Makalah Sizer '22, '26G measures success in wedding invites, not wins
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| Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach Makalah Sizer, at right holding a digital tablet, cheers on the Naz women’s basketball team at the Battle of the Beaks game 2025 with Stephanie Spoto, assistant coach. |
- Graduate program: Strategic Marketing, M.S.
- Undergraduate programs: Business Management, B.S., minors in Marketing and Communication & Media, at Nazareth
- From: Brighton High School, NY
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| Makalah Sizer '22, '26G is the student speaker at the graduate student commencement May 15, 2026. |
How have your Naz experiences shaped you?
I’m more confrontational — in a positive way. The 18-year-old Makalah was more in my shell. Now I feel confident to speak up in all aspects of my life, including as a coach and in my personal relationships. I’ve experienced so much, both as an undergrad and graduate student, that helped me refine my skills. My time here has enabled me to be a better communicator, to network, and to market myself.
What’s next after Naz?
My goal is to continue to grow and learn in the coaching profession — currently as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Nazareth — while furthering my marketing career! My coaching work includes working on a newsletter for our alumni and running our social media. I enjoy the marketing field so much. It allows me to connect with others and be creative and tell a story.
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| Women’s basketball team on their '25-'26 winter break trip competing in California. |
What are you most looking forward to in your life’s work?
I'm most looking forward to applying what I learned in my undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as my coaching career, as I head toward my next adventure! Naz has really prepared me in all aspects, including refining my communication skills and time management.
I went into coaching because I love seeing the athletes learn and grow as great players and as individuals. And I appreciate being part of their lives, even when they’re done with the program. I’m always a phone call or text away. Yes, winning is amazing, but I value relationship building. If I’m going to their weddings and baby showers that would be the biggest impact to me.
What’s been challenging?
My calendar is always full. Completing a graduate degree while also working full-time, having a part-time job, and maintaining my personal relationships has been challenging. I began my graduate program the same year that I made a career change into coaching, and that has been by far one of the hardest things I've ever done. Readjusting to being a student after taking a year and a half off, and also prioritizing being a good student, was a learning curve, but has also been very rewarding.
Leaning on my family, friends, and my faith have been the biggest things to help me meet the challenge. And at the end of the day, I’m doing something that I love.
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| Talking with Nazareth basketball players Sarina McDowell, Molly Benetti, Tessa Schuey, and Kiara Anglin at the start of a game. |
Who’s had a great impact on you?
It's actually impossible for me to choose one as I've been here almost a decade, but I'd say Professor Bryan Adams and Coach Kelly Dunne-Romig have been two individuals who have had a huge impact on me and my life.
Bryan Adams was one of my favorite professors during my time as an undergrad, and his classes really prepped me for my first job out of undergrad. Since then, he's really moved into a mentor role, someone whose brain I can pick about marketing, career stuff, and life.
Coach Dunne has been in my life for almost a decade. She recruited me out of high school, I had the privilege to play for her, and now I coach under her. She's taught me a lot about the sport, about life, and the importance of hard work and dedication. I am forever grateful to her, and am blessed to now also call her a friend and to be a piece of her family.
