NAZ - Key Persons
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.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Member of the Academic Affairs & Student Experience Committee
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Finance Committee
- Member of the Investment Committee
- Vice Chair of the Board
- Ex Officio
- Vice Chair of the Board President
Job Titles:
- Member of the Finance Committee
Job Titles:
- Student Callahan Lyon ‘21. She Graduated in May With a Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Barry Lyon - father to student Callahan Lyon ‘21. She graduated in May with a degree in communication sciences and disorders.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Advancement Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
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 Nazareth'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 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.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Academic Affairs & Student Experience Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Butler / till
Job Titles:
- Director of Choirs in the School
- Nazareth Choirs Director
Nazareth Choirs director Brian Stevens and students Jonathan Benn and Elena Parkins talk 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.
Brian Stevens is Director of Choirs in the School of Music at Nazareth, 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.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Administrative Advisor
Yousuf George, Ph.D., is the other ITAS co-director and associate to the president for strategy and momentum. He joined Nazareth in 2008 as a faculty member in the Mathematics Department and later served as the associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Sciences, Business, and Education.
Responsibilities: There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, which shall be comprised of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, the President of the University, and no fewer than two (2) and no more than four (4) Trustees elected by the Board of Trustees. The elected members of the Executive Committee shall serve for a term of one (1) year and until their successors are elected and qualified. The election of members of the Executive Committee shall be held each year at the annual meeting of the Board of Trustees after the election of Trustees.
Vacancies: In the event of a vacancy occurring in the Executive Committee which is not to be filled as provided in Section 1 of this Article III, the Board of Trustees shall fill such vacancy for the unexpired term.
Powers of Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall have the power of the Board of Trustees and may act when the Board is not in session, and may exercise all the powers of the Board in all matters which in the judgment of the Executive Committee should not be delayed until the next meeting of the Board. However, the Executive Committee shall not have the power to: grant degrees; elect or remove from office any Trustee, the President or any officers of the Board; or amend, alter or repeal these Bylaws. As to matters which by these Bylaws are under the direction of any standing committee of the Board, the Executive Committee, when acting, shall give due consideration to the recommendation of that committee. The Executive Committee shall make a formal report of its actions, if any, to the Board at its next regular meeting.
Regular Meetings: Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held on such days and at such hours as the Board or the Executive Committee may by resolution fix and determine. Notice of the meeting, stating the time and place thereof, shall be given of any regular meeting of the Committee to each member of the Committee at the member's designated postal and/or electronic mail address, or sent by facsimile transmission to the member's fax number designated by the member for such purpose, at least five (5) days before the meeting, or two (2) days before the meeting if given by telephone.
Coach Chris Baudo is coach of the Nazareth women's ice hockey team
Job Titles:
- Vice President, Group Strategy Director
Nazareth President Daan Braveman, who steps down in June after a successful 15-year tenure, tells Beth Paul that he's thrilled with the choice of a leader with such experience, passion, and values.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Non - Trustee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
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 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.
Job Titles:
- Co - Director of Nazareth 's Institute for Technology
Dianne Oliver, Ph.D., is co-director of Nazareth's Institute for Technology, AI, and Society (ITAS), and since 2015 has been dean of the College of Liberal Arts, Sciences, Business, and Education. Her background includes degrees in both computer science and in religion and ethics, deeply connecting her experience and work to this initiative at Naz.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Academic Affairs & Student Experience Committee
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Member of the Finance Committee
- Member of the Investment Committee
- President
- Ex Officio
- Named Nazareth 's 10th President January 27, 2020
- Nazareth University President
- President / Nazareth University
Elizabeth Paul, Ph.D., started July 1, 2020 as Nazareth's 10th president with a commitment to:
Nazareth University President Dr. Beth Paul talks with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community members on topics centered around Nazareth's mission.
President Paul and members of Cabinet have initiated several new communications vehicles and opportunities in 2024 for students, faculty, staff, alumni, and external partners to engage with Nazareth leadership.
President Paul is excited to chat with staff or academic departments - over coffee or lunch - regarding the future of Nazareth and what might be next on the broader higher education landscape. Provost Maureen Finney will also join President Paul for these Naz Next Department Dialogue Dates when held with academic departments. If your department or area is interested in signing up for one of these one-hour conversation sessions, please indicate your interest.
Responsibilities: This Committee is a college committee and shall consist of no fewer than five (5) members of the Board. It shall be responsible generally for the fund raising programs and activities of Nazareth, participating as appropriate in the identification of prospects and the solicitation of gifts in cash, in kind or by means of estate planning, to the Annual Fund, for restricted purposes or to capital campaigns which may be authorized by the Board of Trustees. It shall assess the effectiveness of the development effort relative to annual or longer term goals and in comparison with prior results, as well as results produced by like institutions. Also, the Committee shall ensure that Nazareth fund raising programs are consistent with Nazareth's mission and supportive of its operating plans and its strategic intentions. On the recommendation of the chair of the Committee and with the approval of the Chair of the Board, the Committee may add to its membership any number of non-Trustees who can contribute to the exercise of its responsibilities. The Vice President for Institutional Advancement will serve as administrative advisor to the Committee. It is anticipated that the Committee may invite the Director of Development to attend regularly the meetings of the Committee.
Responsibilities: This Committee is a college committee and shall consist of no fewer than three (3) members of the Board. It shall generally supervise the planning and erection of new buildings, the major repair, alteration and maintenance of buildings, and the upkeep and improvement of grounds. It shall deal with all projects for the location, construction and architectural improvement of campus buildings, and shall advise the Board of Trustees as to the merits of various plans. The Vice President for Finance shall serve as the administrative advisor to the Committee.
Responsibilities: This Committee is a standing committee and shall consist of no fewer than five (5) members of the Board. The Finance Committee has the basic responsibility for all financial affairs of Nazareth. This responsibility is discharged by formulating general policy regarding fiscal affairs and delegating the task of implementing such policy. The Finance Committee will from time to time establish procedures for reporting fiscal affairs and will make periodic reviews.
Responsibilities: This Committee is a college committee and shall consist of no fewer than five (5) members of the Board. The Committee shall have power by resolution or otherwise to issue directions for the purchase, sale, exchange, transfer and/or delivery of any monies, stocks, bonds, mineral rights, royalty properties or other securities belonging to Nazareth. All transfers or assignments of registered bonds or debentures and of shares of capital stock and of rights or warrants to subscribe for capital stock or other securities standing in the name of Nazareth and transacted within a Nazareth account (or transferred to an account in the name of Nazareth and which account was authorized by the Board of Trustees) shall be executed in the name of Nazareth by any one of the following: the President of the University; the Senior Vice President for Finance; the Treasurer; the chair of the Investment Committee; or the chair of the Finance Committee. Any one of the above-named persons is hereby authorized to execute such transfers or assignments in the name of and on behalf of Nazareth in such proper form as may be required to transfer or assign the same and, if necessary, to affix the corporate seal of Nazareth to such transfers or assignments.
Responsibilities: This Committee is a college committee and shall consist of no fewer than five (5) members of the Board. Faculty, staff, and students may be invited to attend topic-specific meetings in the capacity of ex officio non-voting participants as determined by the trustee committee chair and the administrative advisor to the Committee. The Committee will review, evaluate, and make recommendations to the Board of Trustees on matters pertaining to the recruitment and retention of students, and programmatic policies and practices regarding the student experience. The Committee will oversee, monitor, and /or collaborate with other committees and report to the Board as needed on: (i) practices regarding enrollment including development and implementation of enrollment and retention strategies, including financial aid and scholarship efforts; (ii) the strategic marketing, brand, and reputation-building efforts that focus on student recruitment, retention, and student experience; (iii) the impact on the campus culture, including branding and reputation, admissions, social life, academic values, student body composition, and atmosphere at campus events of: (a) student support services, (b) student activities, (c) intercollegiate and intramural athletics and recreational sports, (d) international education opportunities, and (e) diversity and inclusion efforts. The Committee shall consider the strengths of current information technology systems in relation to student enrollment, retention and experience, advising on the weaknesses and facilitating both improvements, and when appropriate, new directions.
Responsibilities: This Committee is a standing committee and shall consist of no fewer than five (5) members of the Board. The Committee will have year-round responsibilities for assessing and responding to the needs of the Board in identifying, screening, recruiting and orienting new Trustees. In addition, the Committee shall be responsible for continuing Board educational activities. The chair of the Committee on Trusteeship and the Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees shall be responsible for the evaluation of the performance of current Trustees, and they shall consult with the President of the University in discharging this responsibility. The Committee shall nominate persons to fill vacancies on the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee, and nominate persons to succeed members of the Board and the Executive Committee whose terms of office expire. The Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees shall serve as vice chair of the Committee, and the Vice President for Institutional Advancement shall serve as the administrative advisor to the Committee.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor in the Chemistry
Lauren Brooks is an assistant professor in the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department, 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.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Academic Affairs & Student Experience Committee
- Administrative Advisor
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor
- Assistant Professor in the Nursing & Public
- Nazareth Professors
Nazareth professors Dr. Michael Chen and Dr. Lauren Brooks, along with their graduate assistant and recent Naz alumna Tatianna Trojnor-Hill, had the prestigious honor of working with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to analyze racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 testing in a national sample of more than 2 million patients across the U.
Michael Chen is an assistant professor in the Nursing & Public Health Department. 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.
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.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Academic Affairs & Student Experience Committee
Job Titles:
- Administrative Advisor
- 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.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Academic Affairs & Student Experience Committee
- Retired
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Non - Trustee
Job Titles:
- Nazareth Professor
- 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
Nazareth Professor Ed Wiltse taught a unique class this past spring semester, Hitting the Road: Journeys in American literature. Half of the students were based on campus 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.
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.
Elena Parkins is a graduate student in the music therapy program. She is a member of the Nazareth Chamber Singers and holds a graduate assistantship with the Center for Student Success.
Job Titles:
- Retired / Senior Executive VP and CFO
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.
Women's Rowing Coach Emily Farrar, returned for her fourth season as the head rowing coach, second season since they became a varsity sport.
Emma States is a sophomore biomedical science major, and she competes on the women's lacrosse team.
Betsy Overacker - her daughter is Emily Overacker ‘24, a rising sophomore and music education major with vocal concentration.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Investment Committee
- President and CEO / Windsor Technology, Inc.
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.
Jamie Fazio is Nazareth's Catholic chaplain and has been on several Civil Rights Journeys.
Job Titles:
- Director of Nazareth 's Institute for Technology
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."
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.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board
- Member of the Academic Affairs & Student Experience Committee
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Finance Committee
- Member of the Investment Committee
- Vice Chair of the Executive Committee
- Ex Officio
- Media Changemaker
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.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Assistant Director for Wellness Outreach and Education at the Health and Counseling Center
Amanda worked with John to bring the nonprofit organization Morgan's Message to Nazareth this spring, with the goal of supporting the well-being of Golden Flyers now and in the future.
John Rigney, assistant director for wellness outreach and education at the Health and Counseling Center
Jonathan Benn is a sophomore music education major heading down a vocal track and is the current President of the Nazareth Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He studies voice with Dr. Kimberly Upcraft and is a member of the Nazareth Chamber Singers.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Investment Committee
Kaleb Lutton is a two-sport athlete, in track and volleyball. 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.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Finance Committee
- Member of the Investment Committee
- Administrative Advisor
Job Titles:
- Women 's Basketball Coach
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.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Managing Partner / Buckingham Properties, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Academic Affairs & Student Experience Committee
- Assoc. VP Student Life
- Associate Vice President of Student Life
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.
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 campus.
Leanne Charlesworth is professor and chair of social work and the director of the undergraduate social work major. She received her B.A. from Cornell University, M.S.W. from University of Albany, and Ph.D. 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. She loves advising and teaching social work students in both the B.S.W. and M.S.W. programs at Naz.
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.
Job Titles:
- Nazareth 's Vice President for Community
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.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Nursing Department
Mary Dahl Maher is the chair of the Nursing Department and founding program director for the Public health undergraduate degrees. She earned her B.S.N. at D'Youville College; M.S.N. at Case Western Reserve University; and M.P.H. and Ph.D. 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.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Academic Affairs & Student Experience Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Member of the Audit Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Finance Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Finance Committee
- Representative
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.
Job Titles:
- Service: Employee Information, Grading, Courses, Etc
See using your NazNet Self Service account for help with grading and logging in.
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.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Surgeon
- Retired / CEO
Job Titles:
- Member of the Academic Affairs & Student Experience Committee
- Surgeon
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Member of the Investment Committee
- Retired Vice President / Staples, Inc.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Investment Committee
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Member of the Finance Committee
Serena Viktor ‘20, ‘21G is in the final semester of her master's of social work program at Nazareth; 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 Presidential Civic Engagement 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.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the Advancement Committee
- Principal / LaBella Associates
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Investment Committee
- Member of the Finance Committee
- Managing Director, Investments / Stifel - the Brown Group
Job Titles:
- Member of the Academic Affairs & Student Experience Committee
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 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).
Tatianna Trojnor-Hill graduated from Nazareth in spring 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.
Taylor Robey is a senior music education major with a minor in piano and the honors program. She has been on the Nazareth women's swimming and diving team for four years, and a team captain for three seasons.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Chairman and Principal / Conifer Realty LLC
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.
Job Titles:
- Silicon Valley Strategist
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.
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.
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.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Finance Committee
- Member of the Audit Committee
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Member of the Investment Committee
- Ex Officio