花椒直播

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Welcome to Gators on Purpose, a podcast celebrating 花椒直播 alumni who embody the power of pairing passion with challenge. At Allegheny, being a Gator on Purpose means shaping your own extraordinary path鈥攚here unusual major and minor combinations lead to meaningful careers and lives grounded in purpose.

As one of the few schools that ask students to major and minor in different academic areas, 花椒直播 graduates excel everywhere from Wall Street to Hollywood, NASA to Washington, D.C. Each guest will bring their unique story of where these 鈥渦nusual combinations鈥 have taken them since graduation.

Episode Guide

Episode 01: Ron Cole ’87, Journey from Student to Alumnus to Institutional Leader.

Episode 01 Transcript

Episode Description

Guest: Dr. Ron Cole 鈥87, President of 花椒直播

In the inaugural episode, host Briana Lewis sits down with Dr. Ron Cole 鈥87, President of 花椒直播, to reflect on his journey from student to alum to institutional leader. President Cole shares insights into his undergraduate experience, the mentors and moments that shaped him, and how the Allegheny philosophy of combining disciplines continues to influence his leadership and career.

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Follow to hear stories from 花椒直播 alumni whose paths demonstrate how unusual combinations of major and minors lead to extraordinary outcomes.

Episode 02: Katie Shipp 鈥09, Empowering Survivors and Educating Communities

Episode 02 Transcript

Episode Description

Guest: Katie Shipp 鈥09

In this episode of Gators on Purpose, Briana Lewis talks with Katie Shipp, Executive Director of I Have the Right To and Pittsburgh Magazine 2025 40 Under 40 Honoree. A psychology major and religious studies minor, Shipp reflects on how Bonner service, AmeriCorps, and law school shaped her path advocating for survivors of sexual assault. After more than a decade practicing law, she shifted to prevention and education work nationwide. Shipp shares insights on community, courage, experiential learning, and building a meaningful career at the intersection of passion and purpose.

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Follow to hear stories from 花椒直播 alumni whose paths demonstrate how unusual combinations of major and minors lead to extraordinary outcomes.

Episode 03: Isaac Gittens ’14, Enduring Love of Football, Evolving Sense of Purpose

Episode 03 Transcript

Episode Description

Guest: : Isaac Gittens ’14

In the third episode of Gators on Purpose, host Briana Lewis sits down with Isaac Gittens ’14, who translated his passion for football into a career with the National Football League (NFL). Gittens’ journey to Allegheny was sparked by a positive interaction with the football coaching staff, and he worked in the athletic department as a student.

After graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in managerial economics with double minors in communication and Black Studies, Gittens pursued a graduate assistantship at Baylor University with the American Football Coaches Association. Today, Gittens manages pipelines for coaches, officials, and players. He is particularly proud of his work in flag football, as he creates pathways for women in the sport and sees the game reach the 2028 Olympics.

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Follow to hear stories from 花椒直播 alumni whose paths demonstrate how unusual combinations of major and minors lead to extraordinary outcomes.

Episode 04: Mike Newman 鈥94, Entrepreneurship, Fulfillment, and 鈥淪elfish Altruism鈥

Episode 04 Transcript

Episode Description

Guest: Mike Newman 鈥94

Description: In this episode, Briana Lewis sits down with Mike Newman 鈥94 to discuss how his double major in philosophy and English paved the way for his career in law and high-tech entrepreneurship.

Newman shares his journey from a student-athlete recovering from injury to a technology CEO to chairman of the Nicholas Academic Center. He argues that a liberal arts education is the best defense against a rapidly changing professional landscape.

Listen and Subscribe

Follow to hear stories from 花椒直播 alumni whose paths demonstrate how unusual combinations of major and minors lead to extraordinary outcomes.

Episode 05: Bethany Eppig 鈥11, From the Allegheny 鈥淐omp鈥 to the Artemis Missions

In Episode 05, Bethany Eppig 鈥11 shares how her Allegheny senior comp on the use of algae in biofuels helped launch her into a career at NASA, supporting the Artemis Missions.

Release Date: May 26, 2026

Faculty member Brianna Lewis in the podcast studio

Your Host

Host Briana Lewis, Ph.D, Faculty Liaison to the Center for Career & Professional Development (CCPD) and Associate Professor of French, talks with interesting and influential alumni about their extraordinary journeys, and how Allegheny set them on their unique path.

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Original Theme Music

Reflecting Allegheny鈥檚 culture of interdisciplinary studies, Gators on Purpose features original theme music composed by Dominic Juliana 鈥26, a chemistry major and music minor. The intro music is performed by Wendy Plyler, adjunct music instructor, highlighting the collaborative spirit between students and faculty that defines the Allegheny experience.