Excellence in Public Service, 2023
College of Health and Human Services
Kerry Nolte is a board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in community health and substance use treatment and has dedicated her career to advancing the health of and healthcare access for people involved in substance use and recovery. In New Hampshire, a state grappling with a high rate of opioid-related deaths, Nolte has dedicated her career to addressing this crisis.
Nolte co-founded the New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition in 2017, an initiative dedicated to addressing the needs of people who use substances. Under her guidance, New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition has provided vital services such as needle exchange programs and a mobile overdose prevention van, actively combating drug-related harms across New Hampshire. She has extended her commitment by mentoring UNH students, guiding them in service projects to reduce stigma and increase compassion.
Beyond community level action, Nolte’s impact extends to state and national levels. She has advocated for legislation supporting syringe services programs and has supported all eight operating programs in New Hampshire. Her expertise and service have garnered national recognition, with invitations to contribute to the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS Directors’ CDC-funded Syringe Services Program best practices advisory committee. Her contributions directly influenced the guidelines published by the CDC in 2020.
About this Award
This award recognizes and honors exceptional achievements in the area of public service. Individuals who receive this award have engaged in outstanding service activities that are dependent on their academic expertise and that support the mission of the university. The types of activities to be honored should be related to a candidate's academic field and may include exceptional service to local, state or federal governments, to non-profit organizations or agencies, to business or industry, and to the university. UNH benefits-eligible faculty members are eligible, except those who have received this award within the last five years.
