By Elisabeth Costanzo Stewart

One interaction with Kelly Devine explains it all. A perfectly balanced blend of compassion and strength, Devine advocates that everyone deserves a chance. It is this mantra of hope that first drew her to the world of chemical dependency counseling a decade ago. Since then, she has dedicated her innate gift of connection to supporting the recovery journeys of thousands of members of her community.

As the Supervising Clinician at The Center for Addiction and Trauma Recovery, the Endicott branch of the Addiction Center of Broome County (ACBC), Devine witnesses success up-close, working alongside a talented team of professional counselors and peer advocates. Devine is quick to give credit where it’s due, proudly sharing that her meaningful career would not have been possible without getting her start at SUNY Broome. 

For Devine, Broome County has always been home. After graduating from Union-Endicott High School, she immediately became a marking technician for Keytronics, a local transformer and power supply factory. Devine remained at Keytronics for more than 25 years, working her way from a member of the line, to the head of purchasing and sales. Keytronics was not only her employer, but her matchmaker as well. There, she met plant manager Butch Roberts. They settled in Endicott, and had a son, Wyatt.

In a series of trials, Keytronics relocated and closed its doors in Endicott. Then, Butch’s battle with cancer came to an end in 2014. Wanting to be close to his newly-widowed mother, Wyatt, then a student at SUNY Delhi, transferred to SUNY Broome. At a pivotal crossroads, Devine decided to join him, teasing that they would make great study partners.

As a non-traditional, first-generation college student, Devine approached her venture into higher education practically. If she was going to go to college for the first time in her 50s, she needed to do it affordably and study purposefully with a direct path to viable employment. SUNY Broome’s Chemical Dependency Counseling: A.A.S. program caught her eye. 

As an adult child of an alcoholic (or ACOA), Devine had a personal connection to the field. Because of the rise in attention and awareness around SUD treatment, she knew Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselors (CASAC) were in high demand and that jobs would be immediately available upon completing the program.

“I knew I already had two critical pieces to becoming a counselor,” Devine reflected. “I knew that I could talk to anyone and that I would always be able to see the value in everyone. I thought that if I could combine those two things and learn as much as possible about SUD, treatment methods, and relapse prevention, I might be able to have an impact.”

Understanding Devine’s need for immediate employment, program chair Mary Whittaker encouraged an internship match between Devine and ACBC.From the minute she walked through the door, Devine knew that she was somewhere special.  She loved that ACBC served everyone, offering substance use disorder treatments for children as young as three, to adults in their 80s. With trauma-informed care at the core, she watched as counselors employed evidence-based techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), play therapy, and integrated dual disorder treatment. 

As an intern, Devine rotated between various initiatives, including the Outpatient Rehabilitation Program (OPR). She spent her days working one-on-one and in group settings with clients, witnessing the power of building community and life skills in preparation for life in sobriety.

At the conclusion of her internship, Devine was invited to join the ACBC officially as a CASAC-T in the relapse prevention and education aftercare team. She’s never left.  

“The main reason I’ve stayed at ACBC throughout my entire counseling career is because of our progressive approach to treatment services,” Devine explained. “It has been an honor to watch ACBC develop and implement many life-changing programs, from medical-assisted treatment to certified recovery peer advocacy. I just can’t wait to see what comes next and hopefully be a part of it.”

Driven to expand her reach, Devine continued her studies beyond SUNY Broome, earning undergraduate and graduate degrees and specialized certifications in human services, vocational rehabilitation counseling, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART). 

“I am consistently proud of my school as both an alum and a clinical supervisor. I have never been disappointed in a SUNY Broome intern —they are always well-prepared and ready to help,” Devine beamed. “I just completed my graduate degree in mental health counseling at the University at Buffalo, and I couldn’t believe that most of the textbooks on my reading list were books that I used as a student at SUNY Broome. If that doesn’t speak volumes about the caliber of the program, I don’t know what does.”

Read more inspiring stories in the Spring 2025 edition of BROOME Magazine: https://bit.ly/broomespr2025

SUNY Broome is offering full scholarships to eligible New York State residents to complete the Chemical Dependency Counseling Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in combination with the Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) program. Photo Credit: Matt Ebbers

 

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