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Answer Special Call to Serve - King's College

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Faces of King’s<br />

Jacintha Burke<br />

Adeline Sobol Krupinski wanted her children <strong>to</strong> be special,<br />

so she carefully selected each name. She decided <strong>to</strong> call<br />

her second daughter, Jacintha, after one of the three shepherd<br />

children who witnessed the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin<br />

Mary in the small village of Fatima, Portugal, in 1917.<br />

Jacintha (Krupinski) Burke was raised in Scran<strong>to</strong>n.<br />

Throughout college, she sold shoes at Sears in the Viewmont<br />

Mall until being promoted <strong>to</strong> cashier. Beside a steady income<br />

<strong>to</strong> pay tuition, the experience proved profitable in her personal<br />

life; she met her future husband, Bill, who was also employed by<br />

the retailer.<br />

After graduating from Marywood University with a bachelor’s<br />

degree in elementary education, Jacintha was a substitute<br />

teacher before returning <strong>to</strong> the university for a master’s degree in<br />

reading comprehension.<br />

She credits a men<strong>to</strong>r, Sister Eamon O’Neill, a former<br />

professor at Marywood, with encouraging her <strong>to</strong> change<br />

professions. Sr. O’Neill thought she would work well with<br />

the college population and helped her during her job search<br />

following graduation.<br />

Preparation met opportunity when Jacintha saw an<br />

advertisement <strong>to</strong> teach a reading course at King’s. The part-time<br />

hours worked well with her new responsibilities at home; she<br />

and Bill were the proud parents of their first son, Jonathan.<br />

Jacintha later worked in a number of other part-time<br />

capacities at King’s, including as an academic advisor for firstyear<br />

students, teaching in the <strong>College</strong>’s summer program, and as<br />

a learning specialist for Act 101.<br />

Around the time her second son, Chris<strong>to</strong>pher, stepped on the<br />

bus for his first day of kindergarten, Jacintha was offered a fulltime<br />

position, which later became her current post as direc<strong>to</strong>r of<br />

the Academic Skills Center.<br />

Before federal law and policy was established, physical and<br />

learning disabilities were considered taboo; many students<br />

pursuing higher education were encouraged not <strong>to</strong> disclose<br />

such information. In 1990, public perception had changed<br />

and colleges and universities across the nation were focused<br />

on meeting the standards designated in the Americans with<br />

Disabilities Act.<br />

Jacintha teamed with the late Dr. Donald Farmer, former vice<br />

president of academic affairs, <strong>to</strong> develop services at King’s that<br />

recognized the rights of all individuals with disabilities <strong>to</strong> have<br />

equal access <strong>to</strong> a quality education.<br />

“Dr. Farmer was very encouraging and supportive on the<br />

issue of disabilities,” Jacintha said. “He was always looking<br />

forward, and constantly<br />

challenged me <strong>to</strong><br />

improve the services we<br />

provided here.”<br />

Today, Jacintha<br />

supervises the Academic<br />

Skills Center, which<br />

offers academic support<br />

services <strong>to</strong> all students,<br />

including the tu<strong>to</strong>ring<br />

program, learning<br />

workshops and the<br />

writing center.<br />

“My day is unpredictable. I can never foresee what student<br />

need or crisis will walk through my door,” said Jacintha. “In<br />

the process of helping a student resolve an issue or master a<br />

skill, I identify a new resource or deepen my understanding<br />

of the individual’s needs. That means I am better equipped.<br />

Ultimately, I am as much the learner as the advisor or<br />

counselor.”<br />

Jacintha and Bill are at a comfortable point in their lives.<br />

With two grown children, they now have time <strong>to</strong> travel.<br />

As members of the Genealogical Research Society of<br />

Northeastern Pennsylvania, the couple decided <strong>to</strong> trace the<br />

Burke family roots through Ireland. Jacintha and her husband<br />

recently spent 10 days on the Emerald Isle, traveling the lush<br />

green landscape in Dublin and Waterford, and s<strong>to</strong>pping <strong>to</strong> visit<br />

landmarks, such as Blarney Castle and the Book of Kells at<br />

Trinity <strong>College</strong>.<br />

The highlight of the trip came in Sligo, a drive-by <strong>to</strong>wn on<br />

the west coast of Ireland, known for inspiring the works of<br />

poet William Butler Yeats. While staying at Rosses Point on<br />

Sligo Bay, the Burke’s discovered that only Bill’s great-great<br />

grandfather was born there and the rest of his family was from<br />

Mayo. They believe their ances<strong>to</strong>rs s<strong>to</strong>pped at the port-<strong>to</strong>wn of<br />

Sligo <strong>to</strong> prepare for the journey <strong>to</strong> America.<br />

Considered by colleagues <strong>to</strong> be compassionate and reserved,<br />

Jacintha breaks free from the mold through her musical<br />

interests. She confesses <strong>to</strong> listening <strong>to</strong> the Goo Goo Dolls and<br />

Counting Crows, while still finding time for classic rock-n-roll,<br />

like The Beatles and Bee Gees.<br />

“Most people don’t know it about me, but I’m an aggressive<br />

driver,” said Jacintha with a wry smile. “Music fits my mood.<br />

After 25 years traveling down (Interstate) 81, sometimes rock-nroll<br />

fits the mood. Sometimes you want <strong>to</strong> beep.”<br />

Pride ✦ Fall 2009 13

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