Huntington Resident, A Hofstra Professor, Wins National Award

HUNTINGTON, NY — Andrea Nerlich, PhD, of Huntington, an associate professor in the Department of Counseling and Mental Health Professions at Hofstra University, has been named the Rehabilitation Educator of the Year by the National Council on Rehabilitation Education, the university said in a news release.

The national award recognizes Dr. Nerlich, director of Hofstra’s rehabilitation counseling graduate programs, for her commitment to the profession through training and mentoring students. She was nominated for the honor by professionals in the field including her former student, Allison Levine, who graduated from Hofstra with an MS.Ed. in 2012.

"As a faculty member myself, I now look back at the methods, passion, and investment that were inherent in the courses that Dr. Nerlich taught," said, Dr. Levine, now an assistant professor of rehabilitation counseling in the Department of Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education at the University of Kentucky. "She has always successfully and thoughtfully incorporated context into her course content in order to infuse concepts of social justice and inclusion, and is a fierce ally and advocate with an infectious nature that is inescapable when in her class. I am in awe of how many hats Dr. Nerlich was wearing, and how student-centered she was, and remains."

Rehabilitation Counseling students become professional counselors who work with people with disabilities and help them achieve personal, social, psychological and vocational independence. Hofstra offers accredited Master’s programs in rehabilitation counseling and rehabilitation counseling in mental health, as well as advanced certificate and professional diploma programs.

Dr. Nerlich’s award was originally intended to be presented in the spring during the National Council on Rehabilitation Education’s annual conference, but due to coronavirus-related social distancing restrictions, the conference will be held virtually this summer. The National Council on Rehabilitation Education is the leading professional association for rehabilitation educators.