Mariclare Kanaley

About

Department/School/Division: Graduate and Professional Enrollment Management

Campus: Water Tower Campus

Years at Loyola: 1 year, 3 months

What is your favorite thing about working at Loyola?  My favorite thing about working at Loyola is the strong sense of community. My siblings and I attended Jesuit high schools and universities, so the Jesuit mission has been a part of my life and education for at least 15 years. I find that the inclination to help, to serve, and to support is present within each of my colleagues, and am grateful that the quality of character in my work environment makes my role (working with students considering Loyola for graduate school) an honest one. I am proud to be part of both GPEM and IPS, and appreciate the support I find within and among various departments here at Loyola University Chicago.

What is your most memorable achievement as a Loyola employee? My most memorable achievement is somewhat procedural; as part of my role, I communicate with individuals interested in learning more about Loyola and IPS. My previous work experience allowed me to understand my outreach for what it was and identify areas where I can focus my efforts – I worked on adjusting a communication plan to best serve our interested international students and applicants, and was invited to present the work at Slate Summit this summer, though it is now rescheduled to 2021.

What does Loyola's mission mean to you? The mission to seek God in all things and to work to expand knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice, and faith, has been with me for half of my life. The Jesuit education I received has helped inspire exactly who I am today; to me, it is simply a reminder to care. I try to pay attention to how different people receive or prefer care, and consider how to adjust my help to meet the needs of individuals. I can see my colleagues living the mission in all different ways in their roles, too, whether that is through research, collaboration, education, or administration. The focus on shared experience and service is what makes Loyola such a wonderful place to be.

What motivates you to succeed each and every day? It took me quite a while to decide which graduate degree program to pursue – it felt like the timing may not be right, or I had financial concerns, or the idea of taking the GRE was all too much. In my role as an Enrollment Advisor, I have the opportunity to be exactly the resource that I once needed; I try my best to pay attention to each individual inquiry or applicant and their ideas/goals, and work with them to meet them where they are. I can connect with them via phone, SMS text, Zoom, and someday will return to face-to-face meetings to spend time understanding what IPS offers and how that can support the candidate’s next educational steps. I am motivated simply by the opportunity to help wherever and however I am able.

Tell us how you show your Rambler pride. I admittedly am not much of a sports person, so I am not often found cheering at large gatherings in a typical expression of pride. My pride is most often seen in smaller team-settings or development opportunities; I like to attend the EMERGE sessions to learn more about what my colleagues are doing at Loyola and how I can help, and I try to attend any volunteer days that are available. My time in Jesuit schools as a student taught me about “living the mission,” which I didn’t quite understand until much later – I try to show Rambler pride by living what we teach, and have many great examples to follow in my colleagues.  

Tell us something most people at Loyola would be surprised to know about you. I am very close with my family and learn so much from each of them, especially my parents. They motivate me to pursue my goals and set a great example to always find time to care. I also really love to travel – I moved to Spain when I was 23 to open my mind, and have found the best travel partner in my fiancé. Looking forward to more family time and travel in the future!