President Paul is honored as a Rochester Business Journal 2023 Icon

For her innovation and leadership, and for being a force for positive change, Nazareth University President Beth Paul is a Rochester Business Journal 2023 Icon Honors winner.

Icon Honors recognizes inspirational Rochester business leaders over age 60 for their notable success and demonstration of strong leadership within and outside their fields. The honorees have moved their organization and Rochester forward by growing jobs and making a difference in the community.

"Through her transformative leadership, relentless commitment to education for social progress, and impressive service to local and national boards, President Paul has proven herself a force in fostering positive change not only within our local community but also across the wider educational landscape," said Yousuf George, Nazareth University vice president of strategy and innovation. "Her commitment to equity, her innovative initiatives, and her leadership in local, regional, and national communities truly embody the spirit of the Rochester Business Journal Icon award."

Paul joined Nazareth University in July 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and racial unrest following the tragic death of George Floyd. She looked at these challenges as an opportunity for growth and improvement. Paul spearheaded a strategic planning process designed to bolster Nazareth's historical commitments to social progress and justice, with a vision to make Nazareth a premier institution for those wishing to effect equitable change through education.

Nazareth became Nazareth University in June 2023 under Paul's leadership, and is celebrating its Centennial with a two-year celebration with the theme "Nazareth University's Centennial Celebration: A Century of Uniting Education and Action."

"One of the key aspects of President Paul's leadership is her dedication to inclusivity and promoting equality," said Darrell Bell, vice president for advancement. "She has championed initiatives aimed at bridging societal divides, fostering a sense of
belonging, and ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their backgrounds. By prioritizing diversity and inclusivity, Beth has created an environment that celebrates our differences while highlighting our shared values."

Paul's leadership extends well beyond the campus. She serves on local boards such as the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Causewave. She makes a broader impact through her involvement with numerous regional and national boards, including the National Association for Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), the Council on Undergraduate Research Governance Design Task Force, and the Bonner Foundation, and she chairs the Empire 8 President's Council.

This year's Icon Honors recipients will be honored Dec. 4 at The Genesee Valley Club, Honorees will be profiled in the Dec. 8 issue of the Rochester Business Journal and online at RBJ.net.

About Nazareth University’s Centennial Celebration: A Century of Uniting Education and Action
During the year leading up to and following the 100th anniversary of Nazareth’s founding on September 24, 1924, Nazareth is marking its Centennial Celebration under the theme of A Century of Uniting Education and Action.
Nazareth’s Centennial Celebration is a time to celebrate and remember what Nazareth University has been, what it is now, and what it will continue to be as a University place of learning, born in a time of social revolution and action inside and outside of the classroom, with a commitment to continuing Nazareth’s tradition of transformative education through action for social justice, preparing and inspiring students who will be courageous changemakers in their life’s work.
More: Celebrating our Centennial 

Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.

Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.

• published: 2023 October
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