Formerly the Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Education, OPEN is the office within Student Affairs that provides education, programming, assessment and referral services for Northeastern students surrounding substance use. OPEN provides supportive, confidential, and non-judgmental services; we encourage students to make informed decisions about alcohol and other drug use and strive to reduce harm that can be associated with substance abuse such as poor academic performance, violence, health implications, high-risk sexual behavior, and addiction.
OPEN is responsible for continued programming, prevention and campus-wide initiatives around alcohol and other drugs, and the coordination and sponsorship of activities such as Alcohol Week.
Students are encouraged to stop by anytime for information or to schedule an appointment to speak with a staff person.
Director
Amaura Kemmerer, LICSW
Amaura is a clinical social worker and has been working at Northeastern as the Assistant Project Director of the OnTap Research Study since 2005. OnTap was funded by a federal grant to test innovative approaches to college alcohol abuse. At OnTap, Amaura worked individually with many NU students to encourage healthy decision-making around alcohol and drugs. Prior to working at NU, Amaura worked at an employee assistance program, providing corporate counseling and account management. Amaura has experience in a variety of settings including hospitals, schools, community centers, and outpatient clinics.
Assistant Director
Molly M. Smith, LICSW
Molly is also clinical social worker who has been working at Northeastern University since 2006. Prior to joining OPEN, Molly was the Assistant Director of Student Services for the College of Engineering here at NU. Within this role, Molly's work focused primarily around First Year Student support and programing. At OPEN, Molly works individually with students and the NU community at large to promote supportive, non-judgmental substance abuse education with the goal of enabling students to make safe and informed decisions. Molly also has experience working in a variety of academic settings, nonprofit organizations, and community service groups.
Thomas Morgan
2011-2012 MSW Interns
Michelle Mandino, Anne Grossman, Daniel Hogan
Student Feedback:
"My experience at OPEN was nothing like how I expected it to be. When I was first referred to the meetings by OSCCR, I figured it was just another one of those robotic lectures about drinking and its consequences that students go to but don't actually listen...but as [staff] began talking about the purpose of OPEN and how it was completely confidential, I felt more relaxed...The meeting was partly about teaching students about binge drinking, but it gave me the chance start thinking about my own behaviors while drinking...[and I learned] that the point of OPEN is to help one realize his/her limit when drinking, while still having fun."
-Student who completed a 'check-in'