THEIR LIFE'S WORK
11 Questions
Daan Braveman says that president of Nazareth College isn’t just his current job—it’s his ideal job.
The best part? “Working with and for students, and the truly transformational impact a Nazareth education has on them.” Here he answers some deep and not-so-deep questions … and reveals his secret dream in life.
1
When and where were you happiest?
The day our son—our only child—was born.
2
What books are currently on your nightstand?
My “nightstand” is a Kindle, and I have a number of books waiting to be read. For pleasure, I prefer to read fiction and am currently reading Pachinko, by Min Jin Lee. My next read is Autumn, by Ali Smith.
3
What do you most value in your friends?
Compassion, integrity, and a good sense of humor.
4
What is your motto?
John Donne’s poem (“No Man Is an Island”) captures the motto for me:
Any man’s death diminishes me,
Because I am involved in mankind.
5
What is one thing on your bucket list?
I want to visit the Galapagos Islands and am hoping to do so next year.
6
What about you would surprise people the most?
My dream in life was to be a backup dancer for Gladys Knight and the Pips.
7
What is your favorite movie and why?
My favorite movie is Casablanca with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, two of the all-time greatest actors.
8
What movies have you seen recently?
Darkest Hour, which portrays Winston Churchill at the start of World War II when England must decide whether to confront Hitler.
9
What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done?
I am not sure if it is a brave thing, but three years in a row I did the 90-mile canoe classic race in the Adirondack Mountains. What made it brave (or stupid) is that it was the only time I was in a canoe in each of those years, and I have not paddled since then. In fact, I am not sure I even like the sport!
10
What's your guilty pleasure?
I love chocolate milkshakes from the Pittsford Dairy.
11
What is one of your hidden talents?
For a while I played the drums in a jazz group. We were not good, but we had fun!
