Building a More Connected World: The Launch of Interdisciplinary Hub Dedicated to Advancing the Science and Sacredness of Human Connection

When Widian Nicola, DSW, LCSW began teaching social work at Seton Hall University, she noticed a growing tension in the classroom: her students were learning the theories, models and interventions of the profession, yet still wondering how to bridge what they were studying with the complexities of the world they were entering.

“They were learning how to think critically and work ethically,” she recalls, “but what they wanted most was to understand how to bring that knowledge to life, how to meet human suffering with presence and how to love people well in practice from clinical practice to policy, not just in principle.”

That realization became the spark for the CARE Center, a first-of-its-kind interdisciplinary hub dedicated to advancing the science and sacredness of human connection. Rooted in both rigorous research, practice and lived wisdom, CARE (Connection, Attachment, Relationships, & Emotion) explores how love, in its many forms, can heal individuals, strengthen relationships and transform society.

The Vision Behind CARE

Nicola, a professor, couples therapist and researcher, has spent more than two decades studying what she calls “the relational heart of human life.” Through her clinical work with couples, her academic teaching and her forthcoming book on modern love and relationships, she has seen firsthand how the quality of our relationships shapes not only our mental health, but also our capacity for justice, empathy and peace.

“Love isn’t just an emotion,” she says. “It’s a biological, psychological and spiritual practice that determines how societies function. If we want equity, healing and justice, we have to start by changing how we love.”

CARE was born out of that conviction. It serves as both a research and learning community, what Nicola describes as a “heart-centered laboratory.” At its core, CARE is guided by three pillars: Healing, Justice and Peace, which shape every initiative, seminar and research project. Each pillar represents a commitment to understanding relationships not only as interpersonal dynamics, but as mirrors of broader cultural and systemic realities.

“Every act of care,” Nicola explains, “ripples outward. Healing at the individual level makes justice possible. Justice, when embodied, leads to peace. And peace, in turn, sustains connection. That’s the relational revolution we’re building.”

Introducing the CARE Student Fellowships: Research in Action

To inaugurate this vision, CARE has launched the CARE Student Fellowships Program, a pioneering opportunity for students to bridge academic learning with real-world impact.

The CARE Student Fellowships is designed for emerging leaders who want to bring relational research and practice to life. Fellows receive advanced training in relational health and mentorship from faculty. The fellowships, Dr. Nicola explains, is about cultivating “relational development,” the ability to understand and navigate the emotional, social, and ethical dimensions of human life. “In a world of increasing polarization, relational development might be the most important leadership skill of our time.”

Expanding Research, Reach and Impact

As part of its broader mission, the CARE also plans to pursue grant funding and research partnerships to sustain and expand its work. These grants will allow CARE to deepen its scientific inquiry into relational health, fund student-led projects and support interdisciplinary collaborations across universities and community organizations. A cornerstone of these efforts will be the Annual CARE Conference, envisioned as a flagship gathering of scholars, clinicians, students and community leaders.

Beyond the fellowships, CARE will host seminars, research groups and interdisciplinary collaborations focused on what Dr. Nicola calls “the anatomy of connection.” Through this integrated approach, CARE aims to position Seton Hall as a national leader in relational science, social work innovation and the integration of heart-based wisdom with evidence-based practice.

“Love doesn’t just transform relationships,” Nicola says. “It transforms societies.”

To learn more or to get involved, visit carecenterandacademy.com.

Categories: Science and Technology