The religious studies and poli-sci grad heads into paralegal work supporting tenants’ rights.
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| Facilitating a small group dialogue with students, faculty, staff, and community members at Nazareth’s Centennial Interfaith Summit. This event brought three renowned women scholars on Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to campus to share how their religious traditions enrich their commitments to dialogue, peacebuilding, and just relationships. Left to right: James Moore ‘28, me, and Nazareth President Beth Paul, Ph.D. |
Majors: Religious Studies and Political Science
Minors: History and DEI & Interdisciplinary Interfaith Studies
From: Cortland High School (NY)
Best experiences in college?
Some of my favorite Nazareth experiences have been on short-term study abroad programs and Solidarity and Social Justice Retreats. I’ve had the privilege of traveling with faculty and fellow students to Italy, South Korea, Germany, Poland, and the American South (and I’ll be taking one final Naz trip to Vietnam and Cambodia shortly after graduation). Learning in the classroom is great, but it doesn’t compare to learning through travel.
Visiting historical sites, being immersed in another culture, or hearing directly from survivors of atrocities or everyday heroes of social movements are just a few examples of what travel can offer. Through Naz, I’ve been able to explore Catholicism by traveling to the Vatican (and meeting with a head of state — Sr. Rafaella Petrini, Ph.D, who became the first woman to lead the government of the Vatican City State!), understand American civil rights history by meeting with veterans of the movement, bear witness to the Holocaust by visiting concentration camps and hearing from survivors, and become fully immersed in Korean history and culture by living in Seoul for a summer! These are just a few of the highlights of my time traveling with Naz. In addition to shaping my college experience, these journeys have inspired what I believe will be a lifelong love of travel.
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| Standing atop Inwangsan Mountain in the heart of Seoul, South Korea, with Den and Ryan – two now-lifelong friends from Ukraine and Scotland whom I met while studying abroad in Seoul. |
What’s next after Naz?
I will stay in Rochester to work as a paralegal with JustCause and the Tenant Defense Project.
What are you most looking forward to in your life’s work? How has Naz prepared you?
I am most looking forward to working with people and helping to address the issues they face. Service is at the core of Nazareth’s identity, and I feel that my education here has prepared me to listen and respond to the needs of those with whom I work.
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| Celebrating an Empire 8 title in the 4x800 meter relay with teammates (standing) Gavin McAllister ’26 and Cole Hastings ’27, and Kenny Williams ’24 (front left). Competing on the cross country and track and field teams was one of many highlights of my experience at Naz. |
What lessons will you take with you from your Nazareth years?
One lesson that I will take away from my years at Nazareth is the importance of building relationships and cultivating “soft skills.” Reading, writing, and researching are certainly important, but these types of skills are unlikely to get you very far on their own. Being able to build bridges and work with others is far more important.
The most successful people are those who can embody and practice qualities such as empathy, compassion, patience, and grace. Positive relationships and personal connections go much further in life than bullet points on a resume.
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| A celebratory photo with faculty and fellow student workers at the Hickey Center after hosting a seminar and public lecture with Dr. Michael Emerson, Director of the Baker Institute’s Religion and Public Life Program at Rice University. Left to right, back row: Dr. Susan Nowak, SSJ; Dr. Syeda Beena Butool; Dr. Angela Herrald; Dr. Michael Emerson; Dr. Harry Murray; Dr. Muhammad Shafiq; me. Center row: Dr. Devparna Roy, Rebekah Garlach ’29, Livia Dunbar ’29, Treasure Briggs ’27. Front: Wania Ansari ’26. |
Who’s had a great impact on you?
One faculty member who has had a great impact on me and my experience at Nazareth is Dr. Muhammad Shafiq, professor of religious studies and director of the Hickey Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue. I was fortunate enough to take three of his courses: Interfaith and Pluralism in America, Qur’an and Social Justice, and Malcolm and Martin: A Study of the American Rights Movement, which I consider to be one of the most important classes I took at Nazareth.
None of Dr. Shafiq’s courses were limited to the classroom. Each of his classes included experiential elements, whether it be visiting diverse places of worship, attending seminars to hear from local leaders and activists, or volunteering at nonprofit organizations. I credit Dr. Shafiq with bringing me into the religious studies major and with leading me toward work that seeks to ameliorate the most pressing social justice issues of our time.
Dr. Shafiq also welcomed me as a student worker at the Hickey Center, a role that allowed me to make connections and cultivate skills that will help me long after I graduate. Dr. Shafiq was always there to offer guidance and feedback, but he frequently pushed me to be creative, solve problems, and take on leadership roles within the center. Last summer, Dr. Shafiq was critical in helping me secure an internship at JustCause, which is where I will be working full-time starting in May. My time as both a student and an employee of Dr. Shafiq has shaped me into who I am, and I could never express my gratitude to him enough.
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| Addressing over 600 Rochester-area youth at the Hickey Center’s annual Global Citizenship Conference. The GCC, which I’ve coordinated every year I’ve worked at the Hickey Center, brings rural, urban, and suburban high school students to Nazareth’s campus to learn about diverse religions and cultures. |
Joseph Cataldo is a 2026 Commencement student speaker. This story is part of a graduating student profile series
