Changemaker Series: Access to Education Includes Inmates

Nazareth College Professor Ed Wiltse taught a unique class this past spring semester, Hitting the Road: Journeys in American literature. Half of the students were campus-based here at Nazareth and half were based at Groveland, a men's prison south of Rochester. Wiltse’s work is part of a growing national movement that advocates for access to higher education for all, as a pathway for equity and social justice. 

Guests on the podcast:

Ed Wiltse, Ph.D., professor of English and communication, who has been teaching at Nazareth for 23 years, and in a variety of local jail and prison settings for 20 years.

Three current students and one past student enrolled in the Hitting the Road course:

Alec Goldammer  is a May 2022 Nazareth graduate with bachelor’s degrees in education and English literature. He is also a part of the student-veteran community, spending five-years in active duty in the United States Marine Corps before coming to Nazareth.

Emily Denzler is a May 2022 Nazareth graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business with a communications minor. She was a social media coordinator for the Center For Life's Work located on campus and is always reading in her spare time. 

Joe Rossi is a former Rochester Education Justice Initiative student who was part of the first combined class in Fall 2020. He was working towards his associate’s degree before being incarcerated. Upon re-entry, he earned his associate's degree from SUNY Herkimer in January 2021. He is now set to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in historical studies from SUNY Empire, and plans on pursuing his master's from SUNY Empire in the near future.

Madeline Dovi is a May 2022 Nazareth graduate with a bachelor’s degree in communication and media major with an English minor. She is a freelance journalist, artist, barista, and founding member of the Nazareth PRSSA Chapter. Dovi recently accepted a full time reporting position with the Daily Caller News Foundation, covering the U.S. Justice Department.

Changemaker Series: How legislation like Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill impacts teaching and learning in the classroom

This episode will focus on the topic of gender and sexuality and the school classroom. This issue continues to make headlines around the country, made visible by the recent passage of the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida  which states “classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur.” Other states around the country have introduced similar bills. 

How do bills like this impact teaching and learning? I sit down with School of Education professors and some current students to discuss this important issue so crucial to current and future educators.

Guests on the podcast:

Rachel Bailey Jones, Ph.D., is a professor in the School of Education and co-director of the Honors program at Naz. She has long-standing teaching and research interests in the field of gender and sexuality in education. She regularly teaches “Gender in Education,” where the class dives deeply into the complexities of gender and sexuality. 

Cuthbert Rowland-Storm, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the undergraduate and graduate inclusive education (childhood & early childhood) programs at Naz. A Florida native, he formerly taught public school in the San Francisco Bay Area and Seattle, Washington.

Amanda Heron is a sophomore studying communication and media, with a focus on writing and editing. She has a passion for examining the representation of different groups of people in American media, with specific attention to the Asian American community and the intersectionality of race and gender. 

Taylor Coonelly is a senior sociology major and honors student who is pursuing a master's degree in library & information science in the fall. She works at the Rochester Public Library to share multicultural and diverse children's literature. 

Claudia Steblen is a sophomore earning her bachelor's degree in women and gender studies. She transferred to Nazareth in spring 2022 and is excited to be a part of the Naz community.

Changemaker Series: Mental health focus at Nazareth

In this episode, we are focusing on mental health on our campus and beyond. May is Mental Health Awareness month, and given alarming mental health trends, this issue is a year-round priority for our community. Overcoming the stigma of mental health challenges is an important first step, so people can get support and treatment.  One way to overcome this stigma is for students to talk with each other about mental health, peer-to-peer —  evidence shows this can help significantly to overcome barriers and address mental health challenges. Naz senior Amanda Foster worked hard to bring the nonprofit organization, Morgan's Message, to Nazareth this spring, with the goal of supporting the well-being of Golden Flyers of the present and future. 

Guests on the podcast:

Amanda Foster is a senior psychology major with minors in human resources and business. She’s a four-year member of the swimming and diving team, co-chair of the class of 2022's senior class gift campaign, and a talent development intern at a leading energy company. 

John Rigney is assistant director for wellness outreach and education at the Health and Counseling Center. John has worked at Nazareth since 2013 and works very closely with the athletics department.  He ran cross country and track at St. Bonaventure University, in his words  “a long time ago.”  

Show links:

• Mental Matchup Podcast: podcast affiliated with Morgan’s Message that Amanda refers to in the podcast

• LINK TO Beth’s op-ed on Mental Health and Colleges

• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

• Ways to contact Nazareth Morgan’s Message:
  Instagram: @nazarethmorgansmessage

• Email: morgansmessage@mail.naz.edu

Women in Sports and Title IX, Part Two

Here is part two of The Prez Paul Podcast as a group of Nazareth women coaches breakdown women in sports and the 50th anniversary of Title IX, a groundbreaking law that helped create gender equity in sports. The roundtable discussion in this episode starts with the question — do male coaches have a responsibility to bring visibility to women’s sports?

Guests: 

Women’s Field Hockey Coach Tarah Christenson, returned for her sixth season as head field hockey coach in 2021.

Women’s Rowing Coach Emily Farrar, returned for her fourth season as the head rowing coach, second season since they became a varsity sport. 

Women’s Basketball Coach Kelly Dunne, a Nazareth alumna, returned for her seventh season this past winter after capturing an Empire 8 title in the 2020-2021 season. 

Women’s Lacrosse Coach Traci Lian, a Nazareth alum, returned for her fourteenth season as head coach this spring, and she serves as senior woman administrator for Athletics. 

Dr. Wayne Hilson, Nazareth’s associate vice president for Community & Belonging 

Taylor Robey, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) ambassador, is a graduate music education student, undergrad Naz alumna, and a record-breaking swimmer with the Golden Flyers who just finished 5th overall in the finals of the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships.

Maya Cox, DEI ambassador, is a junior inclusive early childhood education, psychology, and community youth development major returning for her third season on the women’s lacrosse team.

Women in Sports and Title IX, Part One

The Prez Paul Podcast Changemaker series continues as we celebrate Women’s History Month, and the 50th anniversary of Title IX, a groundbreaking law that helped create gender equity in sports. We had an excellent roundtable discussion to celebrate Nazareth’s excellence in women’s athletics! Enjoy part one of this two-part podcast.

Guests: 

Women’s Field Hockey Coach Tarah Christenson, returned for her sixth season as head field hockey coach in 2021.

Women’s Rowing Coach Emily Farrar, returned for her fourth season as the head rowing coach, second season since they became a varsity sport. 

Women’s Basketball Coach Kelly Dunne, a Nazareth alumna, returned for her seventh season this past winter after capturing an Empire 8 title in the 2020-2021 season. 

Women’s Lacrosse Coach Traci Lian, a Nazareth alum, returned for her fourteenth season as head coach this spring, and she serves as senior woman administrator for Athletics. 

Dr. Wayne Hilson, Nazareth’s associate vice president for Community & Belonging 

Taylor Robey, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) ambassador, is a graduate music education student, undergrad Naz alumna, and a record-breaking swimmer with the Golden Flyers who just finished 5th overall in the finals of the 50-yard freestyle at the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships.

Maya Cox, DEI ambassador, is a junior inclusive early childhood education, psychology, and community youth development major returning for her third season on the women’s lacrosse team.

Changemaker Series: COVID-19 Research

Changemaking through Music

It’s our second season, and we are starting a new series on the podcast  — It’s the Prez Paul Podcast Changemaker series! 

Nazareth Choirs director Brian Stevens and students Jonathan Benn and Elena Parkins, talking about the choirs’ changemaking mantra “we sing to change lives.” The choirs actively collaborate with living and under-represented composers to bring their music to the world.  

Guests: 

• Brian Stevens is Director of Choirs in the School of Music at Nazareth College, where he focuses on changing lives through the choral arts by building diverse and inclusive choral communities, providing transformative experiences for his students, and fostering choral excellence through innovative programming. 
• Jonathan Benn is a sophomore music education major heading down a vocal track and is the current President of the Nazareth College Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He studies voice with Dr. Kimberly Upcraft and is a member of the Nazareth College Chamber Singers.
• Elena Parkins is a graduate student in the music therapy program. She is a member of the Nazareth College Chamber Singers and holds a graduate assistantship with the Center for Student Success.

The Parent Perspective

In this episode of the “Prez Paul Podcast” you'll hear from four Nazareth parents speaking about their children’s perseverance during the pandemic. Our parents discuss positive changes they’ve noticed in their students from their time at Nazareth, why their student chose to become a Golden Flyer, and what they are most proud of their child for while attending Nazareth.

Guests on the podcast:

• Barry Lyon — father to student Callahan Lyon ‘21. She graduated in May with a degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders.
• Betsy Overacker — daughter is Emily Overacker ‘24,  a rising sophomore and music education major with vocal concentration.
• Graham Knowles — daughter is Madison Knowles ‘23, a junior physical therapy major from Albany who plays on the women’s soccer team.
• Mona Sherron — mother to Isabella Sherron ‘24,  a rising sophomore psychology major and a member of Psychology Club. 

The power of music during the pandemic and beyond

Music in all its forms has gotten many of us through the pandemic with its power to stir so many emotions and transport us to places near and far. Music is alive on the Nazareth College campus. Hear about the School of Music’s innovations that enabled our students and faculty to continue performing music.

Guests on the podcast:

David Davies is a composer whose music has been performed at festivals and major venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York City, the Moody Performance Hall in Dallas, and at historic venues in Belgium, Argentina, and Brazil. He is an enthusiastic educator and came to Nazareth College as director of the School of Music in July 2020. He serves on the national board of the Christian Fellowship of Art Music Composers, is vice president of the Northeast Chapter of the College Music Society, and the vice chair of Region VI of the National Association of Schools of Music. 

David Davies original compositions:

A Clasping of Hands

"Get Up and Move"

Brandan Parks is a senior music/business major with voice as his primary instrument and minors in legal studies and in communication and media. He is from Herkimer, N.Y. Brandan is president of the College’s National Society of Leadership and Success chapter, Class of 2021 vice president, Class of 2021 gift committee co-chair, a student ambassador, an orientation leader, and an Academic and College Success peer mentor. Within the School of Music, Brandan is a part of the School of Music student advisory board, serves as American Choral Directors Association chapter vice president, Nazareth College Chamber Singers section leader, and is a member of Opera Workshop and Rock Ensemble. After graduating in May, Brandan will be attending law school with aspirations to practice entertainment law.

Sydney Fina is a junior music therapy major from Syracuse, N.Y. Her primary instrument is the piano, and she also plays clarinet in the Nazareth College Wind Symphony. She is a music theory tutor and a member of both the School of Music student advisory board and AMTAS Naz (American Music Therapy Association — Students).

Nazareth Chamber Singers recording: of “The Sun Never Says” by Dan Forrest

Golden Flyers soar with return of athletics competition

The Golden Flyers athletics teams are back competing this spring! After the pandemic hit our world last March, sports, along with everything else, came to a halt.

We are happy to welcome all the athletes and coaches back to their competitive seasons, and it is inspiring to see that athletics is managing to combine three seasons into one: all fall, winter, and spring sports. I talked with some Nazareth student athletes and coaches about their triumphant return along with some exciting initiatives taking place with all our Golden Flyer teams.

Guests on the podcast:

• Taylor Robey is a senior music education major with a minor in piano and the honors program. She has been a member of the Nazareth Women's swimming and diving team for four years, and a team captain for three seasons.
• Emma States is a sophomore biomedical science major, and she competes on the women's lacrosse team.
• Coach Gail Mann is the longest tenured coach at Nazareth, leading the Nazareth Women's soccer team for the last 29 years.  She has served as the senior women's administrator for the last five years and advised the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for the last 20.   She loves the outdoors, hiking, kayaking, and hanging out anywhere there is water.  Gail lives with her wife/soulmate Dugan for 30 years and their pup Rooney who totally rules the house.  
• Kaleb Lutton is a two-sport athlete, competing on the track and field and volleyball teams at Nazareth. Lutton placed in four of five events he competed in during the Empire 8 Indoor Track and Field Championships. He hopes to win the UVC conference championship and earn a bid to the NCAA Men’s Division III Volleyball Championship.  
• Coach Chris Baudo is coach of the Nazareth women’s ice hockey team.