Student Influencer brings unique, personal flair to highlight Naz Dining

Nazareth University student Natalie Wood '27 is bringing her own unique flair to promoting dining on campus as a Naz Dining Student Influencer.

Wood, a Rochester native who transferred to Nazareth from Butler University in the fall semester, applied to work with the university’s social media, and was contacted by Naz Dining Marketing Manager Kadijah Brack-Rowley to be a Student Influencer on the Street Team.

Nazareth was a part of Sodexo’s test pilot for Street Team program beginning in the Spring 2024 semester, Brack-Rowley said.

“Our focus has always been increasing the student voice in our dining program, and what better way to do that than having a team of students,” Brack-Rowley said. “The best part is each member having their own role, knowing that what they do matters and they all can focus in an area, and as one, become a huge influence on campus.”

There are three students on Naz Dining’s Street Team.

• Marketing Intern: Provides hands-on experience in various fields such as advertising, community relations, communications, and developing promotions.
• Student Influencer: Harnesses the power of social media and in-person event appearances to tell the story of dining on campus, and attend student culinary council.
• Student Ambassador: Attends dining hall events, tabling (such as surveying and welcome events), and assist NazBound/open house tabling.

Wood said she loved the idea of being on the Street Team, and joined in January.

“I love social media, I’m always editing videos,” she said. “When I was younger, my sister and I would make videos and edit them, so now I’d have an opportunity to do it in a professional sense.”

Wood also loves to talk and engage people, making this opportunity a perfect fit.

Her videos have included reviews of Boba drinks at The Cab, a day in her life as she dines on campus, and a video celebrating National Deaf History Month, for which she was able to use her knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL).

Wood is studying in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program at Naz, and has been learning and using ASL since she was 10. She also works for Monroe County BOCES (Boards of Cooperative Educational Services) as a signing skills coach. She used that experience in her video, teaching viewers how to order coffee using ASL while spreading awareness of the month’s observation.

Wood said she focuses her videos on capturing her audience in the first few seconds, and keeping viewers engaged by being interesting and funny. She said she also likes to interact with dining employees in her videos, as she has heard from her friends and also knows firsthand how friendly and helpful the employees are.

“With this role, I get to connect with my peers on a different level with food and trying new things, and being funny and honest. I’ve even been recognized at the school for my videos,” she said. “I definitely think that even though it’s not that big of a role, it’s definitely a good resume thing for me, because it says I’m versatile and can do and excel in multiple different things.”

Brack-Rowley said she appreciates Wood’s work, and has noticed her videos bringing in more followers. Overall, since launching the Street Team, Brack-Rowley said she’s noticed an increase in student feedback, as students are seeing their representation in the dining program and engaging with it more.

“For example, I've noticed a lot will see friends doing tabling, and they stop by to take the survey because of that,” she said. “Overall, having the Street Team in our dining program has increased the student approachability and shows that we truly care about the student experience.” 

Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for 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: 2025 March
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