When Nicole Doherty joined the Seton Hill University Center for Orthodontics in 2021 she was looking for a change of pace, but she ended up finding much more than she expected.

After nearly three decades as a dental hygienist – and the challenges that came with the COVID years – Nicole was looking for something that would allow her to continue serving others in a new and meaningful way. She heard about an opening at the clinic from a friend and was hired as an orthodontic/sterilization assistant and insurance coordinator.

Nicole had previously graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1996 with a degree in Dental Hygiene, and the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in 2000 with a degree in Applied Technology (Computer Animation), but once she started at Seton Hill, she began considering another return to school.

“Not long after settling into my role, the idea of taking classes started tugging at me,” she said. “The thought of continuing my education was exciting.”

As a mother and wife with a full-time job, Nicole knew it could be challenging to juggle multiple roles, but education is something that has always been important in her family, so she committed to furthering her goals – and began to reap the benefits.

“My coursework helped me grow professionally and personally; I gained confidence, leadership skills, and a clearer understanding of how to approach challenges,” she said. “I helped my children with schoolwork, supported my daughter through the college application process, and even discovered new ways to connect with my son’s academic and extracurricular commitments.”

After graduating with a degree in marketing, in May 2025, Nicole was able to step into a new role with the orthodontics center and now handles the department’s marketing. And she isn’t stopping there. Nicole is now enrolled in the master’s program in Innovative Instruction at Seton Hill.

“In my time as a student, I’ve met wonderful classmates and professors, and I’ve been given opportunities that simply wouldn’t have been available to me otherwise,” she said. “I’m not entirely sure where this path will lead, but I trust wholeheartedly that everything happens for a reason and that God has a plan for me.”

Nicole has also found meaning beyond her role and her time in the classroom during her years as a student and employee, and has developed a deep connection with Seton Hill’s mission.

“When I came to Seton Hill in 2021, I found much more than a workplace and much more than an education. Through learning about Laudato Si’ (Pope Francis’ encyclical on protecting the planet) with Professor of Religious Studies Fran Leap and Professor of Marketing and Communication Jen Jones’ class that delved into sustainability and community, I discovered that Seton Hill’s mission wasn’t just words; it was something you could feel. Something you could live. It awakened in me a deeper sense of responsibility to care for people, the earth, and the spaces we share,” Nicole said. “As wonderful as my education has been, that has been the most meaningful part of my entire experience. Seton Hill’s mission is something that will always stay with me. It has become part of who I am.”

Nicole grew up in a Catholic family, where she saw examples of service in the generosity of her mother, who lived with MS, and her uncle, who was a priest.

“Giving wasn’t an event; it was a way of life,” she said.

After connecting with Seton Hill’s mission, Nicole and her family - husband Nathan, daughter Sophia, son Maximilian - have stepped into service more intentionally and found new ways to serve their community. The family has participated in Serve in the City, where Seton Hill volunteers work with the non-profit Maranatha Outreach to serve a meal (donated by Seton Hill’s food service provider Aramark) to those in need downtown Pittsburgh each semester in connection with Jen Jones’s Corporate Ethics and Social Responsibility class. Nicole also used her skills as a dental hygienist to volunteer with the Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh, a free, two-day dental, vision and hearing clinic that serves patients in need.

The family has also helped with clothing and blanket drives as well as Derry’s KIND Closet, which provides students with free clothing, shoes, books, toys, and other necessities with help from school staff and volunteers, and encourages friends and community members to get involved.

“I don’t think anything my family or I do is extraordinary. Service has just always been part of our lives. These acts aren’t ‘big,’ they just feel right. We may not be rich in our pockets, but we are rich in faith,” Nicole said. “I don’t share these things to gain recognition, but because I hope kindness spreads like a ripple. I want my kids - and our whole community - to feel surrounded by people who truly show up. Staying involved helps us build the kind of community we want them to grow up in, rooted in compassion, teamwork, and pride in one another.”

“Being able to help, even in the smallest ways, feels like a privilege. Every time I bring a smile to someone else, I’m reminded why service matters so deeply - and maybe that’s why I ended up in the dental field to begin with,” she added.

“I’m deeply grateful for the spiritual guidance and purpose Seton Hill University has brought into my life. Being part of a community so full of heart is something we’re deeply grateful for.”