Dorothy M. Cali Balancio ’68, Ph.D. has maintained a steady and loyal relationship with her alma mater in a multitude of roles, first as a student in Mercy’s earliest graduating classes, then as an educator and as a champion for innovation within the institution. A steady devotion to education has been the cornerstone of Balancio’s career, having begun her post-undergraduate path teaching 4th and 6th grade students.
In 1972, after receiving her master’s degree from Catholic University in Washington D.C., she returned to her alma mater to teach Sociology – launching a higher education endeavor that has now spanned 50 years. As both a faculty member and loyal alumna, Balancio has continually enriched student learning and raised the bar on the academic experience on the same campus she fell in love with under the teachings of the Sisters of Mercy.
In 1994, the tragic murder of her son Louis Balancio would abruptly turn her attention to the troubling issues facing young adults and the impact of often split-second decisions on multiple lives. As a mother and an educator, Balancio did not shift her focus from academia, but found a way to turn her pain into purpose through envisioning and developing a course called Managing Conflict. With the collaboration of two professors, Diana D’Amico Juettner and Arthur Lerman, this revolutionary interdisciplinary program teaches conflict mediation by leveraging discussion, readings, role-playing and theory-based understanding. To this day, it remains a mainstay and a beloved offering in Mercy’s course catalog and recently became a 15-credit N.Y.S. "Dispute Resolution Certificate" during the Fall 2021 semester. Her role as Sociology Program Director has shaped curriculum with the highest standards at both the undergraduate and graduate level. In addition to her roles in the classroom Balancio edited the Italian American Review, a semi-annual journal focused on the Italian American community and was the Director of the Verrazzano Institute at Mercy College from 1990 to 1995.
Beyond the reach of student and faculty lives at Mercy, Balancio has gained national and international recognition as an expert and trainer of conflict resolution. As a senior trainer, with over 30 years of consulting work, she has presented her life’s work at conferences across the country, and as far as Oxford University in England. She is a published author, having written the textbook “Managing Human Conflict: An Introspective Journey to Negotiating Skills” has become a trusted reference for educators and professionals in all fields facing conflict. Over 500 students, faculty and staff have successfully completed the NYS 35-hour community mediation training she has offered. This training is offered in collaboration with Mercy and the Louis Balancio Scholarship Fund, which she founded after her son’s death.
Her passionate mission is to influence change for victims and families impacted by violence. As an advocate for victims’ rights and criminal justice reform, she is tireless in her resolve. Among her countless honors, she is the recipient of the Fieri Award for Outstanding Contributions to Youth and the Woman of the Year Award given by the American Committee on Italian Migration (ACIM). Additionally, she remains a proud and engaged alumna who holds a respected place in the Mercy College Alumni Hall of Fame.