Raised in the north central rural community of Algona, Iowa, Aubrey McEnroe’s early life was steeped in the rhythms of farm life, instilling in her a work ethic and appreciation for the land that have stayed with her throughout her life.
While McEnroe’s roots are deeply embedded in agriculture, her academic journey led her to the field of psychology. During the spring of 2020, while working the ground on the farm, she began contemplating how she could integrate her passion for psychology with her commitment to her rural community. Her reflections in the tractor cab sparked an idea.
“I want to be able to farm but also offer mental health resources and break the stigma, because I didn’t have that when I was growing up,” she says.
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Iowa, McEnroe’s decision was further solidified through shadowing experiences with a licensed social worker and a psychologist. These experiences revealed the profound impact mental health professionals could have, especially in underserved areas. Recognizing the significant stigma surrounding mental health in rural communities, McEnroe resolved to address this issue head-on and decided to return to school.
McEnroe’s connection to farming began early
“My earliest memories of being on the farm are riding on my dad's lap in the tractor,” she recalls. By the age of eight, she was driving tractors, honing her skills and understanding of farming long before she could legally drive a car.
As she grew, her responsibilities on the farm expanded, from picking rocks to operating complex machinery to managing the business side. This hands-on experience cultivated not only a deep understanding of crop farming but also a sense of pride and accomplishment.
The family farm, established by her grandfather in the early 1950s, is a central part of her identity. After leaving medical school, her grandfather apprenticed under his uncle Mike, learning the intricacies of agriculture through hard work and dedication.
Growing up in a male-dominated field has not been without challenges. “It has been a very interesting dynamic being a woman in a male-dominated field,” McEnroe says.
Despite these challenges, she credits her father for instilling a belief that she could achieve anything. “My dad always taught me, ‘You can do anything you set your mind to, regardless of your gender.’” This encouragement has been a driving force behind her pursuit of higher education and her desire to make a difference in her community.
The lack of female representation in farming is a significant issue that McEnroe has confronted head-on. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), women make up only about 36% of the farming population. This disparity is even more pronounced in leadership roles within the agricultural sector. Women farmers often face unique challenges, including gender bias, limited access to resources, and the struggle to balance familial responsibilities with the demands of farming. McEnroe’s experience as a woman in agriculture fuels her commitment to overcome these barriers and advocate for greater inclusivity.
Learning from a team of dedicated psychologists
McEnroe’s dual roles as a farmer and a psychologist is evident in her involvement with the College of Education’s Counseling Psychology Program, particularly through the college’s Rural Psychology Collaborative and Telepsychology Training Clinic (TPTC). The initiatives, funded by grants from the U.S. Department of Education’s Health Resources and Services Administration, serve underinsured and uninsured Iowans, primarily from rural areas.
The grants include the Iowa Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) and Graduate Psychology Education programs and were obtained by Saba Rasheed Ali, professor of counseling psychology and the college’s associate dean for research; Megan Foley Nicpon, professor of counseling psychology and director of the Belin-Blank Center; Martin Kivlighan, departmental executive officer of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations and professor of counseling psychology; and Charles Bermingham, clinical associate professor of counseling psychology.
The stigma behind mental healthcare comes with many barriers, says Kivlighan, who co-directs the Telepsychology Training Clinic and Rural Psychology Collaborative with Rasheed Ali.
“We've found that telepsychology can be a helpful way to overcome some of those barriers, as clients can seek tele-services more easily and often from the comfort and safety of their own homes,” Kivlighan says. “Not having to travel to a physical clinic can contribute to our services being more accessible and less stigmatized for clients, especially those in underserved and rural areas.”
McEnroe is one of dozens of future counseling psychologists currently training in the doctoral program. Her research focuses on the intersection of discrimination, well-being, job satisfaction, and burnout among women in agriculture.
“I particularly want to be working with women in agriculture from my own experiences and lived experiences as a woman in agriculture,” she explains.
Beyond her dad’s support on the farm, McEnroe says that it was her grandmother’s strength that also supported her dreams of farming.
“My role model growing up was my grandmother. She was the strongest person I knew, and I still aspire to be her today,” McEnroe says. “She always told me to be proud of who you are and be proud of being a woman. Although my grandpa is the one that started the farm, my grandma was the rock and the heart of the farm.”
McEnroe wants to ensure that other women also have a voice in the field, reflecting her commitment to advocacy and change.
The coming seasons
In the future, McEnroe envisions a harmonious blend of farming and psychology. Her goal is to not only sustain her family’s farming legacy but also open a private practice in her hometown to provide essential mental health services.
Chelsey Gates, clinical director of the Telepsychology Training Clinic, serves as McEnroe’s clinical supervisor.
“Her lived experience provides an invaluable perspective as we seek to expand clinical services across Iowa,” Gates says. “Our work together has further demonstrated the importance of accessibility in rural mental healthcare."
McEnroe’s academic pursuits are driven by her desire to affect tangible change in the intersection of mental health and rural life, exploring how the unique stressors of agricultural work impact mental well-being.
Through her studies, she seeks to develop strategies and interventions tailored to the needs of rural populations, ensuring that mental health support is accessible and relevant to those it serves.
McEnroe’s work is not confined to theoretical exploration. She is actively involved in community outreach, organizing workshops and support groups that provide practical tools and resources for mental health management.
Moreover, McEnroe is aware of the financial constraints that often prevent rural residents from accessing mental health services. To address this, she intends to offer sliding scale fees and work with local organizations to provide affordable care. Her commitment to making mental health care accessible to everyone is a testament to her dedication to her community.
“Mental health care should not be a luxury,” she says. “It should be a fundamental right.”
McEnroe’s dual roles as a farmer and a mental health advocate are not mutually exclusive but rather mutually reinforcing. The skills she has honed on the farm—patience, problem-solving, and a deep connection to the rhythms of nature—enhance her capabilities as a counselor.
Conversely, her psychological insights inform her approach to farming, enabling her to foster a workplace culture that prioritizes mental well-being and support. This symbiotic relationship between her two passions allows McEnroe to approach each with a depth of understanding and a unique perspective.
In a world that often compartmentalizes professions and identities, McEnroe stands as a testament to the power of integration.
As another of McEnroe’s mentors, Kivlighan says, “Aubrey is truly a community-engaged scholar and clinician. She is so passionate about rural mental health and caring for the communities she grew up in and plans to return to. It really is inspiring to work with her and witness the amount of care and commitment she has for this work.”
As McEnroe looks to the future, she remains deeply committed to her vision of creating a supportive and inclusive environment for her community, ensuring that even the most remote areas have access to mental health care. She also hopes to collaborate with local schools and community centers to provide education and resources on mental health, fostering a culture of openness and acceptance from a young age.
“Growing up, there was such a major stigma around mental health,” McEnroe says. “I want to help break that cycle and offer mental healthcare to everyone that needs it, especially in rural communities like my own.”
