. "We are not isolated individuals – we live and work in communities and are all in this together. One person's problem impacts all of us in some way whether we realize it or not.

"My training as a social worker gives me the skills to make a difference and I want to use them. I am at the point where it's impossible for me NOT to take action when I see some sort of injustice."

More about the Human Services program