Committed to Helping and Healing Communities on a Global and Local Level

At Montclair State University, the College for Community Health (CCHL) is defined by students who view their education as a tool for advocacy and service. This year, as they prepare to cross the Commencement stage with their master’s degrees, Kananelo Mokati and Abbigale Damiano embody the University’s mission to serve communities in need. Though their paths differ – one navigating global health systems and the other providing local mental health support – they are united by a shared commitment to healing.

Kananelo Mokati: A Global Mission for Maternal Health

For Mokati, the journey to a Master of Public Health was fueled by a calling that transcends borders. A Fulbright Scholar and trained midwife, she traveled from her home country of Lesotho in South Africa to Montclair State University to bridge the gap between clinical practice and systemic health policy.

Choosing Montclair was a strategic decision for Mokati, who sought the professional energy of the New York metropolitan area without the overwhelming “noise” of the city. At Montclair, she found her home in the Health Systems Administration and Policy concentration, where she could focus on the structural barriers facing health-care delivery.

However, her journey faced a critical challenge in 2025 when federal funding for her Fulbright program was unexpectedly eliminated. “At that point, it felt like all the hard work I had put in over the past year was about to go down the drain. It wasn’t a lack of support, but a moment where answers simply weren’t available,” Mokati recalls.

With help from her advisor, Professor Amanda Birnbaum, and Public Health Department Chair Lisa Lieberman, Mokati secured a summer internship with the School of Nursing which provided the vital bridge funding needed to keep her on track.

The internship gave her the opportunity to perform grant application work, do a poster presentation and coauthor a research manuscript on “county-level variations in risk-adjusted rates of preterm birth among young mothers in the United States,” the latter of which was accepted for publication in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing.

“What began as one of the most challenging moments of my journey ultimately opened the door to some of the most meaningful opportunities I’ve had,” Mokati says.

Mokati’s passion for public health is rooted in her experience as a midwife – a career that began in her home country but quickly became her life’s work. She’d earned a BS in general nursing and midwifery, a requirement as part of the nursing curriculum, from the National University of Lesotho.
After receiving her MPH, she plans to return to Lesotho before heading back to the U.S. to obtain a doctorate on maternal health policy, “particularly on how health systems can better support women and improve maternal health outcomes.”

Abbigale Damiano: A Local Anchor for Mental Health and Recovery

While Mokati focuses on global systems, Damiano has dedicated her graduate studies to the immediate needs of her local community. Graduating with a Master of Arts in Counseling, with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, she has spent her time at Montclair diving into the front lines of the mental health crisis.

As a first-generation graduate, Damiano’s academic journey is a testament to perseverance. She graduated with a BA in Psychology in 2023 and immediately pursued her master’s program, during which she completed a rigorous clinical internship at a nonprofit substance use treatment center, providing support for individuals navigating recovery and co-occurring mental health challenges. She also worked as a teacher’s assistant for Associate Professor Ofelia Rodriguez for three years.

Her commitment to service extends beyond her formal requirements. Damiano also serves as a volunteer for the 988’s Crisis Text Line, providing real-time, life-saving support to individuals in moments of acute distress. For her, Montclair was the place where her innate desire to help was transformed into professional expertise.

“Montclair State University has been more than just a school for me,” Damiano reflects. “It is where I found my purpose, built my leadership skills, and discovered my passion for counseling, student support and community care.”

After graduation, the end of a seven-year student journey, Damiano has a job awaiting her at the crisis facility. She will also join Montclair as an adjunct psychology professor in the fall.

Had she not reached out to professors and department heads during her time at Montclair, she says, “I feel like I wouldn’t be as prepared now graduating or even being able to be an adjunct professor – at the age of 25.”

Reach out to the professors and to your department, they will help you and they will lead you to success.” – Abbigale Damiano

Fulfilling the Mission

Both Mokati and Damiano represent the core values of Montclair’s commitment to community service. Whether advocating for policy changes to protect mothers globally or providing a lifeline to those in crisis locally, these two graduates prove that a Montclair degree is a catalyst for meaningful change.

As they transition from students to alumni, their stories serve as an inspiration to the next generation of students.

Damiano says that as a first-generation college student she had to ask lots of questions in order not to be lost. She advises all students, including commuters like her, to spend time on campus and reach out to faculty. “They’re so many different opportunities on campus that I’m sure people aren’t even aware of,” she says. “Every professor has a different career and different connections, so you don’t know where you’ll end up if you keep up with what they’re offering you.”

“If you are looking for a school that will challenge you, open doors for you and support you – not just to do well academically but to be set up for success after graduation – Montclair State University is the place for you,” says Mokati.

“As someone who moved thousands of miles with nothing but hope and a desire to better myself, I found more than an education here, I found a community that showed up for me when I needed it most. I built meaningful professional networks, and I am leaving as a better version of myself.”

This story is part of a series celebrating Montclair State University’s graduates – students who embody the University’s mission to broaden access to exceptional learning opportunities and contribute to the common good.