Mary Bijur joined the Ackerman Institute for the Family’s Board of Directors in 2013.
Prior to joining the board, Mary Bijur headed a residential interior design firm for thirty five years, retiring in 2000. She has always had a passionate interest in education and the life of the city neighborhoods in which she has lived.
During the 70’s and 80’s Mary served on the board of GoddardRiversideCommunity Center on Manhattan’s upper west side. During that time she became chair of the board and worked with the newly formed community board on the de-designation of the urban-renewal area and the building of Phelps House, a section 8 senior residence and new home for the community center.
She became a trustee of St. Lawrence University in ’87. She ended her 25 years of trusteeship as Vice Chair of the board. She was appointed emerita trustee in 2012. She has also served on the boards of Outward Bound and Expeditionary Learning (a national education reform organization) serving as Vice-Chair of the latter.
Mary and Jeff Bijur married in 1965 and have two children; Matthew an adolescent psychologist practicing in BurlingtonVTand Katherine Renard an English teacher and administrator in a private bi-lingual Parisian school. They have four grandchildren.