Alyssa Bileschi '19, who's majoring in communication and media with a minor in digital marketing and design (now digital media and design), says two professors in her major became strong mentors. "It would be an understatement to say these two individuals have solely been professors to me. They've taught me pretty much everything I know about how to be a professional in my field while giving me life advice whenever I need it. Whether it's stopping by my advisor's office for a quick chat about college/life balance or picking my internship supervisor's brain about the multitude of strands in the field of communication, they're always quick to make sure I'm happy with whatever I'm doing and getting the most out of it as a student. The professors in the communication department here are one of the strongest reasons I've loved my time at Naz so much."

Update: After graduation, she went on to work in marketing and became assistant director of programming, resources, and marketing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. "My passions include exploring art museums [and obsessing over their boundary-pushing social media content], fighting for human rights, and the food/beverage industry—basically the things that make humans 'human.' "

Alex Corvi '19, a business management major who plays hockey, came to Nazareth to be both a student and an athlete: "It's a strong academic school. I felt it was a place where I'd be provided opportunities to enhance my skills moving forward into a professional work setting and to pursue an athletic career.

Update: He went on to play hockey professionally in France before becoming a sales director in the southeast region for Personify Health, which helps businesses personalize and optimize their investments in health, well-being, and benefits. Looking back on his Naz days six years later, he said, "What I take away from Naz the most is the people — from faculty and staff to my teammates, coaches, and classmates — the people at Naz is what makes it a special place."

Duncan Eigg '20 was drawn to the opportunity to get accepted as a high school senior to both Nazareth and either Syracuse University College of Law or University at Buffalo School of Law. "What inspired me to choose Naz over any other school is the 3+3 program. It cuts down on the years you have to spend in school. People here who are in charge of the program are super nice and helpful. The advisors will help through every step of the way, and you just learn a lot about law. Of course, the small campus is also a big factor because the professors don't just see you as a number; the school is so small they can actually get to know you, rather than you being 1 in 150."

Update: He earned his doctorate from Syracuse University College of Law and received a certificate of advanced study for national security and counterterrorism law. Eigg became a licensed attorney at Woods Oviatt Gilman LLP.

Alyssa Gould '20 transferred to Nazareth from a SUNY school "because the nursing program is really good" (100% first-time pass rate on the national licensing exam). She is double majoring in nursing and public health and loves the collaborative spirit: "In every class, even people from different majors try to work together to achieve the same goals." She's doing clinical experiences at several local hospitals. "Those are really cool because the nurses all help you out on the floor and you get to see what it's actually like to be a nurse and it's not just a classroom simulation or not just what you're learning on paper. It's the actual real-life experience."

Update: She became a registered nurse at the University of Rochester Medical Center.

Sara Cinelli '22, a music therapy major with minors in cognitive neuropsychology and music history, says her favorite things about life at Nazareth include a regularly offered game with groceries as prizes. "I love how we have an array of activities. We have grocery bingo; that's always fun. There's theater trivia. There's something for everyone, so everyone feels involved." That ties into something else that stands out to her about the campus: "The community and how welcoming they are. It's a nice small campus and it feels like home." She made friends in her dorm and also is part of the music therapy student club.

Update: Now named Sara Fogler, MS, MT-BC, LCAT-LP, she went on for her master's in music therapy. She works as a music therapist at the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function — an internationally recognized non-profit agency offering groundbreaking music therapy programs to restore, maintain and improve patients’ physical, emotional, and neurological function through the methodical use of music.

Sarah Stolberg '23, a math major with adolescence education, says, "I love how you have the ability to pursue all of your passions. I'm part of the volleyball team, the jazz band, and the adventure club because I love the outdoors." She especially loves her jazz group because participating is not a requirement like in high school. "The people who are there genuinely want to be there, and they're all so incredibly talented. You're just surrounded by incredible musicians and it's just so fun to me. I absolutely love it." She chose Nazareth because of the "overall welcoming atmosphere. All of the other colleges I visited weren't really friendly. But here, every person you pass looks up and says hi or holds the door open."

Update: She went on for a master's degree in curriculum design and instructional technology and became a high school math teacher in Webster, New York. 

Lassana Diaby '21 (business management major), says, "I like that everyone on campus is pretty friendly and people are not afraid to approach you and say what's up and hi. As a community, we're able to help each other grow and build connections that will last a lifetime."

Update: He went on to be a field technician/operator at Optimum Controls Corporation in Reading, Pennsylvania, which provides control system solutions for industrial, municipal, and commercial markets.

Celine Kristoff '20, a psychology major with minors in social welfare and analytics, says her favorite things have been multiple experiences in the wider community. "One of the things I've been involved in since day one is Partners for Learning — an awesome program that lets Naz students go out in the community and work with middle school and elementary school students. I've also done a lot with the psychology department, which has a lot of opportunities, like going to the Eastern Psychological Association (EPA) conference in New York City." Meanwhile, she has interned at Mt. Hope Family Center, "which is awesome because I get to do research with children and families from the Rochester area. I found out about this experience through my professors and through Nazareth's Center for Life's Work."

Update: She went on to Penn State University for a master's and a Ph.D. in school psychology. She works as a school psychologist for Altoona Area School District in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

Those career-building experiences happen overseas as well as nearby. Mackenzie Reed '20 — a communication and media major with minors in business management and the entertainment and recording industry — did a multimedia journalism summer internship in Bologna, Italy, with two other Nazareth students and a Nazareth professor who taught one of their courses there. "It was my first time being abroad and I was there for a month. I did multimedia work there and it was such a great experience. I learned a lot about the craft of video editing and social media."

In Rochester, she was an editorial intern for (585) Magazine and did a social media coordinator internship. On campus, she was editor-in-chief of an online student newspaper, The Golden Gazette.

Update: She became a content specialist for Luxury Presence digital platform for real estate agents and companies — and has written two novels published by Harper Collins Publishing. She says she cultivated her love of storytelling at Nazareth.