maggieMaggie O'Brien 2012

Degree: WIU Bachelors of Social Work in 2012 (Masters of Social Work from DePaul University).

Email: magmae.obrien@gmail.com

Business Information: My social work career started in Austin, TX with a focus on mental health in the correctional, public housing, and psychiatric hospital settings. I moved back home to the Chicago South Suburbs in 2022 to be near family and continued in clinical administration roles. In May 2024, I started my current CEO role in a psychiatric hospital in Alton, IL.  

Advice for Freshmen: Stay open minded, go try new things and make friends wherever you go. Being out on your own for the first time brings all new adventures and you meet so many people to share life experiences. I still have close friends I met in the dorm, in my classes, coworkers at the library and as a student caller, plus my roommates that became like family. (I also recommend spending a summer in Macomb before you graduate!)

Favorite WIU Memory: It is almost impossible to pick just one. I have to say my trip to NYC with the art department. Susan Czechowski got us out of the classroom and gave us a once in a lifetime immersive art experience. We visited museums, galleries and artists’ personal studios. I got to explore the city and bond with my cool classmates as we each did a presentation on a piece of special art. I think about that trip all the time!

Family Information/Special Interests and Hobbies:  I am from a family of loyal Leathernecks and proud to be the 3rd O’Brien to serve on the alumni council! I enjoyed visiting campus when I was younger and loved my own time in Macomb.  I am forever grateful for the lifelong friendships that I made and still travel all over to keep in touch with everyone.  My hobbies include seeing live music, volunteering, a variety of crafts, and Saturday mornings at the Alton farmer’s market.