Alumni Spotlight:
Jodi McCarthy
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Class of: 2010
The Journey Continues…
Founder and CEO, Bloom and Grow Coaching, LLC
For Jodi McCarthy ’10, earning a college degree required determination, discipline, and a willingness to create her own path.
A first-generation college graduate, McCarthy worked full-time while attending evening classes at Centenary University. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology in 2010. She was also a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, and developed meaningful relationships with professors who became trusted mentors.
“What stands out most to me about my time at Centenary is how personal my education felt,” McCarthy said. “I was fortunate to have professors who took the time to truly know me, challenge me, encourage me, and ultimately become mentors whose influence extended far beyond the classroom.”

Jodi began her career as a partial care group facilitator and later held roles in community outreach, family advocacy, education, youth development, mentoring, and support for at-risk populations.
In May 2022, Jodi founded Bloom and Grow Coaching, LLC, a New Jersey-based, nonclinical, trauma-informed coaching and mentoring agency serving at-risk populations.
Through one-on-one coaching, mentoring, and individualized goal planning, Bloom and Grow helps youth and adults recognize their strengths, find their voices, and take practical steps toward education, employment, independent living, recovery, wellness, and other personal goals.
In addition to her role as CEO, McCarthy maintains a full caseload, facilitates groups, builds community partnerships, and develops programs in response to needs identified throughout the community.
Since its founding, Bloom and Grow has served more than 800 people throughout New Jersey. The agency has earned certification as a Woman Business Enterprise and a Small Business Enterprise and has received multiple grants to expand its community programming.
Outside of work, McCarthy enjoys supporting community initiatives, camping, reading, exploring new places, and spending time with her husband and their three boys.
Looking ahead, she plans to continue expanding Bloom and Grow while preserving the individualized approach upon which the organization was founded. McCarthy’s goal is to develop new programs, strengthen community partnerships, create employment opportunities, and help fill gaps in services throughout New Jersey.
McCarthy offers the following advice to today’s Centenary students: “Be willing to take opportunities, learn from different experiences, build relationships, and pay attention to what you’re passionate about. Sometimes the experiences that don’t seem connected at the time end up preparing you for exactly where you’re supposed to be later.”
McCarthy’s story reflects the value of a Centenary education—one that helps students recognize their strengths, create their own paths, and open new possibilities for others.
