Meet Dr. Noga Flory
Noga has been working in the field of education for over 25 years. Noga volunteers as a Clinical Director for the Western MA CISM Team, and deploys among 4 districts in Western Massachusetts to facilitate debriefings, defusings, and one-on-one crisis interventions with first responders. She is a certified Youth Mental Health First Aid Instructor and provides suicide prevention education to civilians, educators, parents, and behavioral health providers. Noga works in Residential Life at UMass Amherst and lives on campus with her husband, Ernie and their two boys, Logan (16) and Tyler (12).
Q+A
What is your favorite place to travel to?
Anywhere that’s near water (ocean or lake). Some of the most magical places I’ve visited and would love to return to are: Medawisla Lodge in Maine, Belize in South America, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
What don't people know about you?
I sang in organized groups all through my k-12 schooling, and it’s my one and only regret in all my time at UMass that I haven’t been able to continue to sing with a choir or acapella group.
What is your favorite song?
In Your Eyes by Peter Gabriel (corny and classic).
Who helped get you here?
My husband Ernie, who changed professional fields when we had our first son, Logan, so he could spend more time at home <3. I would not be as well-balanced (with my personal life, work, academics, and extra curriculars) and emotionally sound were it not for his partnership and unwavering support. Grad school takes a lot out of you, as does work, but Ernie and our boys help me maintain perspective and keep me grounded.
If we came over for dinner what would you prepare for us?
Tomato mozzarella caprese (or Israeli salad), garlic bread, and homemade lasagna. Brownies a la mode for dessert, sangrias to wash it all down ;)