It seems like yesterday that we began a new academic year. And while an academic year can be measured in weeks that appear to fly by, it can also be measured in the extraordinary successes — and challenges — that have taken place throughout our campus and neighboring communities. So as the year concludes, let’s take time to celebrate our collective achievements and acknowledge the work we still have ahead of us.
Students, you amaze me. Your achievements are endless, from serving as Nazareth's lead ambassadors through academic, extra-curricular, and community engagement activities, to the grants, awards, and honors you've earned. Many of you have participated in individual and faculty-led research, creative and professional activity, and global and domestic study that will be invaluable to your life’s work. We came together for hundreds of campus events running the gamut from fun and whimsical to thought-provoking and awe-inspiring. And at the heart of your engagement and accomplishments is change. Purpose-driven change that impacts your personal growth and the world around you.Student-athletes, while the list of your many individual honors is so long that I can not do it justice, team honors abound as well. Golden Flyers claimed our first men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field Empire 8 championships this year, and our women’s hockey team won a second consecutive UCHC title. Conference championships were won by our women’s soccer team (second straight), the women's swimming and diving team (fifth consecutive) and the men’s cross country team (third straight). And men's rugby made the National Collegiate Rugby National Championship Tournament for a third consecutive year.
Faculty and staff, you’ve once again represented Nazareth with distinction. Interim Dean of Visual & Performing Arts Mario E. Martínez, D.M.A., was honored at the National Association of Teachers of Singing regional conference for his robust and kind leadership. William Lammela, Ph.D., taught green chemistry as a Fulbright Scholar in Dublin, Ireland. Closer to home, Dillon Smith; Matt Schoell, Ph.D.; Lisa Hiley ‘02, Ph.D.; John O'Gorman, '85, '90G; and Megan Tobin '08G, Ph.D., were honored with Nazareth’s Teaching Excellence and Student Support awards. VP for Advancement Darrell Bell was awarded the Charles A. Wright Opportunity and Inclusion Leadership Award from the Council of Advancement and Support of Education for advocating for advancement professionals of color. Beyond campus, many of you earned respect as thought leaders, including Tim Thibodeau, Ph.D., professor of history, politics, and law, for his media commentary regarding Pope Francis. And Jeffrey Allen, director of Nazareth’s Institute for Technology, Artificial Intelligence, and Society, became a sought-after interviewee regarding the ethics of AI.
Our strategic framework has continued to be our true north, steering Nazareth toward new levels of institutional distinction. Important undertakings have included the establishment of a new academic leadership structure that further strengthens our educational mission, and the launch of programs like AMPs Up scholarships, which cover 100 percent of tuition for six social work graduate students, and the prestigious Bonner Leader scholarships, which provide 15 incoming students with a minimum 50 percent tuition four-year scholarship, leadership training, and paid community engagement opportunities. In addition, with equity central to our strategy, significant progress has been made, including the launch of the BIPOC Affinity Mentorship Program and Nazareth's inaugural Lavender Graduation ceremony and cultural celebration, recognizing LGBTQ+ students of all races and ethnicities and acknowledging their leadership and success. And at the root of our strategic plan, our vision to be “a leader of transformative education through action for social justice, preparing and inspiring courageous changemakers for their life’s work” continued coming to life this year. One example is the first-ever Changemaker Conference, which enabled Nazareth students, faculty, and staff to learn from community social innovators and develop changemaking skills, and to focus on how to make change regarding issues like anti-racist education, access to employment, and individuals re-entering society after incarceration.
A distinctive thread woven through this academic year has been campus visits by prominent individuals and groups who personify our changemaker ethos. From pioneering journalist Jane Pauley headlining Naz Weekend, to the packed Callahan Theater that greeted best-selling author Robin Wall Kimmerer, and the return of Limón Dance Company’s exquisite choreography, the best the world has to offer in thinking, art, and inspiration was found at Nazareth this year.
Nazareth alumni, members of our campus community, and families once again enhanced the legacy of Nazareth through their engagement and generosity. Our first Naz Weekend, bringing together our full community, was a resounding success with over 2,500 participants. Our sixth annual Naz Giving Day was also a tremendous success, raising more than $583,000 for students to explore their passions. And the legacy of Mildred Case Marshman, aka “Millie” of Millie’s Cafe — established initially through a donation by her daughter, former Nazareth employee Dr. Kay Marshman — continues, with major renovations enhancing an already beloved campus study space. There’s even a new webcam where you can watch the progress!
Of course, an academic year not only consists of joy and success, but hurdles and disappointments. Nazareth is no different. Like all higher education institutions, we’re challenged by demographic trends. There are simply fewer prospective college students nationally, which heightens our emphasis on enrollment and recruitment. We continue to rise to this challenge, but it’s no simple task and has obvious implications on budget and planning. I’m optimistic that after the double-whammy of COVID and shifting demographics, by focusing on a mission that is of vital contemporary importance, we’re on the right track.
During the past year, the world surrounding higher education has become a more challenging place. One only needs to scroll through the headlines to know that fact-based inquiry and commitments to creating diverse, tolerant, and inclusive learning communities are under attack. While many in society support what higher education and Nazareth stand for, some do not. We must remain vigilant and advocate for the value of a Nazareth education.
Lastly, there’s probably no challenge that impacts a broader swath of our campus community more than mental health. Societally, mental health struggles have continued to escalate, making the emphasis that Nazareth has placed on this issue even more important. One new example this year is Nazareth’s participation, along with six other colleges and universities in New York state, in the Consortium on Trauma, Illness, & Grief to better support student, faculty, and staff well-being in times of individual or collective crisis. I encourage everyone in our campus community to make mental health a priority, and I look forward to discussing this topic with each of you, so we can collectively learn more about how to improve mental health across campus, in our individual lives, and throughout society.
Despite our challenges, I feel pride and hope in knowing that there are far more successes — too many, in fact, to highlight in a single letter. But the year’s most notable success is the one that best exemplifies our storied history and future greatness. Last fall, our Board of Trustees approved a transition to become Nazareth University, a milestone that becomes official on June 1. This transformation will allow Nazareth to fully embrace what we’ve been for decades — a thriving, diverse learning community offering significant undergraduate and advanced graduate education. I hope you will join us on May 31 at 11 a.m. on the Smyth Lawn to celebrate the change to Nazareth University along with a new — and rooted in our history — visual identity. What a great way to kick off summer!
As we celebrate the Class of 2023's commencement, this final success is a perfect example of what we can achieve as a university as we continue to work together in a world that needs Naz’s mission. Thank you for all you do every day for Nazareth.
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