The Mary A. Rackham Institute (MARI), originally the Institute for Human Adjustment (IHA), was founded in 1936 and formally established in 1937 by Mary A. Rackham and funded through an endowment of $1.5M known as the Mary A. Rackham Assistance Fund.
The enduring mission of MARI is service to the community and training the next generation of clinicians and other professionals. MARI is currently home to three clinics offering high-quality, multidisciplinary, evidence-based intervention, and comprehensive psychoeducational testing and treatment for disorders like aphasia, anxiety, depression, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and complex neuropsychological and communication disorders. MARI’s dedication to training the next generation of interdisciplinary mental health and speech and language pathology practitioners through the provision of these services is part of our foundation.
The Institute’s first two centers were the Speech Clinic (now the University Center for Language and Literacy) and the Psychological Clinic. The University Center for the Child and Family became part of the Institute in 1987.
Since its establishment, MARI has been home to many other centers including the Reading and Learning Skills Center, the University of Michigan Autism and Communication Center (UMACC), the Fresh Air Camp, the Sociological Research Unit, the Bureau of Psychological Services, and the Division of Gerontology.
In 2014, we officially changed our name to the Mary A. Rackham Institute to honor our founder and pay homage to the legacy she ensured.
In 2017, we celebrated the 80th Anniversary of the University Center for Language and Literacy, the founding center for MARI. Take a look at our 2017 annual report to learn more about MARI’s history and founding.