May 8, 2026
After surviving a national tragedy in Lebanon, graduating senior Tia Atieh finds her purpose and a ‘second home’ at Montclair State University
Posted in: Admissions, Alumni, College for Community Health, Graduate School, Homepage News
After surviving the 2020 Beirut port explosion and navigating a life-changing move to the U.S., graduating senior Tia Attieh finds peace at Montclair and the outdoors. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)
Tia Atieh knows exactly what it feels like for a world to be turned upside down. On August 4, 2020, she was at her home in Lebanon, listening to Miley Cyrus while getting ready for a night out with friends. When she heard the first “boom,” she paused. Moments later, the second blast—an aftershock from the 2,750 tons of ammonium nitrate that ignited at the Port of Beirut—propelled her through the air from her bathroom into the living room.
“It all blacked out. All I heard was glass shattering and people screaming,” she recalls. “My mom gathered us in one room as far from glass as possible because we thought we were getting bombed.”
While Atieh and her family survived the 3.3 magnitude seismic event, the blast was the “last straw” for a family living through a growing economic crisis and escalating threats of violence. For Atieh, the journey from that blast in Beirut to the Commencement stage at Montclair State University is a tale of profound resilience and a search for a “home” that feels safe.
The Persistence to Finish
The transition to the United States wasn’t immediate or easy. Even after her family received immigration approval—thanks to a process started by her grandfather, a U.S. citizen since 2004—Atieh struggled with the move. In what she calls “denial” about what was happening in her home country, she insisted on returning to Lebanon to live with her grandmother so she could complete her first degree in sports science. “I was very persistent. I really wanted to finish what I started there.”
While her family watched her first graduation via a YouTube stream from New Jersey, Atieh was already looking toward the next chapter. She moved to the U.S. permanently just one day after her ceremony in July, carrying with her a desire to help others but unsure of how to navigate the American educational system.
“Coming to the USA and choosing Montclair as my school was just life changing. I’m happy to be here. Sometimes, I can’t believe it’s real.” ~ Tia Atieh, MPH ’26
A Sign in University Hall
Atieh describes her early days at Montclair as navigating a “maze.” She was overwhelmed and hesitant to have her international credits evaluated, fearing her past hard work wouldn’t translate. She found the sports science curriculum to be quite different from her studies. However, a chance encounter in University Hall changed everything.
While waiting to speak with an advisor, she noticed the nameplate for the Assistant Dean for Student Success at the College for Community Health (CCHL): Hanan Atiyat. Seeing a variation of her own surname on the door felt like a cosmic green light. “I was like, ‘Okay, it’s meant for us to be here,’” Atieh says.
After some discussion, Atiyat learned that Atieh had loved tutoring children with learning disabilities in Lebanon.
Atiyat suggested Atieh review the Family Science and Human Development major. It proved to be the perfect bridge between her previous background and her goals. “This is all I ever wanted,” she recalls thinking. She also discovered social work and felt “this is where I’m supposed to be.”
Atiyat assured Atieh that she and other colleagues would help her reach the finish line as quickly as possible.
“Once Tia found a home in Family Science and Human Development, she transformed disruption into renewed purpose,” Atiyat says. “Tia is a true inspiration. I have no doubt she will continue to make a meaningful impact as both a Montclair alumna and a compassionate global citizen.”
Helping the “Future Change Agents”
Atieh’s passion earned her a spot as an inaugural CCHL Ambassador, where she shares her experience with prospective students. Her work didn’t go unnoticed; She was recently named one of the university’s Outstanding Student Employee award winners, selected from over 100 nominees across the campus.
As part of her role, she gives tours of CCHL and speaks highly about her major: “I always tell prospective students, ‘Imagine how welcoming, empathetic and understanding they’re going to be when they’re talking to you, a future change agent.”
Tia Atieh found a home at Montclair’s College for Community Health for which she is now an ambassador and award-winning student employee.(Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)
A New Horizon
Today, Atieh finds peace in the nature of New Jersey—running trails, kayaking and fishing. She recently completed her first half-marathon, a physical manifestation of her endurance.
As she prepares to enter Montclair’s Master of Social Work program this fall, Atieh is no longer in denial. She is a survivor who has found her voice, nature and immense gratitude.
“I never imagined getting out of those dark places in my head and overcoming all of this,” she says. “I feel more grateful. I’m building a better life for my family and my future family and I’m going to try to help my family back home as much as I can.”
On Monday, Atieh ’s family won’t have to watch her graduate on a screen as she completes her BA in Family Science and Human Development. They will be in the stands, cheering for the eldest daughter who crossed an ocean—and survived a blast—to find her way home.
This story is part of a series celebrating Montclair State University’s graduates – students who embody the University’s mission to broaden access to exceptional learning opportunities and contribute to the common good.
