AV抖阴

Health Education and Human Sciences | Lion VoicesNovember 16, 2023

Home Away from Home: Dr. Nicha Otero

Written By: Ian Silvester

What happens when home is more than 2,000 miles away? You find a way to make a home where you end up 鈥� even if home becomes Arkansas and you don鈥檛 know where it is.

Hailing from the southernmost island country in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Nicha Otero, an associate professor of psychology and interim department head, came to the University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith in August 2011. Looking back a dozen years later, she laughed as she remembered having 鈥渘o idea where Arkansas was.鈥�

Despite this, arriving at AV抖阴 seemed destined for Otero.

鈥淚 got into Morgan State University for my undergraduate degree,鈥� she said. While at the Baltimore, Maryland, school, Otero was connected to a familiar AV抖阴 face. 鈥淢y mentor there was actually Dr. Rita Barrett, a previous department head of the psychology program here.鈥�

Otero completed her bachelor鈥檚 degree in general psychology from Morgan State and, at Barrett鈥檚 suggestion, continued her education in graduate school. Otero applied to the University of South Carolina in Columbia and earned her Ph.D. in experimental psychology.

If it seems like she skipped a step, Otero joked that it鈥檚 because she did.

鈥淚 jumped straight into my Ph.D.,鈥� Otero smiled. 鈥淵ou apply for the Ph.D. going in so you can get your master鈥檚 while in the program, but I knew myself, and if I got my master鈥檚, anything a little bit more challenging, I鈥檇 be like, 鈥極h, you have a graduate degree, you鈥檙e good.鈥欌��

With her degrees in hand, Otero reconnected with Barrett, who was then at AV抖阴 and happened to have an opening in the department. After interviewing and being offered a faculty position, Otero broke out the map and located her family鈥檚 new home.

Otero said that from the time she arrived at AV抖阴 and Fort Smith, she 鈥渇elt at home.鈥� However, she came before her family and set out to ensure the fit was also for her husband, son, and daughter.

鈥淢y first task was to find a school for my kids,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 attended St. Boniface Catholic Church鈥�and I figured, 鈥極K if the school is right there on the church compound, I鈥檒l see some of the kids and try to get a feel for it.鈥欌��

After the service, Otero was blown away by the reception she received. The deacon introduced himself, and after hearing of her interest in her kids attending the school, he facilitated an impromptu meeting with the principal at the time, Dr. Karen Hollenbeck.

鈥淪he asked me, 鈥楧o you want to take a tour of the school?鈥� and I鈥檓 thinking, 鈥榊es, but no, you have places to go, church is over, you have plans.鈥� She said, 鈥楴o, it鈥檚 not a problem,鈥欌�� Otero recalled with fondness. 鈥淪he opened the school doors to me and took me on a tour.鈥�

Otero鈥檚 warm welcome left a lasting impact and created relationships she and her family continue to maintain today. Otero鈥檚 husband, Nigel, is an advising coordinator for the College of Business and Industry, and her kids, Vincente and Kalena, are involved in several high school activities.

She said it鈥檚 the community they have all embraced. The same can be said for the community at AV抖阴 and in the classroom.

鈥淎V抖阴 is like a diamond in the rough or a hidden gem,鈥� she beamed. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 know until you get here and work here how much goes on here, how talented the staff and faculty are, how much they bring to the table, and how much our students are willing to learn. 鈥� It鈥檚 a really nice community here on campus.鈥�

From Trinidad and Tobago to Arkansas, Otero has found a home she loves. Whether it鈥檚 binging two or three movies a night with her family 鈥� 鈥淕rease 2鈥� her personal favorite 鈥� bumping into friends at the store, or exchanging a passion for knowledge with colleagues and students, Otero is right where she needs to be.

鈥淚 love AV抖阴. 鈥� I鈥檓 good here.鈥�

• Tags:
• Psychology
• Faculty Voices
• College of Health Education and Human Sciences