Changemaker Chat

Kevin Graham '10, ‘12G, Ph.D., Changemaker in Diversity in Technology

Dr. Beth Paul, president of Nazareth University, chats with Dr. Kevin Graham, a member of Nazareth's undergraduate class of 2010 and graduate class of 2012, an inspiring change maker and proponent of diversity in the technology field.

Since October 2024, Kevin has served as Executive Director of the Engineering Pathway Program for Community College Students, a partnership between the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering and Cal State Polytechnic University, Pomona to improve educational outcomes for community college students in engineering. Prior to this role, Kevin was the director of Breakthrough Tech AI at UCLA, helping underrepresented groups in technology gain the skills needed to get jobs in the fastest growing areas of tech data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

In 2024, Nazareth hosted Kevin as a featured speaker at a landmark Nazareth Summit entitled "Responsible AI: What's Next in AI Leadership Innovation?" The event was part of Nazareth's centennial celebration, and it was sponsored by Nazareth's Institute for Responsible Technology and the School of Business and Leadership. The summit, and Kevin's remarks, explored the relationship between artificial intelligence advancements and ethical leadership.

Norma Kanarek '74, Changemaker in Research

Nazareth University president Dr. Beth Paul welcomes Norma Fox Kanarek, PhD, a member of Nazareth’s class of 1974 and an inspiring changemaker. Their conversation dives into the details of Norma’s amazing career — which started in Rochester at Highland Family Medicine — as an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland. Her research focused on the health of populations, patient participation in clinical trials, the use of preventive health services, and cancer etiology, i.e., the study of the causes of cancer. Norma’s work has been at the interface of cancer research and public health practice with an emphasis on connecting basic science findings and cancer prevention and control research, and linking internal investigators to enhance cross-disciplinary research.

Norma’s public health career included studying cancer rates and racial disparities, leading the State of Maryland’s cancer surveillance work, and advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She originated the first community health status report for all U.S. counties while at the Public Health Foundation. And she recently retired from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health after 23 years of service, concluding an incredible career as an advocate for cancer prevention and screening for early detection.

This past September, Nazareth was pleased to honor Norma in 2024 with an Outstanding Alumni Award during Naz Weekend.

Nick Cicero ’09 Changemaker in Social Media

^{Nick Cicero '09 is a social media entrepreneur, who — after starting college at Nazareth as a trumpet-playing music major – was intrigued by the spread of Facebook, Twitter, other social media platforms, and followed his instincts to pursue a career in internet technology and business.}

^{Nick’s life's work has focused on building social publishing and analytics tools for publishers and media companies, eventually founding, developing and leading social media analytics company Delmondo, which was later bought by Conviva.} 

^{Nick has 20 years of experience in advancing the social media, digital marketing, and streaming video industries, with a track record of innovation and leadership. He has been at the forefront of many tech firsts, such as creating the first enterprise analytics solutions for Snapchat, Instagram Stories, Facebook Live, and TikTok, co-producing the first Snapchat branded series with Marriott Rewards, and working with Oprah Winfrey to launch the first Instagram video on TV.} 

^{Today, Nick works as an advisor, consultant, professor, and investor. He has made hundreds of presentations at major industry events like Vidcon, SXSW (South by Southwest), SportsPro, Social Fresh, and Social Media Marketing World. He serves as an advisor and mentor to early-stage startups and educates future leaders as a faculty member at the esteemed S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.}

 

Neal Powless '98, Changemaker in Athletics

As part of its ongoing Centennial Changemaker Chat podcast, Dr. Beth Paul has a conversation with Neal Powless '98, a former member of the Nazareth lacrosse team and three-time All-American, and an inspiring changemaker who has helped bridge Native American ideals and culture all over the world.

Neal Powless '98 led the Nazareth team to the 1996 Division III National Championship. He later enjoyed a successful professional lacrosse career including a National Lacrosse League Championship in 1997 with the Rochester Knighthawks. He was inducted into the Nazareth Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. A member of the Onondaga Nation Eel Clan, Powless has taught courses and presented across the country regarding Indigenous culture and value systems. He has been involved with several film projects, including Crooked Arrows and the Emmy-nominated The Game of Life: Heart and Spirit of the Onondaga, which explores the significance of lacrosse to the people of the Onondaga Nation.

 

Alicia Borrachero '90, Acting Changemaker

In this episode of Changemaker Chat, Nazareth University President Beth Paul, Ph.D. welcomes Alicia Borrachero '90, a graduate of Nazareth's theater arts program. Borrachero is an accomplished actor whose career in Europe has made her a household name there for many —  most notably for nine seasons starring in the hit Spanish television series Periodistas and the Starz historical drama, The Spanish Princess, among many other roles. During this Changemaker Chat, Borrachero discusses her passion for acting, the story of how a young woman from Madrid ended up studying at Nazareth, and the significant impact the performing arts can have on a rapidly changing world.  

Jeff Van Gundy '85, Changemaker in Sports and Television

Changemaker Chat is a special podcast series honoring Nazareth University's Centennial Celebration, featuring engaging conversations with notable individuals who've changed — and continue to change — their industry, their community, and the world for the better, inspired by their personal connection to Nazareth.

In this episode of Changemaker Chat, Nazareth University President Beth Paul, Ph.D., welcomes former Nazareth basketball standout and Sports Hall of Fame member Jeff Van Gundy '85. Van Gundy discusses his deep appreciation for -- and continued connection with -- Nazareth, and how it prepared him for the ups and downs of an incredible life journey that's included a Nazareth Sports Hall of Fame playing career on the hardwood of Kidera Gymnasium, coaching the New York Knicks in Madison Square Garden, broadcasting 17 NBA Finals for ESPN , and working in team management with the Boston Celtics.

Nazareth's Centennial Celebration is presented by Wellington Steele & Associates and the Leva Family.

John Drain '83, Media Changemaker

Changemaker Chat is a special podcast series honoring Nazareth University's Centennial Celebration, featuring engaging conversations with notable individuals who've changed — and continue to change — their industry, their community, and the world for the better, inspired by their personal connection to Nazareth.

The first episode of Changemaker Chat features a conversation between Nazareth University President Beth Paul, Ph.D., and John Drain '83, chief financial officer of Hearst Television, Inc. in New York City, and a fascinating changemaker leader. Hear how Drain has successfully navigated his career — and the organizations he's led — through the dramatically changing media landscape, and how his experience at Nazareth has inspired and informed him along the way.

Nazareth's Centennial Celebration is presented by Wellington Steele & Associates and the Leva Family.

Mental Health Across Campus

Nazareth has long made mental health a priority, and a new federal grant is helping the University expand its commitment to student’s mental health and wellness. Today’s podcast focuses on the new initiatives.

Guests:

• Kim Harvey is associate vice president of student life at Naz with 20 years of experience in higher education in the areas of residential life and student success.
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• John Rigney is assistant director for wellness outreach & education in Health and Counseling Services.

Dance with Impact

Nazareth is a community of changemakers, and senior Kyra Green is a shining example of someone inspiring others every day. Green ‘23 is a dance studies and theater major, and she recently joined President Paul along with Heather Roffe, director of Nazareth’s undergraduate dance program. They discussed the many ways the dance program is a shining example of the Nazareth changemaker education framework.

Guests: 

• Kyra Green  is majoring in dance studies and theater and has a minor in acting. She’s passionate about dance theater and has found ways to use her passion to advocate for children in the education department and also perform dance and theater on and off the Nazareth College campus.

• Heather Roffe is the director of Nazareth’s undergraduate dance program, and has performed nationally and internationally with the Garth Fagan Dance Company and the Bill Evans Dance Company to name only a few. Her choreography has been presented globally, and she is an active scholar in the field of dance presenting on pedagogy, somatics, and dance and feminism.

 

Removing Fear of the Unknown from AI

As ChatGPT makes headlines, how do the latest artificial intelligence breakthroughs affect our lives? Prez Paul talks to Silicon Valley strategist Travis Steffen and Nazareth’s Institute for Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Society Director Jeff Allan. They address fear of the unknown when it comes to AI.

 

Guests:

• Jeffrey Allan is director of Nazareth’s Institute for Technology, AI, and Society — an AI expert and psychologist with two decades of experience at Fortune 500 companies and Silicon Valley startups, and a proponent of “responsible AI.”
• Travis Steffen is a Silicon Valley strategist, best-selling author, Inc. magazine top 500 CEO, and eight-time successful startup founder who’s on campus April 26 for a presentation revealing the secrets to excel in the dynamic world of AI-driven marketing.