Changemaker Chat

Changemaker Series: COVID-19 Research

The Prez Paul Podcast changemaker series continues with professors Michael Chen and Lauren Brooks, along with research assistant Tatianna Trojnor-Hill '21, sharing their health policy research on COVID-19. They received a data access award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to examine racial/ethnic disparities in access to laboratory testing and outcomes among more than 2 million patients across the U.S. They also found that geography and state-level political affiliations can predict individuals' risk of testing positive for COVID-19. 

Guests on the podcast:

• Michael Chen is an assistant professor in the Department of Nursing and Public Health. He received a bachelor’s degree in economics and public health from Brown University and a Ph.D. in health services research and policy from the University of Rochester. Michael's research interests include maternal and child health, father involvement, and the development of theory-based explanations to inform health practice and public policy. Michael was born in Taiwan, grew up in Toronto, and has lived in Rochester since 2010.
  
• Lauren Brooks is an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, primarily teaching courses in clinical laboratory science. She received degrees in biochemistry, biological sciences, and chemistry from Virginia Tech, a Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology from the University of Rochester, and completed her internship for clinical laboratory science at Rochester Regional Health. Lauren worked in the Serology and Microbiology clinical laboratory at the University of Rochester Central Labs before joining Nazareth full time. She was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area and has lived in Rochester since 2009.
  
  
• Tatianna Trojnor-Hill graduated from Nazareth College in the spring of 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Public Health and International Studies. She currently works as a project associate with JSI Research & Training Inc. and will be moving to New Hampshire for work at the end of this year. Tatianna’s interests include nutrition, food accessibility, and global health. She was born and raised in central New York and has lived in Rochester since 2017.

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.

 

Nazareth’s Civil Rights Journey

We shine the light on Nazareth’s Civil Rights Journey, an extraordinary immersive learning experience that we have been offering for several years. Meet guide Reggie Harris, who partners with Nazareth to lead this life-changing trip. Hear from Nazareth students who have attended the journey and their transformative take-aways. Harris also talks about his week-long fellowship at Nazareth that starts Sunday, March 21. 

Guests:

• Reggie Harris is co-president of the board and director of music for the Living Legacy Project, Nazareth’s community partner for the Civil Rights Journey. He has earned distinction as one of the foremost interpreters and song leaders of the music of the Underground Railroad and the modern Civil Rights movement. Most recently, Reggie received the Folk Alliance International Spirit of Folk and W.E.B. Du Bois Legacy awards.
  
• Jamie Fazio is Nazareth College’s Catholic Chaplain and has been on several Civil Rights Journeys.
  
  
• Rameen Copeland ‘20, ‘21G is a graduate student studying global business & leadership. He holds graduate assistantships with both the Center for Spirituality and the Center for Service-Learning.
  
  
• Serena Viktor ‘20, ‘21G is in the final semester of her master’s of social work program at Nazareth College; she also holds a bachelor’s of social work from Nazareth. She co-facilitates an empowerment group for Women of Color. She also has been awarded the Nazareth College Presidential Civic Engagment Award for her tireless work in campaigning for racial justice, solidarity, and equity within the Nazareth community and the Rochester area. Ms. Viktor plans on pursuing a law degree and establishing a non-profit organization in Zambia to advocate for mental health services for women and girls. She is a board member for Worker Justice Center New York, helping to raise funding and advocating for effective policy solutions rooted in research-based policy innovation. 
  
  
• Carolyn Carlic ’23 is a sophomore majoring in environmental science and sustainability and minoring in religious studies. She traveled on the Civil Rights Journey in January 2020 and this has shaped her career goals toward work in environmental justice.
  
  
• Nate Allen ‘23 is a sophomore majoring in finance. He’s currently taking courses in economics and leadership & ethics and is part of the men’s tennis team and volleyball team.
  
  

Why AI? Tech needs ethics now more than ever, Nazareth is answering that call

In this episode: Big news from Nazareth College. We’ve formed the Institute for Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Society (ITAS), a pioneering initiative in higher education to train future professionals to guide and develop technology toward equitable and just ends.

Guests:

Dianne Oliver, Ph.D., is co-director of the Nazareth College Institute for Technology, AI, and Society (ITAS), and since 2015 has been dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. Her background includes degrees in both computer science and in religion and ethics, deeply connecting her experience and work to this initiative at Naz.

Yousuf George, Ph.D., is the other ITAS co-director and associate to the president for strategy and momentum. He joined the College in 2008 as a faculty member in the Mathematics Department and later served as the associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Wendy Norris, Ph.D., is an assistant professor and founding faculty member for ITAS. Wendy’s doctorate is in information science from the University of Colorado Boulder. She brings expertise in the design of humanitarian crisis response technologies to her teaching and research. She joined the Mathematics Department in 2020 to help launch Nazareth’s new ethical data science major. 

Chelsea Wahl, Ph.D. — another founding faculty member for ITAS — joined Nazareth’s Sociology & Anthropology Department as an assistant professor of sociology in 2020. She earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology from Hamilton College and her doctorate from University of Pennsylvania. She specializes in technology, inequality, work, and organizations.

Student Nate Ancona ‘21 is a senior majoring in business management and a four-year member of the swim team. He is currently taking several ITAS courses that explore programming, AI, and the ethical and societal impacts of technology and is looking at graduate schools.

Book mentioned in the podcast: Automating Inequality by Virginia Eubanks

Part II: HHS students and faculty innovate for the Rochester community during pandemic

This time students and faculty from our social work, nursing, and public health programs join me to discuss the many ways they are continuing to support wellness for people in the Rochester community — despite the pandemic.

 

• Leanne Charlesworth is professor and chair of social work and the director of the undergraduate social work major. She received her bachelor’s from Cornell University, master’s in social work from University of Albany, and doctorate from Virginia Commonwealth University. Leanne's scholarly interests include poverty and homelessness. She is deeply invested in a campus-community partnership called Project Homeless Connect, which includes ongoing work with Rochester's Homeless Services Network. 
• Student Izzy Kimber is a senior social work major with a business minor. She’s an office coordinator for Partners for Serving, president of the social work club on campus, and a third-year resident assistant (RA). If she were to describe herself in three words it would be outspoken, motivated, and passionate. She strives to promote social justice and a safe, empowering environment for people with whom she works. Izzy is currently applying to master of social work programs.
• Michael Chen is an assistant professor in the public health program. He has his bachelor’s in economics and community health from Brown University and a doctorate in health services research from University of Rochester. Prior to joining Nazareth, Michael was a community organizer, a project coordinator at a public health consulting firm, a youth group leader, and a research assistant. Michael is broadly interested in health policy and outcomes research in the context of children, family, and health systems.
• Mary Dahl Maher is the chair of the Nursing Department and founding program director for the Public health undergraduate degrees. She earned her bachelor’s of science in nursing at D'Youville College; master’s of science in nursing. at Case Western Reserve University; and master’s of public health. and doctorate at University of Rochester. Mary is a certified nurse-midwife who has worked in urban and rural settings and has a strong commitment to global education. Her passion for improving the quality of healthcare access and equity led to work in Haiti and a Fulbright award to Finland.
• Vicki Arena is a senior double major in nursing and public health who anticipates graduating in May. She is completing her senior nursing capstone. She completed a public health internship in summer 2020 with the Genesee-Orleans Health Department.

Health and Human Services students and faculty innovate for the Rochester community during pandemic

In this episode,  we engage in a fascinating conversation about the innovative ways our students and faculty overcame challenges during the pandemic and are still helping clients maintain their health when they couldn’t visit Nazareth’s on-campus clinics. Guests: Lisa Hiley, assistant professor in communication sciences and disorders; Mary Therese Novak, director of clinical education in physical therapy; Michaela Cardone, occupational therapy graduate student; Heather Coles, clinical assistant professor in communication sciences and disorders; and Sophie DiCarlo, a graduate student in communication sciences and disorders.

What Would Our Founders Do?

In this episode, I am joined by Tim Kneeland, Ph.D., professor of history and political science and Susan Nowak, Ph.D., SSJ. They help us look forward to the upcoming Nazareth College centennial celebration in 2024, and look back to the lessons our founders can teach us today.