Kubly gift supports counseling services for students

Mount Mary alumna and recognized mental health local advocate Billie Kubly '57, has gifted $500,000 to the University to expand campus mental health services.

Mount Mary Vice President for Development Pam Owens announced the news this week during the annual all-university workshop.

The Billie (Wenger) Kubly Endowed Fund will be used to support counseling and mental health services on campus in perpetuity. She and her husband, retired orthopedic surgeon Michael Kubly, M.D., have given this gift in memory of their son, Charlie, who took his life at the age of 28 after a lengthy battle with depression.

The need for counseling is great both at Mount Mary University and nationally. This year, in addition to two professional counselors, three graduate student interns will provide services to students. This increase allows for about 80 hours of student services weekly.

"This generous gift from Billie Kubly will allow our Counseling Center to better serve the complex mental health needs of today's college students through group outreach and educational programming, along with enhanced walk-in services and crisis response," said Sarah Olejniczak, Dean for Student Affairs.

The impetus for this gift, said Billie Kubly, is the need for greater mental health care at this stage in life.

"A young person may have been able to hide (mental illness) at home, but sometimes it surfaces when they go off to college," she said. "It is important for schools to provide mental health services for their students."

The couple has received honorary doctor of humanities degrees from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2016 for their work, particularly through the Kubly Foundation, to increase accessibility to mental health resources in Wisconsin.

A young person may have been able to hide (mental illness) at home, but sometimes it surfaces when they go off to college. It is important for schools to provide mental health services for their students.

Billie Kubly '57