\u2018Always Ready, Always There\u2019<\/h2>\n
A Wayne native, Hatala began her college career at Rutgers University after completing basic training for the Army National Guard, where today she is an occupational specialist in helicopter repair.<\/p>\n
The school wasn\u2019t the right fit for her, so she pivoted and eventually enrolled closer to home at Montclair to pursue her other passion of nutrition and dietetics.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen life happened. First COVID, then my dad got sick with cancer and I had to work to keep the house. My life was a crisis,\u201d she says, and she saw no way of continuing her degree as planned. Time to adjust once more.<\/p>\n
Hatala was put in contact with Jane Sanchez Swain, Director of the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and set her sights on completing a program designed to help students on nontraditional paths. Despite new challenges, including the passing of her father in 2023 and the birth of her daughter the following year, Hatala was able to get to the finish line (and snag a minor in Nutrition and Food Science<\/a>).<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the best option for me, the perfect fit,\u201d she says of the degree completion program. Like many of her classmates, planning life around a traditional course schedule wasn\u2019t feasible. Hatala would get assignments done during lunch breaks at work, and after her daughter was put to bed. \u201cTime management is a lost art,\u201d she says with a laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cAlways ready, always there\u201d is not just the motto that Hatala lives by as a National Guardsman; it\u2019s one that reflects her commitment to both her education and her personal life, come what may.<\/p>\n Sanchez Swain says Hatala\u2019s story is all about determination and family.<\/p>\n \u201cShe would often join virtual advising appointments from her job on a military base, sometimes in fatigues near a plane. Balancing work, military service, and pregnancy, Alex never let her circumstances dim her resolve. Her positivity and drive were nothing short of remarkable.<\/p>\n \u201cAlex pursued her education not only to advance her career but to create a brighter future for her family, including her newborn baby.\u201d<\/p>\n That brighter future now includes a master\u2019s degree in Public Health. Hatala hopes to one day work for the FDA or USDA, teaching people \u2013 including her fiance, young daughter, even folks in the military \u2013 about proper nutrition.<\/p>\n Sanchez Swain says the achievements of Hatala and other students in the degree completion program have a significant and positive impact.<\/p>\n \u201cTheir accomplishments extend far beyond themselves, creating ripple effects for their families and communities\u2026their stories remind us of the power of resilience and determination.\u201d<\/p>\n Sanchez Swain says she will be cheering on Hatala and her classmates as they cross the stage at their Winter Commencement<\/a> on January 13 at Prudential Center.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a moment they\u2019ve truly earned.\u201d<\/p>\n Prospective Student or Parent?<\/strong> Learn more about the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies<\/a> program or University College<\/a>, plan a visit to our campus<\/a> and take the first step in applying to become a Red Hawk<\/a>.<\/p>\n Journalist?<\/strong> Contact the Media Relations team<\/a> for assets or to schedule an interview with a graduating student.<\/p>\n![\"Alex](\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/01\/010925_83173_Alex-Hatala.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\")
Creating a Brighter Future<\/h2>\n
![\"Alex](\"\/responsive-media\/cache\/newscenter\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/01\/010925_83566_Alex-Hatala.jpg.0.1x.generic.jpg\")
Are you a\u2026<\/h2>\n