NYU Silver alumna Mary Pender Greene received the National Association of Social Workers, New York City Chapter’s (NASW-NYC) Top Leader in the Profession award at the association’s 10th Annual Leadership Awards.
In her more three decades as a social work practitioner, executive, and thought leader in the social services industry, she has been recognized by her peers for her novel ideas on coaching, training, and mentoring. She holds certifications in family and group therapy as well as organizational consultation, and is an expert on institutional racism and multiculturalism in the workplace. Mary’s background includes executive management roles at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services, America’s largest, non-sectarian voluntary mental health and social services agency
Mary is currently President and CEO of MPG Consulting, a psychotherapist, career and executive coach, trainer, and an organizational consultant with a private practice in Midtown Manhattan. MPG Consulting provides culturally competent and anti-oppressive (anti-racist, LGBTQIAP+ affirming, non-sexist) coaching, and professional development to individuals at all levels, and specializes in working with senior management and executive leaders. The MPG Consulting team is composed of social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, specialists in working with youth and substance abuse, community organizers, researchers, and law enforcement officers. MPG Consulting is certified to provide CEUs in New York State.
Ms. Pender Greene is deeply committed to the social work profession and its social justice mission. She is a founding member of the Anti-Racist Alliance, a former president of NASW-NYC, and a member of the New York State Education Department’s Board for Social Work. Among her many publications, she authored the book Creative Mentorship and Career-Building Strategies: How to Build your Virtual Personal Board of Directors (Oxford University Press, 2015), and co-edited the books Strategies for Deconstructing Racism in the Health and Human Services (Oxford University Press, 2016) and Racism and Racial Identity: Reflections on Urban Practice in Mental Health and Social Services (Psychology Press, 2006).
An active member of the Silver School community, Ms. Pender Greene has been a key advisor to the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research since its founding. She is a past convocation speaker and recipient of the School’s first-ever Distinguished Alumni Award.
In a 2009 interview, Ms. Pender Greene recalled a Silver School class in group work that “helped shape [her] career,” and cited the “phenomenal” opportunities to do field work. She said, “Between my bachelor’s program (also at NYU) and master’s program, I had several placements all over New York City, in a variety of settings: substance abuse, foster care, residential treatment, and a hospital. Having all those different experiences early in my career helped me know what I would be good at and what didn’t work for me.”
As her distinguished career illustrates, Ms. Pender Greene has myriad strengths, and has contributed in countless ways to individuals, organizations, the profession, and society as a whole. She is truly a Top Leader in the Profession.