McElroy or Mickelson? 
Ten Questions with Cathy Wolf, Work placement Coordinator
By: Anne Parsons
Q.1 What were you doing when you were 23?
I was living in New York, working as an editorial assistant for Collier’s Encyclopedia (division of Crowell, Collier and Macmillan Publishing House). I worked in the geography section and can remember researching “significant” facts such as which town in the U.S. had the biggest sinkhole. When I’m asked where I grew up, I usually say New York when I was in my 20s as opposed to New Orleans in my childhood because living in New York at that time in my life was a truly maturing experience and the time I lived there was incredibly interesting (and turbulent).
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Q. 2 How did you get to where you are today?
Definitely not in a straight path! I think I have alternated between jobs which were not particularly socially redeeming and periods of trying to make a (small) difference one person at a time. For example, after my bout with publishing I worked in public relations at Shell Oil Company. When I moved to Washington I worked for the National Archives in an editorial position. I then was an independent contractor in the editorial field when the children were small. This was followed by graduate school in art history which culminated in my antique jewelry business. I bought in England, Wales and a little bit in Ireland and had a devoted clientele! (My interest was in the history, workmanship and aesthetics and not in gemstones.) I volunteered at our County’s domestic violence program and was asked to apply for a staff position. I did so and have worked there part-time as a victim advocate for about 10 years. I also run the volunteer program. Speaking of volunteers, I have always been a community volunteer and that has enriched my life tremendously.
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Q. 3 Who was the most influential person in your life and why?
That’s a tough question. I can’t point to one person in particular but in general I would say I received a strong personal foundation from my family in terms of core values (I was especially close to one of my grandmothers ) but was probably more influenced by professors, peers and public servants who were agents of change. I think it was they who affected my personal growth. I was not raised with the message that I (or any woman) could do anything she/they wanted to do. I came from a traditional, conservative family in the U.S. south at a time when women were not very free to be themselves. I had to leave home in order to live an authentic life. I would say that I’ve gained much from this necessity but have also lost quite a bit at the same time.
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Q. 4 What do you value most in life?
Family, affection/love, loyalty, friendship, honesty, empathy, imagination, sense of wonder, intellectual curiosity, creative arts and travel far and wide.
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Q. 5 What advice would you give a young University graduate from Ireland?
Avoid complacency, follow your bliss (trite as that may sound), examine your life periodically, remember your roots while trying out your wings and, above all, value kindness and tolerance.
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Q. 6 How would you describe your job?
I advocate for and case manage victims of domestic violence. Often they file petitions with the court for protection (and at times they decide to give their partner another chance and/or rescind the order of protection they have been granted). As much as we might believe we know best about someone’s life, it’s the person herself/himself who is living that life and has to make the decision. It’s a job which entails listening and simply being there for the clients.……………
Q.7 How did you become involved in WIP?
My husband and I walked up the road to the Easons for a St. Patrick’s Day party in 2002. Terry Eason told me that she hosted Irish interns during the summer and I remarked that this seemed interesting. The next thing I knew we were hosting a WIPer (then “Young Leaders”). I think I took over as work placement coordinator in 2004 or 2005.
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Q.8 As Work Placement Coordinator, how important do you think it is for WIP to continue to provide internships in the Arts?
Very important. During the early years of the program almost all (if not all) of the internships were on Capitol Hill. When I took over there were some government and non-profit placements. I have sought to further diversify because I value the role of the arts in society.
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Q.9 How do you think the concept of internships could be promoted and developed in Ireland?
I need to know more about the current status of internships in Ireland. One possibility would be to bring the concept to the high school level (students in the U.S. often perform community service by interning in high school and in some cases there are semester-long internships in high school). Of course, there is a big difference between a paid and an unpaid internship and I don’t know how popular or feasible an unpaid internship would be for Irish students. I’d be happy to explore this question further once I learn about what exists now in Ireland.
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Q.10 In your opinion, how would one seek further internships, progressing experience already acquired with WIP?
Armed with a recommendation from your supervisor and a well-conceived description of the internship in D.C., I would think one could approach similar organizations in Ireland and hope for success. However, per my response to question 10 I would need more concrete information about internships in Ireland.
