MARY PEPPER, M.A.
Mary's desire and passion has always been with valuing and treasuring family. From her humble beginnings as one of eight children to opening her own business, relationships of couples, parent/child and people within our communities reaches the depths of her being.
Mary's educational background has always been connected with relationships as well. Her bachelor degree is in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Early Childhood Education (UTSA) and her master's degree is in Family Studies (UNM). Her work with families includes being an Elementary School Teacher, a Parenting Skills Educator and a Relationship Skills Educator. She is a certified facilitator of the Nurturing Parenting Curriculum, the Prepare/Enrich Curriculum, the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Curriculum (PREP) program, the Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding & Study (FOCCUS) and the Mastering the Mysteries of Love Curriculum. She is also the Chair of the New Mexico Coalition for Healthy Families.
Mary's educational background has always been connected with relationships as well. Her bachelor degree is in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Early Childhood Education (UTSA) and her master's degree is in Family Studies (UNM). Her work with families includes being an Elementary School Teacher, a Parenting Skills Educator and a Relationship Skills Educator. She is a certified facilitator of the Nurturing Parenting Curriculum, the Prepare/Enrich Curriculum, the Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Curriculum (PREP) program, the Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding & Study (FOCCUS) and the Mastering the Mysteries of Love Curriculum. She is also the Chair of the New Mexico Coalition for Healthy Families.
Experiences:
New Mexico Coalition for Healthy Families, Chair, www.nmchf.org
Healthy Marriages, Albuquerque, NM, Samaritan Counseling Center, Relationship Skills Educator
Visit our Presentations page for a list of presentations that Mary has given organizations, businesses, churches and schools to help improve overall communication skills.
New Mexico Coalition for Healthy Families, Chair, www.nmchf.org
Healthy Marriages, Albuquerque, NM, Samaritan Counseling Center, Relationship Skills Educator
- Taught relationship skills to couples (communication, conflict resolution, role relationship, finances, intimacy & goal setting)
- Co-led a one day marriage retreat
- Mentored couples with regards to their Prepare/Enrich inventory
- Wrote articles for the Healthy Marriages Quarterly Newsletter
- Taught life skills, parenting skills, interpersonal skills and money management skills
- Planned and organized site visits to social service agencies
- Recruited at-risk parents for comprehensive parenting classes
- Supervised child educators throughout the parenting program
- Prepared formative and summative reports, attendance and demographics records
- Planned class curriculum and individual curriculum for the students
- Assessed and analyzed students’ academic levels and their individual needs
- Analyzed developmental delays and guided parents in finding appropriate resources
- Organized and directed parent volunteers for various projects
- Masters of Arts in Family Studies, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, cumulative GPA: 3.83/4.00
- Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Endorsement, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, graduated Magna Cum Laude
- New Mexico Coalition of Healthy Families - Chair - Jan. 2013 - present
- Project Defending Life - taught weekly parenting classes, organizing parenting programs at other sites in the community
- Literacy and Adult Education – taught the English language and various school subjects to teenagers and adults from Afghanistan, Nigeria, Vietnam, Cuba and Mexico
- Engaged Couples and Marriage Enrichment Weekends – presenter and facilitator
- Birthright volunteer – provided social services to teenagers and adult clients
- Cervantes Institute - Spanish classes, completed - Intermediate 3
- Toastmasters – achieved Advanced Toastmaster level
- National Association of Catholic Family Life Ministers July 2016; Theme: "Family: The Heart of Mercy"
- 7th International Marriage Enrichment Conference July 2011 (trained as a Certified Leader in the Mastering the Mysteries of Love Program)
- 2011 Annual Meeting of the Office of Family Assistance Healthy Marriage and Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Grantees
- Coalition for Marriage, Family and Couples Education (smartmarriages.com) June 2007 (trained as facilitator for the Family Wellness program) and July 2004 (trained as a PREP presenter – Prevention and Relationship Enhancement Program)
- New Mexico State University’s All-Extension Conference – April 2008, June 2007, January 2005
- Nurturing Parenting Program Facilitator Training - certified as a Nurturing Parenting Facilitator, Nov. 2006
- Adoption Specialist Training – August 2004
- New Mexico’s Coalition for Literacy & Literacy Volunteer’s Conference – April 2004
- Second Language Tutor Training – February 2004
- Governor’s Summit on Marriage and Parenting – October 2000
- Teachers in Focus Conference – August 2000
- New Mexico Association for the Education of the Young Child – March 1994 & 2000
- Early Prevention of School Failure Assessment Program – August 1999
- New Mexico Association of Non-Public Schools Conference – annually 1989 –2003
Visit our Presentations page for a list of presentations that Mary has given organizations, businesses, churches and schools to help improve overall communication skills.
