Andrea Macari is professor of psychology at the Grant Campus. (photo by Dylan Mitchell)

With support for unions feeling even more precarious than usual in the current political climate, it’s heartening to hear from colleagues who feel passionately about unions and all they stand for.

Dr. Andrea Macari, professor of psychology at the Grant Campus, possesses the fervor necessary to continue the (unfortunately) ongoing battle to protect workers’ rights.

She’s been a steady proponent of unions for a long time. “Workers need an organization to represent and fight for their interests,” she says.

This attitude was at least partially influenced by her mother. “My mother is a retired public school teacher. Toward the end of her career, she became involved in her faculty union as a representative. I was proud to see her emerge as a leader representing the interests of younger, untenured teachers in her school district. I don’t think this was a job she ever envisioned herself doing, but by the time she retired she was a strong advocate for the union.”

Andrea herself has served as an EC representative for the social sciences department since 2012. “I have gained an appreciation for just how good we have it at SCCC compared to faculty members at other institutions,” she says.  For this, she credits the “hard work of our past and present union leadership.”

Holding a position on the EC has given her a greater understanding of the issues facing all of us the college. But her worries about the future of education go beyond our own college environment.

“I am concerned that public education is under attack. Defunding of public schools and changes in legislation aimed at protecting students have me concerned for our SCCC students and my own daughter. How will schools continue to provide excellence in education if there are national and state initiatives working against us?”

She is not one to stand idly by, and in addition to her efforts for the FA, she is active in her local school district. She is trying, she says, “to help mitigate some of the issues facing public education.” She currently serves as secretary of the legislative action committee, a citizen’s advisory committee tasked by the Board of Education to examine legislative matters that directly impact economic and educational concerns in her school district. 

“I also am a member of my daughter's elementary school's shared decision-making committee which has given me an opportunity to spearhead initiatives that are aimed at educating the whole child.”

If you haven’t met Andrea, you should know that she is an energetic teacher and a vibrant member of the social sciences department, where she enjoys working with people who have diverse perspectives. “I can truly say that my colleagues in the social sciences department are like family members to me. Each day we laugh so much that I always look forward to spending time with them whether at or outside of school. Most people cannot say that about their coworkers, and I know that this makes me incredibly fortunate!”

Whether participating in FA events, representing her colleagues as an EC rep or working on behalf of students from elementary school age through college, she is constantly and proudly showing her support for unions. She knows, like the many teachers on strike across the nation, that strong unions are good for students—and for education as a whole.