Please list the degrees you have earned and the institutions attended.

• BA – Spanish, Latin American Studies (State University of New York College at New Paltz)
• MA – History (Temple University, Philadelphia)
• MPH (Temple University, Philadelphia)

What was your college experience like? 

I was the first person in my family to enroll in college, so I was intimidated and did not have any guidance from home as to how to succeed in my courses. However, this freed me to explore many different areas of study including Spanish, Chinese, world history, religions, anthropology, and women’s studies. So I ended up with a very strong Liberal Arts education.

I also worked at night and on weekends while attending school: I was a truck loader and forklift driver for a warehouse that supplied natural foods to food co-ops in the northeastern U.S.

Did you go to college with the intention of being a professor? If not, how did your path bring you here?

No, I could not have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would become a member of the faculty at a university. My path brought me here because my eventual work in public health, as a trainer of sexuality education professionals, helped me to develop my teaching and research skills.

What is one thing you wish you had known in your undergraduate/graduate career? Why?

I wish I had known earlier, when I was an undergraduate, how to seek and read peer-reviewed research studies. Although SUNY New Paltz gave me an excellent education, most of what we were assigned to read came from books or other materials pre-selected by the instructor; as a result, it was not until later that I got more hands-on experience in doing research. This is a key skill not only for anyone who might one day become a faculty member in a university, but also for anyone who simply wants to have the best possible critical thinking skills as a citizen in society.

What is the best part about being an MSU faculty member?

The students! Our undergraduate and graduate students come from all walks of life and places all over the world. They enrich my experience!

What does a typical day look like for you?

I come to campus, spend time in my office responding to e-mail messages that came in since the prior afternoon, and then review the slides and activities I will use in classes that day in case it makes sense to make some last-minute adjustments. I teach my courses, then come back to the office or go home to begin grading students’ papers, quizzes, and exams.

What are a few of your recent accomplishments?

Teachers College at Columbia University gave me a role as a consultant for a project in which they train school health teachers from around the country to improve their methods of teaching about healthy sexuality. Also, this past summer, I worked with two of our graduate students in public health to conduct observational research on COVID-19 in Perth Amboy, New Brunswick, and Sayreville. The project is trying to see how Latinx residents of those three municipalities are served (or not served) with information and services to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection.

What is your favorite class to teach at MSU? Why?

I teach a course on Immigrant Health in our summer sessions, which I like because many of our students come from immigrant families, so their own personal histories enrich the teaching and learning.

What advice would you give to incoming students in order for them to succeed?

Learn how to write well by reading as much as you can. Read fiction! Read newspapers! The more you are exposed to well-crafted writing, the more you will see what good writing looks like, and the more you will absorb those observations to help strengthen your own writing. As much as we are all tempted to spend time scrolling on Instagram or Twitter, those forms of media take away from time spent reading well-crafted writing, which is an essential skill we still need for today’s workforce.

Why did you choose this field of study? Why did you choose the program at MSU?

Working as a sign language interpreter for the last 17 years has given me the opportunity to interact with diverse populations in a variety of settings, across the lifespan, and across demographics. I have been a firsthand witness to inequities and disparities throughout these experiences but have lacked the role and tools to address them. Three years ago I decided to return to school and pursue a Master of Public Health degree. The MPH program at MSU stood out from the other programs I considered because of its focus on and commitment to advancing health equity and advocating for social justice.

What are the best parts of your program?

The people. I have learned the most from listening to the experiences and insights of my classmates and professors. Each of my classmates and professors brings unique experiences, backgrounds, and passions into the classroom (or zoomroom!) and we gain so much more because of this. A more diverse workforce is needed in the field of public health and the MPH program at MSU is part of the solution. There is a strong “common ground” in this program as we have a collective aim to address inequities and reduce health disparities. From water pollution and smoking cessation to sex education and diabetes prevention, we discuss it all. Our discussions are lively and our learning is intense.

What advice would you give to a prospective student in your field?

Public health is about passion. Whatever you are passionate about, there is a place for you in this field to make a difference. Bring it!

How is your program preparing you for working in your field?

This program is giving me the tools I need to make a difference, to do more for those who need more. We learn from history, from mistakes and tragedies, from prejudice and racism, from the literature and from the experiences of others. We are shown resources and tools, guided as we learn to use them, and are given opportunities to implement what we have learned. The network of students and faculty is strong and there are many opportunities for interdisciplinary connections and collaborations.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your program, the College of Education & Human Services, or ����vlog that we haven’t asked about?

The faculty and staff of the Department of Public Health here at MSU is as compassionate as they are passionate. They understand the challenges graduate students can face as adult learners, parents, caretakers, full-time workers. They have been incredibly supportive to us all throughout the challenges of this pandemic.

When asked to reflect on what he remembers most while a student at ����vlog, Dr. Nadrich candidly expressed, “It was the people I met during my time there.” He further states that he counts these people as dear friends and colleagues. “Had it not been for the university and this program particularly, I would not know these people. I cannot imagine my life without them”.

Dr. Nadrich continues to work to expand his dissertation thesis on racially mixed people of color. He has actively engaged in many projects and publications. He has co-authored articles on black men in higher education specifically in the counselor education program. He is currently working on a manuscript exploring the CACREP process of accreditation and how CACREP accreditation affects certain institutions. He recently received a grant to conduct a study to examine how Institutions are integrating the social justice competencies within their pedagogy.

He recognizes that the practice of mental health has shifted specifically in the realm of telehealth. Therefore, training needs to be tailored to the new experience. “As counselor educators, we should also focus on training and learning the skills for telehealth. Get the CEUs because I don’t see telehealth going anywhere anytime soon.”

Dr. Nadrich believes that counselors should focus on the fragmented identity of the profession and mental health counselors. How can counselors unify our identity as counselors not only to the world so that they would know who we are, but also so that we know who we are. He recognizes that it takes legislation and lobbying and money, but we need to invest in people. “Spending money up front to save money in the long run is a good thing.”

For future counselors, Dr. Nadrich says: “Find your way through social justice and advocate for others. If you can’t march, make the signs. It’s easy to feel that those that are marching on the streets are more important than you, but as long as what you are doing is congruent with who you are, then do it.”

1. Please list the degrees you have earned and the institutions attended.


I have a PhD in behavioral epidemiology from the University of Minnesota, an MPH in population and family health from Columbia Mailman School of Public Health, and a BA in English from the University of Bridgeport.

2. What was your college experience like? 

My college experience was challenging. Like many students I’ve worked with, I had an interrupted path. I started college full-time, right out of high school, very promising, but also struggling to cope with a challenging family situation and poor mental health. I left school after my sophomore year, and it took two years of work, growth, and healing to be ready to return. When I did, I transferred to a smaller college that was much less prestigious – and stressful – than where I started.

Leaving college was rough, and dealing with other people’s reactions often made it harder. But I have no doubt that this path – which was very different to the path I was expected to take – was right for me. I am absolutely certain that any successes I have now, are at least in part because of that two year “detour” (which turns out not to have been a detour after all).

3. Did you go to college with the intention of being a professor? If not, how did your path bring you here?


Being a professor was definitely not on my mind in college. I was an English major, mostly because I got positive feedback and support from several English instructors. I graduated during a recession, and sent resumes (on paper, in envelopes) to just about any organization I could find related to my passions for adolescent health, and reproductive health and justice.

I had a series of jobs – counselor at a clinic, director of volunteers at a social service agency. Eventually I felt had done as much as I could without further study. In researching graduate programs, I “discovered” public health. I enrolled in an MPH program at Columbia, concentrating in population and family health, expecting that I would continue working with the same types of organizations, just with more knowledge and preparation.

In my MPH program, I was introduced to so many other opportunities and was encouraged to explore my strengths and interests. I fell in love with epidemiology and evaluation, and the idea of applying them with a focus on adolescent health and well-being. I graduated, had some wonderful consulting project opportunities in evaluation and research, and realized I wanted more. Researching PhD programs led me to the University of Minnesota, where the Division of Epidemiology included a large group of adolescent health experts. Thanks to my mentors at Columbia and U of MN, eventually I began to imagine myself as “professor material.”

4. What is one thing you wish you had known in your undergraduate/graduate career? Why?


Undergraduate: I wish I had known that most things aren’t set in stone. It would have helped me take more (positive) risks, and not take each decision so seriously.

Graduate: I wish I had known that the culture and expectations of the department where I did my PhD was socializing and shaping me in ways I wasn’t aware of at the time. I’d like to think that knowledge would have pushed me to more deliberately seek meaningful interdisciplinary collaboration, and to be more expansive in exploring a variety of career paths.

5. What is the best part about being an MSU faculty member?


The people. We have an amazing community. Our students, staff, faculty, bring such a wealth of talents, perspectives, life experiences, dedication, passions, ideas. It is energizing and fulfilling to be part of and help serve this community.

6. What does a typical day look like for you?


Email, Canvas, Zoom, reading, writing, multitasking.

7. What are a few of your recent accomplishments?


Making it through two years (and counting) of the pandemic comes to mind!

I recently returned to teaching undergraduates, after about 10 years of teaching only in our graduate program. I’m so excited to get to connect with and support our undergraduates, along with the MPH students.

I began working towards an Urban Naturalist certificate at the NY Botanical Garden. I have been learning so much, and making many connections with public health.

8. What is your favorite class to teach at MSU? Why?


I can’t answer this the way I think it’s intended, lol. Every class is my favorite when I’m teaching it. If my students and I are successful in establishing a lively, safe, open learning environment, if students feel engaged, challenged, and respected – then that’s my favorite class.

9. What advice would you give to incoming students in order for them to succeed?


Be intentionally and relentlessly curious. Let every part of your identity drive your curiosity; you deserve that, and the world needs it. Curiosity is magical – it sparks ideas and creativity, makes you see things as changeable, prompts you to be a flexible thinker, and helps you make almost anything interesting.

Everything takes longer, and costs more, than you think it will. A mentor told me that nearly 30 years ago. When I keep that in mind, I make better decisions. When I don’t, I almost always regret it.

Read and follow directions on your syllabus, assignments, and exams. It will save you time and heartache. Your professors want you to succeed.

Vicky’s goal is to inspire her students to learn a language, introduce them to culture and expand their knowledge of traditions with a higher degree of enthusiasm. She is proud of the advocacy work she does in being a mentor for student teachers, an instructor for higher educational leadership, current teachers, and future leaders as well as providing effective Family and Community Outreach for school families.

Outside of school, Vicky enjoys riding her cruiser bike by the beach, taking walks, watching documentaries, and reading non-fiction. In addition, she believes in the importance of self-care, being present, and doing what you love.

Vicky has served as a Holmes Honors Program mentor since Spring 2021 and is 100% committed to supporting and encouraging our teacher candidates! We appreciate all that you do, Vicky!

Please tell us about your current position.

I have been employed by the ����vlog Department of Campus Recreation as the Coordinator of Intramural and Club Sports since 2016. It is fun, fast-paced, ever-changing, and involves a ton of work with students – which is exactly why I have always wanted to be in education. Simply put, my position is to oversee and operate the Intramural and Club Sports programs on campus, but the day-to-day varies so much by the day and time of year. In a given academic year, I have roles in hiring and training student staff, student development, advising club sports executive boards, creating programs and sports leagues for Intramural participants, budgeting/finance, risk management, and facility supervision, to name a few. Every day is a new set of challenges and experiences that keeps me learning something new!

Why did you choose this field of study? Why did you choose the program at ����vlog?

I always knew I wanted to be in education. My undergraduate work was actually in History Education with an additional teaching certification as a subject area teacher for students with disabilities. It wasn’t until I was employed within Campus Recreation as an undergraduate and graduate student worker that I really envisioned my current work as a potential career path. I began to see how much of an educational component was still involved in this field and it made me feel entirely justified in making a career “switch” right after graduation because I knew I could still accomplish my goals of helping others to learn and grow. There is also the added bonus of being able to work in a sports-related field, which has always been a personal interest of mine.

What was your favorite class or experience in the program, and why was that so important to you?

It really wasn’t just one course or single experience, but rather a series of interactions across my entire time in the program. The opportunity to work with Dr. Vega was such a positive experience. She was challenging, thoughtful, caring, but most importantly – encouraging. Her experiences and abilities as an educator were such a help to me and those in my cohort. Dr. Vega was a master at knowing which “buttons to press” at the right time. She always knew when we needed to be challenged, given a reality check, or just needed some positive encouragement.

Now that you are working in your field, how did your program prepare you for this position?

Confidence. Considering my K-12 educational background and having been at Montclair through undergrad, I knew I needed a more formal basis in higher education to continue to grow as a professional in this field. Though I was still studying at the same institution, the shared experiences of my peers, instructors, and guest speakers gave me a better understanding of the field from historical roots, theory, and practical applications. I feel that I am much more resourceful and possess a better awareness of how institutions function.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your program, the College of Education & Human Services, or ����vlog that we haven’t asked about?

Take time to get to actually get to know your peers. It sounds simple, but the reality is that this can be a basis for a lifetime of personal and professional connections. While everyone may end up working in different departments, divisions, or institutions altogether, the field of higher education is so connected and eager to share and help one another. It is such a great opportunity to generate future professional connections. At worst, you can just make a few friends! Though it is difficult to keep in touch after graduation, there are a few former classmates (now friends) that made my time in the program so much more positive.

Please list the degrees you have earned and the institutions attended.


BS in Journalism with minor in English, Boston University
MPH with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health, Columbia University

What was your college experience like?

I had a lot to balance when I was an undergraduate: I was all about academics and cared a lot about doing well in my classes.  I worked 20-25 hours per week every semester and also during summer and winter breaks in order to earn the money I needed to cover my expenses.  I also had many other interests and participated in as many extracurricular activities as I could manage (for example, I sang in an a capella group called “The Off-Key Three” that performed in clubs and coffeehouses all over Boston).  I was a very, very busy person when I was in college!

Did you go to college with the intention of being a college administrator? If not, how did your path bring you here?


If you had told me when I was in college that one day I would work on a college campus, I would not have believed it!  That’s why I always tell my MSU advisees not to look too far down the career path, but to just take the next step!  When I was in college, I thought I wanted to be a writer and started my career working for newspapers and magazines.  Without really planning to, I wound up writing a lot about issues related to health.  Eventually, because of all the writing about health, I decided to shift my career focus and go back to school to get my MPH.  I loved that public health focused on prevention and on social justice.  After graduate school, I worked for a number of years administering public health programs that focused on child and adolescent health.  Eventually, I started teaching as an adjunct professor at Montclair State.  One day, a job opened up on campus and I thought I could do a good job in the role as it was described so I applied — and became the Department Administrator for the Department of Public Health.  I’ve been here for almost 14 years.  I love my job!

What is one thing you wish you had known in your undergraduate/graduate career? Why?


Hmmm.  I think I wish I had known how much guidance was available to me from my professors and advisors.  I did not take advantage of the wealth of wisdom they could have offered me if only I had realized how much they wanted to help and that all I had to do was reach out.  I am happy with the way things turned out in my career, but I think I missed some opportunities and might have made some different choices earlier if I had sought the advice of people who knew a lot more than I did.

What is the best part about being an MSU staff faculty member?


Working with the students!  So many MSU students are strivers who are working so hard – at classes, at jobs, at extracurriculars — to earn their degree (kind of like I did).  I love helping them to get where they want to go!

What does a typical day look like for you?


There is no typical day for me.  That’s why I like my job.  Some days there are lots of meetings with other staff members or faculty members.  Some days I meet with students one-on-one.  Some days I work at my computer.  Some days, I interview potential employees.  Some days, I participate in big events like University open houses.

What are a few of your recent accomplishments?


I helped establish some new programs in our department that allow outstanding Public Health majors to start taking graduate-level courses in the final year of their undergraduate program – so they can earn both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in five years.

What is your favorite class to teach at MSU? Why?


I haven’t taught that many classes.  I guess I will say that I most enjoyed teaching HLTH290 (Human Sexuality), but I taught that course 20 years ago!  Now I support other faculty members who teach that course – and many others.

What advice would you give to incoming students in order for them to succeed?


This is not high school.  This is YOUR education and you are responsible for it.  No one cares if you blow it, so YOU have to care.  Go to class.  Turn your assignments in on time.  Print your papers out and PROOFREAD them.  And, more than anything, keep your eyes on the prize – you are here to earn a degree.  Don’t forget that that should be your primary focus.  If you stumble a little and fail a class or choose the wrong major, pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep on going.  You have to have a lot of stamina and determination to earn a Bachelor’s degree.  And, until you get there, you have no idea how fantastic it feels to throw your cap in the air at Commencement when you celebrate your hard-won achievement.  It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Why did you choose this field of study? Why did you choose the program at MSU?

The Haitian health system’s geographical, cultural, financial, and organizational challenges to improve health access for the population have always captured my attention and driven my thoughts on how I might best contribute to solving the puzzle. During my journey as a student and a health professional, I have been both a witness and a victim of the consequences of those barriers that have made health services so difficult to reach in my native country. Consequently, a ministerial calling triggered my passion for Public Health which is embedded in the conviction that in-depth studies in this field can help me better understand the nature of health problems, the proximal and distal factors that underlie their emergence, their mode of distribution, along with the multiple obstacles to quality health care access in the system. After completing my medical degree, this led me to pursue higher studies in Healthcare Management in Haiti, and now in Health Systems Administration and Policy at ����vlog (MSU) with the financial support of the Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship program.

The Public Health program at MSU, namely the concentration in Health Systems Administration and Policy, stands alone by its comprehensiveness and particular emphasis on the principles of social justice and equity. The curriculum is designed in an integrated and practical way that combines all the relevant theories and techniques with hands-on experience to develop vital and competitive competencies for culturally responsive health leaders.

What are the best parts of your program?

The exciting parts of this program are the broad range of academic resources dedicated to shaping an optimal understanding of health policy, leadership, and management. All this is connected to the real world through class discussions and exchanges, pragmatic insights from experts invited to share their experiences with students, and the internship program where the latter keep learning with university assistance from organizations working in the field.

What advice would you give to a prospective student in your field?

So far in my career, I have come to know that cultural humility is a critical attitude to being a good student and impactful servant in the field of public health. A prospective student who cares about advancing universal health coverage will fall in love with how different subfields of health and social sciences are integrated into this program at MSU to craft a comprehensive public health approach that values cultural responsiveness, equity, and social justice.

How is your program preparing you for working in your field?

This program is preparing me to amplify my contribution to the health sector by refining my conceptual, technical, and interpersonal skills which are very critical to fulfilling the strategic and operational roles of the public health professional. As a health care entrepreneur and manager, I am looking forward to putting those skills and competencies at the service of the health sector in general and specifically of the Haitian health system and , a community health organization that I founded in 2012 to help tackle the barriers to health care access in Haiti.

Please tell us about what you are currently doing.

I am currently working at ����vlog as a Career Advisor and Employer Relations Specialist at the College of Science and Mathematics.

Why did you choose this field of study? Why did you choose the program at ����vlog?

I chose the field of counseling because I realized how important mental health is and how much of a difference a good and competent counselor can do. I chose the program at Montclair because it was accredited, and I knew how important that would be for any future career decisions that I made. While doing my research Montclair State had a great counseling program and it was close enough to home that I could still work full time and go to school. I had an amazing academic advisor during my undergrad and it clicked that I wanted to work in Higher Ed. So I chose the Higher Ed concentration.

What were the best parts of your program?

The best parts of the program for me were the class discussions. I loved it when the professors would open up a discussion and we would all talk about our opinions and thoughts on a certain topic. I feel that I learned just as much from my peers as I did from the professors. I feel that it also helped us realize how important it is for us to have a support system and soundboard where we could bounce off ideas.

What was your favorite class or experience in the program, and why was that so important to you?

My favorite experience was practicum and internship. Technically I was doing a career change and practicum and internship was an amazing way for me to get hands-on experience in the field I wanted to get into. So even though I huffed and puffed about having to get another job, it’s an experience that I would not have traded for anything in the world.

Now that you are working in your field, how did your program prepare you for this position?

My program prepared me because it gave me a great foundation that I use in my job every day. It gave me the techniques and experience that I would need when working with students.

Is there anything else you’d like to share about your program, the College of Education & Human Services, or ����vlog that we haven’t asked about?

One thing about ����vlog is that they really value their alumni because they understand that they are producing quality professionals.

1. Please tell us about your plans post-graduation.

Post graduation, I plan on continuing my education here at MSU in the MPH program.

2. What were the best parts of your program?

The best part about the public health program is that every faculty and professor was always willing to help and lend a hand to the students.

3. What was your favorite class or experience in the program, and why was that so important to you?

My favorite experience in the Public Health program was the internship requirement. This experience helped open several doors for me professionally and it also helped me in figuring out what path I would like to pursue after college.

4. Why did you choose this field of study?  Why did you choose the program at ����vlog?

I chose Public Health because I have always been passionate about helping others and this path would grant me the opportunity to receive the best education possible to be able to go back to my community and help.