After a valiant fight, Kate Mahoney, L.C.S.W., succumbed to cancer on Wednesday, February 17th. A compassionate and determined advocate for mental health care, Mahoney was an integral part of The Chicago School team.
“I will always remember Kate as the most positive person, a true team player, and someone who truly believed in The Chicago School’s mission of education, innovation, and service to our community. Our Chicago Campus grieves,” said Chicago Campus Dean Margie Martyn, Ph.D., who was Kate’s supervisor.
“Kate’s humility, empathy, and compassion for humanity were illuminated through her work with the community,” said Claire Openshaw, Ph.D., who began working with Kate in 2017 while still a student. “She had a brilliant mind for creatively navigating situations which allowed for a greater impact to be made. Kate was a true advocate, with a natural ability to connect with people. She was not only a mentor, but a wonderful friend who will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.”
Committed to mental health education
Mahoney joined The Chicago School as the Executive Director of the Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute for Mental Health Education at The Chicago School (NRCI) in 2017. Housed on The Chicago Campus, NRCI works to overcome the stigma of mental illness through mental health education, trainings, and presentations to the greater Chicagoland community. The Institute supports organizations engaged in mental illness research, education, self-help, anti-discrimination, and advocacy.
During her tenure, Mahoney developed new strategic partnerships. She oversaw increased attendance at the Institute’s annual community mental health conference and successfully increased outside funding to the Institute. She also worked with the city of Evanston to increase mental health programming opportunities for underserved populations.
“Kate was continually working on new initiatives and one that is in the works is a Teen Mental Health Leadership Academy,” Dr. Martyn explained. “Kate believed that the graduates of the Academy will have the knowledge and skills to reduce stigma and provide support for individuals and families impacted by mental illness, which aligns perfectly with the NRCI mission.”
Mahoney’s career in behavioral health spanned more than 30 years. Her contributions to the field have been recognized by both Mental Health America and the Illinois Association of Behavioral Health. She was also the recipient of the prestigious Nyswander/Dole Award for her leadership in addressing the opioid epidemic.
Kate Mahoney was a jazz lover, a ferocious reader, an avid traveler, and deeply family-oriented. She is survived by her siblings, her friends, and the hundreds of lives she impacted through her work and advocacy.