High school seniors! We have extended the deadline to receive $4,000!

Visit campus by May 1 to earn the Visit Grant ($1,000/year) to add to your scholarship and aid offer upon admission.

Skip to content

Welcome to Gators on Purpose, a podcast celebrating Allegheny College alumni who embody the power of pairing passion with challenge. At Allegheny, being a Gator on Purpose means shaping your own extraordinary path—where 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, Allegheny College graduates excel everywhere from Wall Street to Hollywood, NASA to Washington, D.C. Each guest will bring their unique story of where these “unusual combinations” 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 ’87, President of Allegheny College

In the inaugural episode, host Briana Lewis sits down with Dr. Ron Cole ’87, President of Allegheny College, 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.

Listen and Subscribe

Follow Gators on Purpose to hear stories from Allegheny College alumni whose paths demonstrate how unusual combinations of major and minors lead to extraordinary outcomes.

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

Episode 02 Transcript

Episode Description

Guest: Katie Shipp ‘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.

Listen and Subscribe

Follow Gators on Purpose to hear stories from Allegheny College 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

In Episode 03, Isaac Gittens ’14 discusses how his love of football and his embrace of new opportunities, at Allegheny and beyond, have taken him to unexpected places.

Release date: March 31, 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.

an illustration of an allegator on a gray background

Original Theme Music

Reflecting Allegheny’s culture of interdisciplinary studies, Gators on Purpose features original theme music composed by Dominic Juliana ’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.