Mu Tau Beta Chapter History

Rooted in Compassion and Spirited Determination

The Mu Tau Beta chapter of Chi Sigma Iota was founded at UNC Charlotte in 1990 by Phyllis Post, Ph.D. Our chapter was named in honor of Dr. Mary Thomas Burke, who founded UNC Charlotte’s Counseling Program in the 1970's. Dr. Burke was nationally and internationally known as a visionary and leader in counselor education.

Leadership, Inspiration, and Achievement

Burke was a professor, coordinator of graduate counseling, published author, and founder of many vital organizations, including Open House, The Relatives and To Life. She served in leadership positions with the Metrolina AIDS Project, Catherine's House and numerous professional counseling associations. Throughout her many years of service, Burke received numerous prestigious awards including the prestigious Echo Foundation's "Echo Award Against Indifference,” which was presented to her by Maya Angelou in 2002.

She served as faculty advisor for Mu Tau Beta until her death in 2002, and during her 73 years of life, Dr. Burke made great contributions to our school, our profession and our world.

She held master’s degrees in math and science, as well as a doctorate in counseling. But her belief was that intelligence wasn’t the key to effective counseling: She believed in the value of listening, fully valuing each individual who crossed her path. Well-known for her unique ability to be “in the moment” when interacting with people, she had a reputation for being personable and generous with her time, despite the constant demands of a hectic schedule.

The Spiritual Component

A nun in the order of the Sisters of Mercy, Dr. Burke epitomized the characteristics of an effective counselor: openness; sincerity; compassion. She worked to introduce spirituality into the realm of counselor education, adamant that the spiritual component play an integral role in the achievement of balance in mental and emotional well-being. Burke’s life was dedicated to service, and she instilled in others the belief that they, too, could make a difference in the world.

"When I think about Mary Thomas, what I'm left with is that anytime I was with her, I believed that I was special, and important -- both to the world and to her. And I’m not the only person who had this experience with her. Many, many others did. She had such a rare gift: of truly empowering others."

Phyllis Post, Ph.D.
Professor
UNCC Department of Counseling