Nicole Kras, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Human Services (City University of New York)

Nicole Kras, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Human Services at Guttman Community College (CUNY). She holds a Ph.D. in Adult Learning and Development from Lesley University, a Master of Science in Education, and a Sixth-Year Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study as a Classroom Teacher Specialist from Southern Connecticut State University. Dr. Kras received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a concentration in child development and mental health, and a Master of Arts in Art Therapy from Albertus Magnus College. Her research focuses on human services program design, nature-based learning in higher education, and the influence of nature on human development. Dr. Kras previously served on the New England Organization for Human Services Executive Board for several years (former President). She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the National Organization for Human (NOHS), the Board of Directors for the Council for Standards in Human Services Education (CSHSE), and the Editorial Board for the Journal of Human Services.

Publications

Kras, N., Martin, T., Bahl, T., & Tesser, D. (2025). Incorporating nature-based learning experiences across disciplines: Inspirations from urban community college faculty. Change. 57, (1),20-27.

Kras, N. (2024). A model for embedding nature-based learning across disciplines: A pilot study at an urban community college. The Community College Enterprise. 1-22 https://bbaddins.schoolcraft.edu/addins/cce/30.1.11-23.pdf.

Kras, N., & Keenan, J. (2024). Insights on Island Living: Piloting participant-produced photographs. Journal of Ecopsychology, 4, 5, 1-11.

Kras, N., & Keenan, J. (2023). The current role of remote human services internships: A follow-up study. Journal of Human Services, 42, (2). https://doi.org/10.52678/001c.91221

Kras, N. & Keenan, J. (2023). Island blue spaces: A deeper exploration. Journal of Marine and Island Cultures, 12, (2).https://jmic.online/issues/v12n2/1/

Pai, G., Corby, J., Kras, N., Podlucká, D., & Yamamura, M. (2023). The dialectic transformation of teaching and learning in community colleges through ungrading. Zeal, 1, (2) 117-126.

Kras, N., & Keenan, J. (2023). The influence of nature on well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: Views from New England Island residents. Island Studies Journal, 18 (2).

Kras, N. & Keenan, J. (2022) Human services remote internships: What have we learned and where we are headed. Journal of Human Services, 41, (1) 106-118.

Spector, A. & Kras, N. (2022). Supportive strategies for community college human services online internships: A case study of Guttman Community College’s remote binary model. Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice, 8, (1), Article 2.

Kras, N.(2022). Nature-based learning at an urban community college: A case study at the Central Park Zoo. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 46, (6),452-456, doi:10.1080/10668926.2021.1931557.

Kras, N. (2021) Reflecting on professional identity through art: A case example. Journal of Human Services, 40, (1), 136-138,doi: 10.52678/2021.10

Kras, N., & Keenan, J. (2021). How New England Island Residents view the influence of the natural environment in their lives. Ecopsychology, 13, (1), 55-63, doi:10.1089/eco.2020.0029

Kras, N. (2021). Exploring the benefits of ecotherapy-based activities at an urban community college. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 45, (2), 117-123, doi: 10.1080/10668926.2019.1647902

Kras, N. (2016). Creating an interdisciplinary human services program. Journal of Human Services, 36, (1), 73-74.