CATHRINE DUFFY
LMSW, MA;
Certified Mayo Clinic Health and Wellness Coach
Director, Healthier U,
EAP Committee Chair
Since taking the helm of Healthier U, Cathrine has transformed campus wellness beyond what we thought possible. Her unique ability to see both the individual employee and the organization as a whole allows her to design wellness strategies that are both deeply personal and broadly impactful. It is this kind of vision, this unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for those who work at Stony Brook, that has made Healthier U a model for what employee wellness programs should aspire to be. Cathrine’s work has touched countless individuals, fostering a culture of wellness that supports not just physical health but also connection and personal growth.
Recent recpient of he Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service, Cathrine is a natural collaborator and role model. She regularly works across departments, building partnerships that strengthen the campus community and align wellness initiatives with institutional goals.
Before coming to Stony Brook University, Cathrine was an Editor at Newsday for 10 years, which made for an easy transition into her first role here at SBU as a faculty member teaching courses such as News Writing, Reporting and Editing.
As Director of Healthier U, Cathrine has single handedly designed, developed and
launched the WolfieDash - our annual 5K Walk/Run over homecoming weekend and our
spring 5K, Seawolf Shuffle, which was recently held in honor of the Inauguration of
President Andrea Goldsmith with a record breaking number of participants.
An Alumnus of Stony Brook University, Cathrine has a Masters of Social Work, a Masters in Public Policy, a Bachelors of English, she is trained in Mental Health First Aid, a CliftonStrengths Coach, QPRTrainer, a Group Facilitator and Intake Coordinator for Grief Counseling, Bereavement, Substance Use Disorders and Suicide Prevention. Additionally, Cathrine was recently certified as a Wellness Coach by the Mayo Clinic.
NICOLE PATERSON
RYT-200, MSW Candidate
EAP Coordinator
Nicole Paterson is a passionate and purpose-driven health and human services professional currently serving as the Healthier U and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Coordinator at Stony Brook University. She brings over a decade of experience designing and leading innovative and sustainable programs that improve lives and advance equity within clinical, community, and organizational settings.
Grounded in evidence-based practice and guided by the Social Determinants of Health, Nicole specializes in developing solutions to complex public health challenges with a focus on disease prevention, life extension, and expanding access to wellness. She has held roles across a wide range of organizations, from hospitals and nonprofits to mobile recovery units, consistently demonstrating her ability to lead, educate, and create transformative impact.
As a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT 200), Nicole integrates holistic, trauma-informed practices into her work to support mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Additionally, Nicole is a certified instructor in multiple Adult and Youth Mental Health First Aid curricula, including specialty tracks for higher education, veterans, public safety, and fire/EMS.
Currently pursuing her Master of Social Work at Stony Brook University, Nicole continues to deepen her focus on health disparities, clinical preventive services, and care coordination. She thrives in multidisciplinary, mission-driven environments where collaboration fuels transformation and every step forward contributes to building healthier, more just communities.
