{"id":8346,"date":"2026-04-16T09:19:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-16T13:19:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/?p=8346"},"modified":"2026-04-16T15:24:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-16T19:24:05","slug":"emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/","title":{"rendered":"Emily Nappi\u2019s Journey of Advocacy and Resilience"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Menu Bar” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#F7F7F5″ custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” sticky_position=”top” motion_trigger_start=”top” saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” background__sticky_enabled=”on|sticky” background_color__sticky=”#F3F3F1″ background_enable_color__sticky=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” width=”90%” max_width=”2560px” custom_padding=”1.25vw||1.25vw||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_menu menu_id=”161″ menu_style=”centered” active_link_color=”#313436″ dropdown_menu_bg_color=”#cba052″ dropdown_menu_line_color=”#d7d2cb” dropdown_menu_text_color=”#313436″ dropdown_menu_active_link_color=”#313436″ mobile_menu_bg_color=”#ffffff” mobile_menu_text_color=”#2f2f2f” menu_icon_color=”#25282a” mobile_menu_bg_color_tablet=”#ffffff” mobile_menu_bg_color_phone=”#ffffff” mobile_menu_bg_color_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” menu_font=”Oswald|500||on|||||” menu_text_color=”#313436″ menu_font_size=”1.3em” background_enable_color=”off” background_layout=”dark” menu_font_size_tablet=”2vw” menu_font_size_phone=”3vw” menu_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” mobile_menu_bg_color__sticky_enabled=”on|sticky” menu_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” menu_text_color__hover=”#711421″][\/et_pb_menu][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”Article Title Section” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#eae9e5″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2021\/12\/Ramapo_Cross-Hatch_gold-e1638904380397.png” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_left” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”0px||0px||false|false” bottom_divider_height=”40px” bottom_divider_flip=”vertical” background_last_edited=”on|phone” background_enable_image_tablet=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ width=”100%” max_width=”100%” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_padding=”4vw|1vw|3vw|8vw|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|7vw||7vw|false|true” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Oswald|500||on|||||” text_text_color=”#25282A” text_font_size=”1.1em” link_font=”||||on|||#2f2f2f|” link_text_color=”#2f2f2f” background_color_gradient_direction=”90deg” max_width=”700px” module_alignment=”right” custom_margin=”||11px|||” custom_padding=”0px||5px||false|false” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#D7D2CB” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Roadrunner Alumni<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_text_color=”#862633″ header_font_size=”53px” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”47px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” max_width=”700px” module_alignment=”right” custom_margin=”||0px|||” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_2_font_size_tablet=”43px” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

From First Responder
to Future Clinician:<\/strong><\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”60px” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”47px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” max_width=”700px” module_alignment=”right” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” header_2_font_size_tablet=”43px” header_2_font_size_phone=”24px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Emily Nappi\u2019s \u201925 Journey of Advocacy and Resilience<\/strong><\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/03\/Emily-Nappis-Journey_adaptive-Mountainbiking-2.jpg” custom_css_main_element=”align-items: flex-end;” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_right” module_alignment=”left” min_height=”600px” min_height_tablet=”700px” min_height_phone=”600px” min_height_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” border_color_bottom=”#F3F3F1″ border_style_bottom=”dashed” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font_size=”15px” custom_css_main_element=”display: inline-block;” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

By Anastasia Bamberg\u00a0<\/span> |\u00a0 Spring 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][owl_social_share_button twitter=”off” pinterest=”off” email=”on” button_shape=”circle” show_label=”off” hover_animation=”rotate” alignment=”right” use_original_colors=”off” custom_color=”#F3F3F1″ custom_hover_color=”#D7D2CB” custom_text_color=”#862633″ custom_text_hover_color=”#711421″ spacing=”6px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||-10px|15px|false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” link_option_url_new_window=”on” custom_css_main_element=”display: inline-block;” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/owl_social_share_button][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

When Emily Nappi enrolled as a student at Ramapo College in fall 2017, she could not have imagined the journey she would take between that day and the day she graduated in May 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I first entered Ramapo, I walked through the Arch and when I completed my degree eight years later, I didn’t expect to be so different, to have grown so much in life as a person,\u201d Nappi said. \u201cI didn’t expect to participate in my Arching ceremony in a wheelchair after experiencing the life-changing event of working as a first responder during COVID. It all hit me at that moment, how different my life was from each Arching ceremony.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nappi\u2019s interest in health care began at a young age. When she started at Ramapo, she had been working in her hometown in Bergen County for several years as an EMT. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her dedication to helping others fueled her decision to take a break from college and work full time as a first responder.<\/p>\n

Nappi faced her own set of health care challenges and had to put her aspirations on hold because of mobility issues, which eventually required her to use a wheelchair. She returned to Ramapo in the adult Degree Completion Program in 2023 and graduated in 2025 with a degree in social science. She currently is enrolled in Rutgers School of Health Professions in the occupational therapy doctorate program. Nappi is a strong advocate of disability rights and has found adaptive sports to be a vital part of her rehabilitation.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Q&A Title section” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#F3F3F1″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2025\/02\/q-and-A-talking-bubbles-light.png” background_size=”custom” background_image_width=”5%” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1000px” module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” box_shadow_style=”preset4″ box_shadow_color=”#D7D2CB” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” max_width=”900px” custom_margin=”||2vw||false|false” custom_padding=”2vw|2vw|2vw|2vw|true|true” border_color_bottom=”#D7D2CB” border_style_bottom=”dotted” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#25282A” header_font_size=”62px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”40px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#25282A” header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font=”|800|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#313436″ header_5_font_size=”24px” header_5_line_height=”1.1em” header_6_font=”|700|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#25282A” header_6_font_size=”22px” custom_margin=”||0px|||” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_4_font_size_phone=”” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”” header_5_font_size_phone=”” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_orientation_tablet=”center” text_orientation_phone=”center” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Questions & Answers<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_text_color=”#25282A” header_font_size=”62px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”–et_global_body_font|700|on||||||” header_2_text_color=”#25282A” header_2_font_size=”33px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”40px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#25282A” header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font=”|800|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#313436″ header_5_font_size=”24px” header_5_line_height=”1.1em” header_6_font=”|700|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#25282A” header_6_font_size=”22px” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”25px” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_4_font_size_phone=”” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”” header_5_font_size_phone=”” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” text_orientation_tablet=”center” text_orientation_phone=”center” text_orientation_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

with Emily Nappi \u201925<\/h2>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2025\/02\/q-and-A-talking-bubbles.png” alt=”q&A talking bubbles” title_text=”q-and-A-talking-bubbles” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width_tablet=”35%” max_width_phone=”40%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” module_alignment=”center” height_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_margin=”-24px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”-24px||||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”-24px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Q&A Copy Section” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”custom” background_image_width=”4%” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”||63px||false|false” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”1vw||0vw||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”62px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#25282A” header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font=”|800|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#862633″ header_5_font_size=”24px” header_5_line_height=”1.1em” header_6_font=”|700|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#25282A” header_6_font_size=”22px” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”25px” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_4_font_size_phone=”” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”” header_5_font_size_phone=”” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Who at Ramapo had the greatest influence on you, and what did you learn from them?<\/h3>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”1vw||1vw||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”62px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#25282A” header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font=”|800|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#862633″ header_5_font_size=”24px” header_5_line_height=”1.1em” header_6_font=”|700|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#25282A” header_6_font_size=”22px” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”25px” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_4_font_size_phone=”” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”” header_5_font_size_phone=”” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Trish Laprey had the greatest influence on me. When I returned to Ramapo through the adult Degree Completion Program, I was scared and unsure. I was still weak and even struggled to push my own wheelchair on campus during those first few months. Trish sat down with me when I couldn’t even imagine what my life could look like. I truly didn’t see what my future was, but I knew Ramapo was my first step in rebuilding my professional life. She helped me discover occupational therapy as a path forward and ensured that I met my requirements. Trish watched me reclaim my identity as a health care worker and made sure I had what I needed along the way.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/03\/Emily-Nappis-Journey_and-Trish-Laprey-at-Ramapo-Commencement-2025.jpg” alt=”Nappi and Trish Laprey at Ramapo\u2019s 2025 Commencement ceremony.” title_text=”element-red-checker-circle-Asset 16@4x” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_image=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2025\/02\/element-red-checker-circle-Asset-16@4x.png” background_size=”custom” background_image_width=”100px” background_position=”top_right” border_radii=”on|800px|800px|800px|800px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”50px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto Slab||||||||” text_text_color=”#545658″ text_font_size=”14px” text_line_height=”1.4em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Nappi and Trish Laprey at Ramapo\u2019s 2025 Commencement ceremony.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Dash Divider” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#D7D2CB” divider_style=”dotted” divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” admin_label=”Dashed Divider” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”1vw||1vw||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”62px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#25282A” header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font=”|800|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#862633″ header_5_font_size=”24px” header_5_line_height=”1.1em” header_6_font=”|700|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#25282A” header_6_font_size=”22px” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”25px” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_4_font_size_phone=”” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”” header_5_font_size_phone=”” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

What skills that you learned at Ramapo do you still use today?<\/h3>\n

Ramapo taught me advocacy skills that I use every day. My professors taught me the history of disability rights, how I can attend college and navigate public spaces. They taught me how to ask for what I need and to stand up for myself as a person with a disability. Those skills I gained and the confidence to advocate for myself helped me develop as a clinician with a disability, apply those skills to working with people like me and help them build their lives back. Those skills are essential in my program, where I serve as the American Occupational Therapy Association representative for my cohort and continue to advocate accessible education. They also will be foundational in my future clinical work, especially as I pursue my goal of working in inpatient rehabilitation.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Dash Divider” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#D7D2CB” divider_style=”dotted” divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” admin_label=”Dashed Divider” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”1vw||1vw||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”62px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#25282A” header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font=”|800|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#862633″ header_5_font_size=”24px” header_5_line_height=”1.1em” header_6_font=”|700|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#25282A” header_6_font_size=”22px” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”25px” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_4_font_size_phone=”” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”” header_5_font_size_phone=”” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

What made you decide to pursue adaptive sports?<\/h3>\n

Growing up, I was always athletic. I was a ski racer, ballet dancer, ski instructor and eventually worked as a ski patroller. Adaptive sports became a crucial part of my rehabilitation. When I started adaptive sports, it felt like coming home. I had felt for a long time like I was just trying to survive rather than challenge myself, and even my doctors put me in a bubble, saying \u201cgentle swimming\u201d was the best way to preserve my function. The challenge of learning new skills and pushing myself to my limits gave me something to work toward during recovery. Eventually, adaptive sports felt less like \u00a0\u201crec therapy\u201d and more just like doing sports and I just happened to be disabled.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Dash Divider” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#D7D2CB” divider_style=”dotted” divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” admin_label=”Dashed Divider” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”1vw||1vw||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/03\/Emily-Nappi-and-Paralympic-Skier-Kelsey-ODriscoll-at-Vermont-Adaptive-Sugarbush-Vermont.jpg” alt=”Nappi with Paralympic skier Kelsey O\u2019Driscoll at Vermont Adaptive-Sugarbush Resort at Mt. Ellen.” title_text=”Emily-Nappi-and-Paralympic-Skier-Kelsey-O’Driscoll-at-Vermont-Adaptive-Sugarbush-Vermont” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|800px|800px|800px|800px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”50px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto Slab||||||||” text_text_color=”#545658″ text_font_size=”14px” text_line_height=”1.4em” max_width=”824px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Nappi with Paralympic skier Kelsey O\u2019Driscoll at Vermont Adaptive-Sugarbush Resort at Mt. Ellen.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”62px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#25282A” header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font=”|800|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#862633″ header_5_font_size=”24px” header_5_line_height=”1.1em” header_6_font=”|700|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#25282A” header_6_font_size=”22px” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”25px” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_4_font_size_phone=”” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”” header_5_font_size_phone=”” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

What are one or two accomplishments you are really proud of?<\/h3>\n

I\u2019m really proud to have returned to Ramapo after becoming disabled. It would have been easier to give up on higher education, but I chose to come back. I\u2019m also proud of accepting the support of my community. As someone who worked in emergency medical services and was used to being the helper, learning to receive help was its own kind of strength. Now I\u2019m proud to be pursuing my Occupational Therapy Doctorate at Rutgers School of Health Professions, where many faculty members have built their careers and continue to collaborate with Kessler Institute. Learning from the clinicians connected to one of the places that helped me rebuild my life feels like a full-circle moment.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Dash Divider” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#D7D2CB” divider_style=”dotted” divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” admin_label=”Dashed Divider” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”1vw||1vw||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”62px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#25282A” header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font=”|800|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#862633″ header_5_font_size=”24px” header_5_line_height=”1.1em” header_6_font=”|700|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#25282A” header_6_font_size=”22px” header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”25px” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_4_font_size_phone=”” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”” header_5_font_size_phone=”” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

What advice would you give to students or anyone looking to follow your path?<\/h3>\n

Sometimes the pivot you’re forced to make becomes the best thing that ever happened to you. When I had to leave EMS behind, I thought my health care career was over. Instead, I found occupational therapy, a field that lets me combine my clinical knowledge, my love of adaptive sports and my lived experience with disability. Don\u2019t be afraid to reimagine what your path could look like. The detour might lead somewhere better than you originally planned.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”Dash Divider” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_divider color=”#D7D2CB” divider_style=”dotted” divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” admin_label=”Dashed Divider” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”4″ admin_label=”Gallery” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#F3F3F1″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2024\/03\/element_checked-light-gray-circle-cut-offAsset-22@4x.png” background_size=”initial” background_position=”bottom_right” max_width=”924px” custom_padding=”2vw|2vw|2vw|2vw|true|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/03\/Emily-Nappi-at-Im-Able-Foundations-Got-The-Nerve-Triathlon.jpg” alt=”Emily Nappi at the IM ABLE Foundation\u2019s Got the Nerve? Triathlon.” title_text=”Emily-Nappi-at-I’m-Able-Foundation’s-Got-The-Nerve-Triathlon” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” border_radii=”on|800px|800px|800px|800px” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=”50px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto Slab||||||||” text_text_color=”#545658″ text_font_size=”14px” text_line_height=”1.4em” max_width=”824px” module_alignment=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Emily Nappi at the IM ABLE Foundation\u2019s Got the Nerve? Triathlon.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_testimonial author=”Emily Nappi \u201925 ” quote_icon_color=”#CBA052″ font_icon=”||divi||400″ use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”41px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_font=”Oswald||||||||” body_text_align=”center” body_text_color=”#711421″ body_font_size=”38px” author_text_align=”center” author_font_size=”24px” background_color=”rgba(255,255,255,0.77)” body_font_size_tablet=”38px” body_font_size_phone=”28px” body_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” author_font_size_tablet=”24px” author_font_size_phone=”20px” author_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

My work is about normalizing disabled health care providers and opening doors for my community.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_testimonial][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”824px” custom_padding=”1vw||1vw||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” header_font_size=”62px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_2_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_2_text_color=”#862633″ header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.1em” header_3_font=”–et_global_heading_font|800|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#862633″ header_3_font_size=”27px” header_3_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” header_4_text_color=”#25282A” header_4_font_size=”30px” header_4_line_height=”1.2em” header_5_font=”|800|||||||” header_5_text_color=”#862633″ header_5_font_size=”24px” header_5_line_height=”1.1em” header_6_font=”|700|||||||” header_6_text_color=”#25282A” header_6_font_size=”22px” hover_enabled=”0″ header_font_size_tablet=”50px” header_font_size_phone=”48px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”36px” header_2_font_size_phone=”” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”25px” header_3_font_size_phone=”” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”28px” header_4_font_size_phone=”” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”” header_5_font_size_phone=”” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Please tell me a bit more about your advocacy efforts. What have you done that has the most meaning to you?<\/h3>\n

My goal isn\u2019t to inspire able-bodied people simply because they see a disabled person existing. My advocacy is about visibility and representation of disabled people in health care. I want to be visible to other people with disabilities so they know this career path is possible for them, that they can be competent clinicians too. When clinicians reflect the populations they serve, it improves care. It\u2019s beneficial for our patients, for our health care system\u2019s outcomes, and for our lives and our possibilities as disabled people, as individuals and as a community. My work is about normalizing disabled health care providers and opening doors for my community.<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Back To Homepage Spring 2026″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_direction=”45deg” background_color_gradient_stops=”#f3f3f1 0%|#fcfffd 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#f3f3f1″ background_color_gradient_end=”#fcfffd” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” custom_padding=”0px||0px||false|false” top_divider_color=”#ffffff” top_divider_height=”86px” top_divider_arrangement=”above_content” top_divider_style_tablet=”” top_divider_style_phone=”” top_divider_style_last_edited=”on|phone” top_divider_height_tablet=”52px” top_divider_height_phone=”25px” top_divider_height_last_edited=”on|phone” border_color_all=”#2f2f2f” border_width_top=”1px” border_color_top=”#f3f3f1″ global_module=”8106″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” background_enable_color=”off” background_enable_image=”off” background_size=”initial” background_position=”center_left” z_index=”349″ max_width=”1024px” custom_padding=”15px||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Oswald|||on|||||” text_text_color=”#862633″ text_font_size=”24px” link_text_color=”#25282a” transform_scale_linked__hover=”off” transform_translate_linked__hover=”off” custom_margin=”6px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”21px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}” transform_styles__hover_enabled=”on|hover” transform_scale__hover_enabled=”on|hover” transform_translate__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” transform_rotate__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” transform_skew__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” transform_origin__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” transform_translate__hover=”-5px|0px” custom_css_after__hover_enabled=”on|hover” link_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|hover” link_text_color__hover=”#c41e1e”]<\/p>\n

\u2190<\/span><\/strong> Back to the Spring 2026 Magazine Homepage<\/a><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Adaptive athlete Emily Nappi \u201925 reflects on her atypical Ramapo journey and how it pushed her to where she is today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":457,"featured_media":8423,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spring2026"],"yoast_head":"\nEmily Nappi\u2019s Journey of Advocacy and Resilience - Ramapo College Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Emily Nappi\u2019s Journey of Advocacy and Resilience\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Adaptive athlete Emily Nappi \u201925 reflects on her atypical Ramapo journey and how it pushed her to where she is today.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Ramapo College Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RamapoCollege\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-16T13:19:31+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-16T19:24:05+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/04\/spring2026-From-First-Responder-to-Future-Clinician-Emily-Nappis-Journey-home.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"563\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Angela Moore\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@ramapocollegenj\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ramapocollegenj\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Angela Moore\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Angela Moore\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/b208b3d14e2bb60303b31edc03afc602\"},\"headline\":\"Emily Nappi\u2019s Journey of Advocacy and Resilience\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-16T13:19:31+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-16T19:24:05+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/\"},\"wordCount\":5312,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/04\/spring2026-From-First-Responder-to-Future-Clinician-Emily-Nappis-Journey-home.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Spring 2026\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/\",\"name\":\"Emily Nappi\u2019s Journey of Advocacy and Resilience - Ramapo College Magazine\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/04\/spring2026-From-First-Responder-to-Future-Clinician-Emily-Nappis-Journey-home.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-16T13:19:31+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-04-16T19:24:05+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/04\/spring2026-From-First-Responder-to-Future-Clinician-Emily-Nappis-Journey-home.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/04\/spring2026-From-First-Responder-to-Future-Clinician-Emily-Nappis-Journey-home.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":563,\"caption\":\"Emily Nappi\u2019s \u201925 wearing a helmet and sunglasses rides an adaptive mountain bike along a forest trail, surrounded by green foliage, with several other cyclists following behind.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Ramapo College of New Jersey Home Page\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Emily Nappi\u2019s Journey of Advocacy and Resilience\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/\",\"name\":\"Ramapo College Magazine\",\"description\":\"Ramapo College's Digital Alumni Magazine\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Ramapo College of New Jersey\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"\",\"contentUrl\":\"\",\"caption\":\"Ramapo College of New Jersey\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RamapoCollege\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/ramapocollegenj\",\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/ramapocollegenj\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/edu\/school?id=18868\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/ramapocollege\/\",\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/ramapocollege\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/b208b3d14e2bb60303b31edc03afc602\",\"name\":\"Angela Moore\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/325d2cb10558fd4d80aea25f1f894b4ae1d97a826539e317a1020d741e0150b8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/325d2cb10558fd4d80aea25f1f894b4ae1d97a826539e317a1020d741e0150b8?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Angela Moore\"},\"jobTitle\":\"Web & Digital Designer\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/author\/angela\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Emily Nappi\u2019s Journey of Advocacy and Resilience - Ramapo College Magazine","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Emily Nappi\u2019s Journey of Advocacy and Resilience","og_description":"Adaptive athlete Emily Nappi \u201925 reflects on her atypical Ramapo journey and how it pushed her to where she is today.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/","og_site_name":"Ramapo College Magazine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RamapoCollege","article_published_time":"2026-04-16T13:19:31+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-16T19:24:05+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":563,"url":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/04\/spring2026-From-First-Responder-to-Future-Clinician-Emily-Nappis-Journey-home.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Angela Moore","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@ramapocollegenj","twitter_site":"@ramapocollegenj","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Angela Moore","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/"},"author":{"name":"Angela Moore","@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/b208b3d14e2bb60303b31edc03afc602"},"headline":"Emily Nappi\u2019s Journey of Advocacy and Resilience","datePublished":"2026-04-16T13:19:31+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-16T19:24:05+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/"},"wordCount":5312,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/04\/spring2026-From-First-Responder-to-Future-Clinician-Emily-Nappis-Journey-home.jpg","articleSection":["Spring 2026"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/","name":"Emily Nappi\u2019s Journey of Advocacy and Resilience - Ramapo College Magazine","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/04\/spring2026-From-First-Responder-to-Future-Clinician-Emily-Nappis-Journey-home.jpg","datePublished":"2026-04-16T13:19:31+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-16T19:24:05+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/04\/spring2026-From-First-Responder-to-Future-Clinician-Emily-Nappis-Journey-home.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/343\/2026\/04\/spring2026-From-First-Responder-to-Future-Clinician-Emily-Nappis-Journey-home.jpg","width":1000,"height":563,"caption":"Emily Nappi\u2019s \u201925 wearing a helmet and sunglasses rides an adaptive mountain bike along a forest trail, surrounded by green foliage, with several other cyclists following behind."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/spring2026\/emily-nappis-journey-of-advocacy-and-resilience\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Ramapo College of New Jersey Home Page","item":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Emily Nappi\u2019s Journey of Advocacy and Resilience"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/","name":"Ramapo College Magazine","description":"Ramapo College's Digital Alumni Magazine","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#organization","name":"Ramapo College of New Jersey","url":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"","contentUrl":"","caption":"Ramapo College of New Jersey"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RamapoCollege","https:\/\/x.com\/ramapocollegenj","https:\/\/instagram.com\/ramapocollegenj\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/edu\/school?id=18868","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/ramapocollege\/","http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/ramapocollege"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/b208b3d14e2bb60303b31edc03afc602","name":"Angela Moore","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/325d2cb10558fd4d80aea25f1f894b4ae1d97a826539e317a1020d741e0150b8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/325d2cb10558fd4d80aea25f1f894b4ae1d97a826539e317a1020d741e0150b8?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Angela Moore"},"jobTitle":"Web & Digital Designer","url":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/author\/angela\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/457"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8346"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8581,"href":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8346\/revisions\/8581"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8423"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ramapo.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}