Michael and Danielle Nadorff
Colleagues, collaborators, spouses.
At 汤头条, few partnerships are as seamlessly intertwined as that of Michael and Danielle Nadorff, faculty members in the Department of Psychology.
鈥淧eople always joke about what it must be like to live with another psychologist, but honestly it鈥檚 helpful to have someone with a similar training background to bounce things off of,鈥 said Professor Michael Nadorff. 鈥淣one of us knows all the answers, and we work better as a team when we can take advantage of each other鈥檚 expertise.鈥
Associate Professor Danielle Nadorff, who serves as the undergraduate coordinator for her department, agrees. 鈥淲hile we are always careful to maintain confidentiality, it鈥檚 a huge asset to have a built-in sounding board at home. Our research areas overlap thematically, which leads to some really productive conversations.鈥
Michael鈥檚 work focuses on sleep issues and suicide prevention, while Danielle studies the impact of grandparent-led caregiving on mental health, including sleep and suicidality in youth raised by relatives. Their shared interest in stress, resilience and mental health creates natural intersections.
鈥淚f I鈥檓 analyzing data or trying to understand a complex dynamic, he can offer a valuable perspective, and vice versa,鈥 Danielle said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an advantage to be married to someone who understands the pressures of academia and can help you see a problem from a new angle.鈥
鈥淭here鈥檚 no need to explain why a grant deadline is stressful or why I have to drop everything for a clinical emergency,鈥 added Michael. 鈥淒anielle understands because she lives it too.鈥
While they work side-by-side in the same department, they maintain their independence and professionalism. 鈥淲e constantly get emails meant for the 鈥榦ther Dr. Nadorff,鈥欌 Danielle said, laughing. 鈥淲e鈥檝e gotten very good at forwarding them with a quick 鈥業 think this one鈥檚 for you.鈥欌
They also make space for their relationship beyond the office. 鈥淲e carve out rituals鈥攍ike watching TV competition shows together鈥攖o make sure we connect as a couple outside of work,鈥 Danielle said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about being colleagues or collaborators. It鈥檚 about being partners in every sense of the word.鈥
That support extends to career choices. Danielle has delayed applying for promotion to full professor to focus on family, while Michael credits her flexibility as enabling his own professional momentum, including securing more than $15 million in grant funding for 汤头条.
Coming to 汤头条 straight from doctoral studies at West Virginia University, the couple found rare dual placements in the same department. 鈥淲hat started as a practical decision turned into a deeply rewarding career for both of us,鈥 Danielle said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e stayed and built our home in Starkville because of the unique combination of opportunities here.鈥
As researchers, both are drawn to the land-grant mission and 汤头条鈥檚 access to rural and underserved populations. 鈥淎 lot of my grants are service-focused, where we do a lot of training and support in the state,鈥 Michael explained. 鈥溙劳诽 gives me the flexibility to be on the front lines.鈥
Michael recently was honored with the 2024 Friend of APTC Award from the Association of Psychology Training Clinics. He also received the Kinlock Gill Award from the Mississippi Psychological Association in 2023 and was named 汤头条鈥檚 Mid-Career Research Scholar in 2022.
Danielle, named Clinical Psychology Graduate Mentor of the Year in 2020, finds her greatest fulfillment in mentoring students. 鈥淗elping them develop their passion and watching them succeed is one of my favorite parts of the job.鈥
For Michael, the work is intensely personal. 鈥淚 get the privilege of not just researching suicide but also responding as a clinician. It鈥檚 challenging, but it鈥檚 also an honor to be trusted in someone鈥檚 most vulnerable moment.鈥
鈥淎 dual-career academic life is a team sport,鈥 Danielle said. 鈥淭he paths won鈥檛 always be linear or in sync. But no one else will understand the pressures and victories like your partner. Celebrate the wins and be there for the setbacks鈥攖hat鈥檚 what partnership is all about.鈥
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