February 12, 2026

by Lauren Ferguson

When Kirara Fried ‘25 ‘26 thinks back over her time at Ramapo College of New Jersey, one word comes to mind: Community.

“It’s very close-knit. Everybody knows each other. Community. That’s the first word I think of,” said Fried, who earned her Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) in 2025 and is on track to obtain her Master of Social Work (MSW) this year.

“Not just in social work, but in general, it is a very positive atmosphere,” said Fried, of Montville, NJ.

During her time at Ramapo, Fried has taken it upon herself to contribute to the positive atmosphere. She has become an advocate for mental health, planning wellness and stress-reduction events, and has immersed herself in a pair of on-campus internships to help students adjust to and thrive in college life.

Interning On-Campus

Fried is a trainee in Ramapo’s Psychology Predoctoral Internship Program, within the Center for Health and Counseling Services. In her role, she serves as a counselor and offers clients one-on-one therapy sessions, mental and emotional support.

She also interns as a peer mentor for ENHANCE, a therapeutic support program to assist students with Autism Spectrum Disorder in transitioning to and flourishing in college and beyond. The program takes a holistic approach and focuses on social, emotional and organizational growth.

As a peer mentor for ENHANCE, Kirara Fried ’26, right, helps students with Autism Spectrum Disorder acclimate to college life.

As a peer mentor, she does everything from helping to plan social events to assisting students in putting assignments in their planners so they know what is due that week. She also meets with ENHANCE students individually to help them foster a social connection, get acclimated to college life, and find clubs and activities of interest.

“It’s a special role,” she said of her position at ENHANCE, which she held as an undergraduate as well. “Seeing them grow before my eyes, each time I meet with them … being a part of their blossoming. It’s so cool that I get to nurture that,” she said.

On-campus internships like Fried’s can be beneficial to students while they explore potential career paths. They offer convenient, hands-on professional experience that accommodates students’ busy schedules, without ever having to leave campus. During internships, students can apply classroom theories to real-world projects and gain practical experience, all while being mentored by faculty or staff.

Kirara Fried ’26, right, speaks with Michael Pino, associate director of counseling services at Ramapo. Pino supervises interns in the Psychology Predoctoral Internship Program on campus.

Choosing Ramapo

Fried seized the opportunity to attend Ramapo because of its well-respected social work program – that would allow her to earn her BSW, then seamlessly her MSW, all in just five years. And also, because of the financial package that Ramapo offered to her. Fried received a full scholarship.

“Other schools offered me a scholarship, but it wasn’t full, so why wouldn’t I take this opportunity?” said Fried, of Montville, NJ.

In her years at Ramapo, she has become accustomed to the benefits of being a Roadrunner, such as small class sizes that allow for a personalized experience and for professors and students to get to know each other.

“They’re really there for you. They want you to succeed, and I felt that from each professor,” she said.

“Professor Inzani, she’s not just a field coordinator. She’s not just someone in the social work department. She cares for you on a level that surpasses her role at this school. She is amazing,” Fried said of Practicum Coordinator Melinda Inzani. “She checks in on you, on your classes, your internship, even just how you’re doing mentally that day. Just having that support system made me feel like I can do it.”

Fried has also become accustomed to spending every day immersed in the natural beauty of the Ramapo Mountains.

“When I walk to class, there will be a deer that accompanies me, or a groundhog, just constant wildlife,” she said. “When I am in class, sometimes I will just peek over and I’ll see the mountains, and it’s just so pretty.”

Ramapo College’s picturesque campus is nestled in the natural beauty of the Ramapo Mountains.

With graduation on the horizon, Fried is thinking about what she will do next. She said her experiences at Ramapo, and as an intern for ENHANCE, have helped to shape her ambitions.

She is now strongly considering becoming a social worker for children with special needs.

“Learning about what neurodiversity is, it inspired me to want to continue that,” she said.

But no matter where she goes next, she has one goal in mind: “As long as I am helping people, at the end of the day, that is what matters most to me,” she said.

For more information about the BSW and MSW programs at Ramapo, visit the college’s social work webpage.