Confidence, leadership, and trust in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout

Some of Nazareth's very own came together to form an interdisciplinary team and joined the SBL Speaker Series. They shared information, insight, and implications related to the roles of confidence, leadership, and trust in the COVID-19 vaccine.

COVID-19 cases and new variants present continuous challenges for our local, state, and national leaders. As the need for vaccination grows, we will examine vital issues, enigmatic barriers, and potential opportunities. Our presenters will delve into vaccine product development, communication, distribution, and overall public health implications - shifting focus to the political, economic, social/cultural, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTLE) factors influencing the overall vaccine rollout plan.

A special thanks to the team for an engaging and informative presentation!

For those who missed it: Mortar & PESTLE: Confidence, Leadership, and Trust in the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout

Lauren Brooks, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Chemistry and Biochemistry

Lauren completed her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Rochester. She defended her thesis while completing her hospital based medical technology clinical year. She worked in Clinical Microbiology for four years before becoming a faculty member at Nazareth College in the Clinical Laboratory Sciences Bachelor's degree program. Over the last year, Lauren has worked periodically at the University of Rochester Central Labs performing COVID-19 testing.

Y. Michael Chen, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Public Health in Nursing

Michael holds a Ph.D. in Health Services Research from University of Rochester. Prior to joining Naz, Michael was a community organizer, a project coordinator at a public health consulting firm, a youth group leader, and a research assistant. Michael is broadly interested in health policy and outcomes research in the context of children, family, and health systems. This semester, Michael is teaching a capstone course that incorporates service-learning, a course on health communication, and co-teaching the course on global health with Dr. Mary Dahl Maher.

Nuala Boyle, Director of Civic Engagement and Experiential Learning Outcomes, in the Center for Civic Engagement

Nuala earned her M.A. in Religious Studies from Sacred Heart University. Boyle has worked in higher education for 25 years, partnering with community-based organizations to support students in their learning, deliberating and taking action to address social and economic inequalities, creating positive change in both community and student. Her efforts during the last 10 years at Nazareth have enabled the college to become nationally recognized for its strong community outcomes and commitment to experiential education.

Bryan Adams, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Marketing Communications Leadership Program

Bryan holds an M.A. in Liberal Studies from Nazareth College. Prior to joining Naz, Bryan was a consultant for several local agencies and held strategic marketing positions for Gorbel, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, and Harris Beach PLLC. He currently teaches digital marketing and analytics, buyer behavior and content marketing. Areas of research interest include digital transformation, sales automation, and the effective use of marketing technology.

New artificial intelligence institute benefits students, businesses, and society

Artificial intelligence is changing business and the public sector, bringing advantages and new possibilities as well as risks to individuals, groups of people, and businesses/organizations. Examples:

• Machine learning software promises efficiencies, but Amazon had to scrap its resume-vetting software because it was based on data about current, overwhelmingly male engineers, so it consistently discriminated against women. 
• Recently, Twitter apologized for deploying an image-cropping AI that preferred white faces over black.
• Artificial intelligence can provide greater efficiency in medical diagnosis and personalized treatment, but models trained on biased data encode the historic privileging of white patients over patients of color as well as men over women, both in services and in the research basis for care.

In response to urgent needs for technology that’s designed for positive and just outcomes, rather than causing harm, Nazareth College is launching the Institute for Technology, AI, and Society (ITAS) to become a global leader in preparing students for these in-demand jobs. The interdisciplinary collection of academic programs and faculty, experiential learning for students, and community connections will benefit students as well as nonprofits and businesses facing AI challenges and opportunities.

This initiative includes a new major in the School of Business and Leadership for students interested in becoming a business or nonprofit tech project leader or innovator. The major, business, artificial intelligence, and innovation, will prepare students to:

• Guide organizations to optimize data they have
• Use artificial intelligence creatively and ethically to support strategic objectives
• Lead successful teams to implement AI applications

Students also have the option of a minor in business, artificial intelligence, and innovation — which pairs well with majors within the School of Business and Leadership such as marketing, accounting, finance, and business leadership (formerly business management).

"You'll be more marketable to employers if you have knowledge about technologies and artificial intelligence,” says Joseph Porter, Jr., a Nazareth assistant clinical professor with a doctorate in computing and a teaching focus on business analytics, which includes decision making based on insights from data. Nazareth’s interdisciplinary minor in analytics teaches students to use data, technology, statistics, and judgment to assess situations and inform predictions — an in-demand skill set in the job market. 

Learn more

• News story: Why Nazareth College is Preparing to Lead the Way in Artificial Intelligence Ethics
• Prospective students: See how ethics meets AI at Nazareth, naz.edu/ai

Naz SBL cohosts first annual global case competition

Dean Kenneth Rhee, School of Business and Leadership, Nazareth College, and Dean Tamás Kolati, School (Faculty) of Economic and Social Sciences, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, are hosting the first annual global case competition on May 21, 2021. Small teams of undergrads, grads, or a combination of both are encouraged to participate. Registration is now open.

Each student team will analyze the case and make recommendations for resolving the issues identified in the case. The competition provides an excellent opportunity for students to hone their analytical and problem-solving abilities and practice collaboration and teamwork as well as communication skills. The prize money associated with the case competition is the icing on the cake! Ready to learn more?

To register for the May 21, 2021, global case competition, please send the following to Elizabeth Degnan, edegnan5@naz.edu, before the end of the business day on April 1.

• Name of student team
• Names of team members
• College / University representing
• Brief description of each team member (year, major, nationality)

Questions? Please contact the organizer, Dean Kenneth Rhee, krhee9@naz.edu.