{"id":227923,"date":"2026-05-11T11:10:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T15:10:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/?p=227923"},"modified":"2026-05-11T11:35:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T15:35:03","slug":"committed-to-helping-and-healing-communities-on-a-global-and-local-level","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/newscenter\/2026\/05\/11\/committed-to-helping-and-healing-communities-on-a-global-and-local-level\/","title":{"rendered":"Committed to Helping and Healing Communities on a Global and Local Level"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/a> stage with their master\u2019s degrees, Kananelo Mokati and Abbigale Damiano embody the University\u2019s mission<\/a> to serve communities in need. Though their paths differ \u2013 one navigating global health systems and the other providing local mental health support \u2013 they are united by a shared commitment to healing.<\/p>\n

\"Kananelo
Kananelo Mokati, a Fulbright Scholar from Lesotho, will return home to work on maternal health policy after overcoming a critical funding challenge with the help of the Department of Public Health.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kananelo Mokati: A Global Mission for Maternal Health<\/h2>\n

For Mokati, the journey to a Master of Public Health<\/a> was fueled by a calling that transcends borders. A Fulbright Scholar<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

Choosing Montclair was a strategic decision for Mokati, who sought the professional energy of the New York metropolitan area without the overwhelming \u201cnoise\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

However, her journey faced a critical challenge in 2025 when federal funding for her Fulbright program was unexpectedly eliminated. \u201cAt 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\u2019t a lack of support, but a moment where answers simply weren\u2019t available,\u201d Mokati recalls.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> which provided the vital bridge funding needed to keep her on track.<\/p>\n

The internship gave her the opportunity to perform grant application work, do a poster presentation and coauthor a research manuscript on \u201ccounty-level variations in risk-adjusted rates of preterm birth among young mothers in the United States,\u201d the latter of which was accepted for publication in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat began as one of the most challenging moments of my journey ultimately opened the door to some of the most meaningful opportunities I\u2019ve had,\u201d Mokati says.<\/p>\n

Mokati\u2019s passion for public health is rooted in her experience as a midwife \u2013 a career that began in her home country but quickly became her life\u2019s work. She\u2019d earned a BS in general nursing and midwifery, a requirement as part of the nursing curriculum, from the National University of Lesotho.
\nAfter receiving her MPH, she plans to return to Lesotho before heading back to the U.S. to obtain a doctorate on maternal health policy, \u201cparticularly on how health systems can better support women and improve maternal health outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Abbigale
Abbigale Damiano, a first-generation graduate, provided life-saving support volunteering for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and will work at a substance use treatment center and join Montclair as an adjunct psychology professor.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Abbigale Damiano: A Local Anchor for Mental Health and Recovery<\/h2>\n

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<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

As a first-generation graduate, Damiano\u2019s academic journey is a testament to perseverance. She graduated with a BA in Psychology<\/a> 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\u2019s assistant for Associate Professor Ofelia Rodriguez for three years.<\/p>\n

Her commitment to service extends beyond her formal requirements. Damiano also serves as a volunteer for the 988\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cMontclair State University has been more than just a school for me,\u201d Damiano reflects. \u201cIt is where I found my purpose, built my leadership skills, and discovered my passion for counseling, student support and community care.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Had she not reached out to professors and department heads during her time at Montclair, she says, \u201cI feel like I wouldn’t be as prepared now graduating or even being able to be an adjunct professor \u2013 at the age of 25.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reach out to the professors and to your department, they will help you and they will lead you to success.” \u2013 Abbigale Damiano<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Fulfilling the Mission<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

As they transition from students to alumni, their stories serve as an inspiration to the next generation of students.<\/p>\n

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. \u201cThey\u2019re so many different opportunities on campus that I’m sure people aren’t even aware of,\u201d she says. \u201cEvery 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you are looking for a school that will challenge you, open doors for you and support you \u2013 not just to do well academically but to be set up for success after graduation \u2013 Montclair State University is the place for you,\u201d says Mokati.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

This story is part of a series celebrating Montclair State University\u2019s graduates \u2013 students who embody the University\u2019s mission<\/a> to broaden access to <\/em>exceptional learning opportunities and contribute to the common good.<\/em><\/p>\n