Watch: Women’s History Month Panel

Nonotuck Resource Associates, Inc. was honored to recently highlight the accomplishments of two of our employees in celebration of Women’s History Month. Placement Specialist Suzanne (“Sue”) Robichaud and Clinician Serah Muiruri delighted Nonotuck staff with stories about their career journeys, challenges faced as women in the workforce, and the importance of self-care, mentorship, and resilience. Both speakers emphasized the transformative power of relationships in their work, particularly within shared living models. 

Serah and Sue both talked extensively about their professional journeys as women, focusing on career inspiration, overcoming challenges, leadership development, work-life balance, and mentorship. 

Serah, who is a shared living provider as well as a three-times published author, spoke about how the experience profoundly influenced her career. ”It keeps things in perspective—it’s a real microcosm of what I do as a Clinician and what I did as a Care Manager. It gives me humility and empathy when I work with others in the same role because I understand the day-to-day challenges they face,” she says.  “It’s also helped me advocate more thoughtfully—not just for the person I live with and support, but for other providers too. These dual experiences feed into each other. At the end of the day, we’re all trying to do our best, and I’ve learned that empathy, balance, and perspective are everything in making this work sustainable and meaningful.”

Sue, who is slated to retire after more than twenty years at Nonotuck this spring, talked about the satisfaction of doing seemingly impossible tasks as a Placement Specialist, facilitating shared living arrangements for people in need.  “I think what I’m most proud of are the matches that seemed impossible at first—the people who came to us in crisis, with long histories of instability or unmet needs, and somehow, together, we made it work. It wasn’t just me—it was the whole team,” she says.  “But I look at the list of all the providers and people I helped bring together, and I think, ‘We pulled that off.’ And that makes me proud. It’s about being open-minded, moving slowly when we can, and never saying no right away. You just never know when a placement is going to become something beautiful.”

“Listening to Serah and Sue speak reminded me why Nonotuck is such a special place,” said Nonotuck CEO and President George H. Fleischner. “Their stories were deeply personal, full of heart, and grounded in the kind of wisdom that only comes from doing the work with love and integrity over many years. They reminded all of us that our relationships—with the people we support, with each other—are at the center of everything we do. That’s what makes our work meaningful, and that’s what makes it last.”

About the Presenters

Serah Muiruri (Clinician, Auburn)

Serah Muiruri brings a wealth of experience to Nonotuck, having worked in the human services field since the early 1990s. She began her career as a direct care professional and has since held various roles across Massachusetts, working with people with developmental disabilities and dual diagnoses. Serah earned a double major in psychology and health sciences from Worcester State College in 1996, followed by a master’s in rehabilitation counseling from Springfield College in 1998. She is a certified rehabilitation counselor/clinician and has extensive knowledge of both institutional and community-based services. As a longtime advocate and shared living provider, Serah’s passion lies in person-centered treatment and fostering meaningful connections. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, hiking, traveling, and volunteering in the community.

Serah is a published author, and is in the process of earning her PhD in Behavioral Health.

Suzanne “Sue” Robichaud (Placement Specialist, Auburn)

Suzanne Robichaud has devoted her career to shared living services and believes deeply in the power of well-matched supports. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social and rehabilitation services (1981) and a master’s in rehabilitation counseling (1982) from Assumption College. Throughout her career, Sue has championed the shared living model, finding joy in seeing how people thrive in their new homes. Beyond her professional life, she enjoys reading, cooking, spending time with family and friends, and running (though she jokes that she enjoys the feeling after more than the activity itself!).