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Like many a working adult, it took Marcia Feuer quite a while to get her baccalaureate degree. 鈥淚t took me 17 years,鈥� including stints in Vermont and at Hofstra University before coming to Adelphi. That鈥檚 because, she says, 鈥淚 had no interest. I didn鈥檛 know what I wanted to do.鈥�

In the 1980s, her attitude changed. Ms. Feuer, now director of public policy at the Mental Health Association of Nassau County (MHANC), graduated with a B.A. degree from University College in 1987鈥攚hen it was known as ABLE (Adult Baccalaureate Learning Experience).

Then married with children, she recalls, 鈥淚 went back to college for the joy of learning. Being with other older students returning to school who were motivated to learn听was energizing to me.鈥�

Again like many working adults, she attended University College on a part-time basis. 鈥淭he flexible schedule鈥攅venings, Saturdays鈥攚orked very well for me,鈥� given her job and family commitments.

But, Ms. Feuer confesses, her career direction was unclear鈥攗ntil she met an adjunct Adelphi professor. This teacher, whose class in English composition she attended for two semesters, took an interest in her, sparked by the fact that 鈥渟he liked my writing and public speaking skills. She became a wonderful mentor for me.鈥� Chats about the professor鈥檚 daughter being a lawyer led Ms. Feuer to become interested in law.

Because of her mentor, Ms. Feuer took Law School Admission Test (LSAT) preparation courses at Adelphi and did well on the exam. After University College graduation (no. 2 in her class), she attended Hofstra Law School, learning her J.D. in 1990.

After stints with a municipal law firm and a real estate firm, Ms. Feuer joined the Hempstead- based MHANC in 1994 as a part-time staff advocate. 鈥淚鈥檝e been there ever since,鈥� albeit with a bigger title now, concentrating on children and geriatric mental health advocacy.

Although this position seems like a departure from her background, Ms. Feuer sees a connection. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 need a law degree for that, but it鈥檚 akin to public interest law,鈥� she observes. 鈥淢ental health is a social justice issue, given the discrimination against those with mental health problems.鈥�

Ms. Feuer derives the greatest satisfaction from 鈥渉elping families find their voice and know their rights to help听their children, and from being part of the system that recognizes mental health as a legitimate illness.鈥�