Naz Weekend 2025 saw close to 2,500 on campus for the celebration
Naz Weekend 2025 was a time to celebrate all things Nazareth — and to appreciate attendees and their contributions to the Naz community, including students and families, faculty, staff, and alumni. From reunion events to more than 100 vendors at Naz Fest and tours of "haunted" and new spaces, Naz Weekend, Sept. 19-21, featured one tremendous event after another. The standouts include:
The 10th anniversary of the York Wellness and Rehabilitation Institute, where donors Frank and Kathy York were honored with Presidential Medallions of Excellence for helping Nazareth prepare committed and compassionate professionals in this transformational, collaborative space. Frank York, who comes from a family of medical professionals, cut the ribbon at the Institute's grand opening, and 10 years later, he and Kathy celebrated a decade of educating the next generation of young health care professionals.
Nazareth's College of Interprofessional Health and Human Services held a ribbon-cutting for the new and renovated facilities in Smyth Hall for the new physician assistant hybrid master's program that begins in January 2026. Several Nazareth University trustees were recognized for their gifts at the ribbon-cutting, including Nazareth Trustee Zeke Duda and his wife, Jane, whose names are on the new simulation suite. A new physician assistant classroom was named after board of trustees Vice Chair Andy Gallina and his wife, Karen. Nazareth also remembered the late Rochester philanthropist William Buckingham for his gift in support of the PA program. Other renovations and upgrades in Smyth to create new learning spaces for this cutting-edge program were possible thanks to a $1.5 million grant from New York State's Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program, a portion of Tom Golisano's major gift from September 2024, and support from the Davenport-Hatch Foundation.
Nazareth’s Alumni Engagement Office hosted the Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumni Awards. Nazareth’s impressive winners for 2025:
- Dale Mason Cochran ’71, CEO of Concourse Ventures, Inc., oversees concession operations at some of the nation’s busiest airports, including Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, and JFK.
- Charles Falgiatano ’94, is a lawyer and partner at DeFrancisco & Falgiatano LLP representing clients in medical malpractice, wrongful death, and personal injury cases.
- Maureen Bell Field ’65 has had a career as a teacher, project manager at Ford, and world traveler. Before retiring, she taught oral English in China. Since retiring, she’s visited over 25 countries, lived in China and Chile, and hiked six Camino de Santiago routes.
- Lindsey Spector ’11 is an international relations and communications professional with over a decade of experience advancing U.S. foreign policy through public diplomacy and digital engagement. She currently serves as the strategic communications officer at the U.S. Embassy in Kampala, Uganda.
- Gaynelle D. Wethers ’74G has had a career as an executive administrator, educator, diversity and inclusion expert, and community volunteer. Most recently, she served as strategist and campaign manager for Lovely Warren, elected mayor of Rochester in 2013. Wethers retired from Nazareth in May 2013 after more than 20 years as the founding director of multicultural affairs.
- Mary Ellen Wilson ’70, ’87G earned a bachelor’s in history, raised her family, and returned to Nazareth to complete a bachelor’s in nursing. For nearly four decades, she volunteered at the county, state, and national levels with the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), working to enhance emergency nursing knowledge and patient care. In 2023, she received ENA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her decades of leadership, teaching, and contributions to emergency nursing.
- Madison Dobbertin ’23, an emergency preparedness manager for Rochester Regional Health, is the 2025 GOLD Alumni Award winner, or graduate of the last decade. After graduation, Dobbertin joined AmeriCorps in partnership with FEMA, dedicating 11 months to national service. She also serves on the Monroe County Local Emergency Planning Committee.
Nazareth Athletics’ Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony honored eight notable alumni and coaches, as well as the 2001 and 2002 women's volleyball teams in a special recognition category.
The Class of 2025 hall of famers:
- Luke Wooters ’16 and Troy Haefele ’16: men's lacrosse
- Alyssa Johnston ’13: women's lacrosse
- Tim Zyburt ’16: men's volleyball
- Taylor Pierson ’16: women's track and field
- Brian Seeley ‘05: men's golf
- Ben Klempka ’05: men's tennis
- Scott Love began the men's and women's cross country/track and field programs in 2003
- The 2001 and 2002 women's volleyball teams advanced to the Elite 8 in consecutive seasons
Nazareth awarded its first Rainbow Changemakers scholarship to Noor George, a junior public history major who preserves Nazareth's LGBTIQA+ history through initiatives like compiling the LGBTQIA+ Timeline, and working on an LGBTQIA+ oral history project.
Mark your calendars and join us next year for Naz Weekend 2026, Sept. 18-20.
Contact
Julie Long | Chief PR Officer | jlong2@naz.edu | (585) 389-2456 | (585) 781-8186 (cell)
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.
