Catalyze

Today we have a story from Morehead-Cain Ambassador David von Storch ’80 about how he met his classmate, Andy Spencer ’80. It’s one of resilience, connection, and gratitude. It begins in the wilderness. The Morehead-Cain Day of Giving is this Friday, November 17. Support the Program by the end of the Day to help us reach our goal of 50 percent alumni giving participation. Thank you for supporting...

Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Frank Bruni ’86, is entitled, “We Are Starfish.” Frank is a Professor of the Practice of Journalism and Public Policy at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. The alumnus is also author of four New York Times best sellers, including his new memoir The Beauty of Dusk: On Vision Lost and Found...

Ray Sawyer ’13 is the director of community health partnerships at Well, a health tech and services company co-founded by Dave Werry ’06. On this episode of Catalyze, Ray shares about his path from a small, rural North Carolina town to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He touches on his public service project in Uganda as a Morehead-Cain Scholar and the “happy accident” that led him...

A group of Morehead-Cain Young Alumni, all of whom graduated from UNC–Chapel Hill within the last five years, spoke with Catalyze co-host Stella Smolowitz ’26 about leadership lessons gained at Carolina.  Today’s guests include André Ceccotti ’18, Malik Jabati ’19, Sarah Mackenzie ’20, Ashton Martin ’20, and Andrew Buchanan ’23.  The alumni have pursued careers in investing (Malik), entrepreneursh...

Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Bex Frucht ’05, is entitled, “Free Your Tumbleweed Queen.” Bex is the program manager for The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel .  More about Bex Bex Frucht ’05 is a self-ascribed “Tumbleweed Queen” whose eclectic personal and professional jour...

Today’s guest is Skip Griffin, a senior associate at Dialogos and an expert on engaging in productive discourse.  Griffin was a plaintiff in Virginia’s 1964 school desegregation lawsuit; led Harvard’s Black students through the tumult of the late 1960s; and later worked in a range of community leadership roles in public schools, at Northeastern University, and at the Boston Globe . Griffin receive...

Today’s guest is Ashton Martin ’20, a health policy analyst for United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit is an intertribal organization that advocates on behalf of thirty-three federally recognized Tribal Nations, from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico.  On this episode, Ashton shares about their social j...

Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Ricky Hurtado ’11, is entitled, “Roses in the Concrete.” Ricky is the state representative for the North Carolina House of Representatives. He is the first Latino Democrat to serve in the N.C. House. You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel .  More about Ricky  Ricky Hurtado ’11 is a m...

Today’s guest is Aaron Hiller ’03, chief counsel and Democratic deputy staff director for the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary.  On this episode, Aaron reflects on the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and what it was like to work on the ensuing two impeachments of former president Donald Trump. The alumnus also shares his thoughts on having a free and fair presidential election this Novem...

Today’s guests are Sam Lowe ’20, Scott Diekema ’19, Nicholas Byrne ’19, and Jonny Huang ’24, who Zoomed with Morehead-Cain from Brooklyn.  Sam, Scott, and Nicholas are the co-founders of recycleReality , a creative technology studio in New York that specializes in bespoke design and software solutions in music, fashion, art, and architecture. Jonny interned with the alumni this summer for his More...

Taylor Sharp ’16 is a director and producer based in Brooklyn, New York. The alumnus co-founded the independent production company Blue Cup Productions with Holland Randolph Gallagher, a writer and director.  Taylor spoke with Catalyze at a neighborhood cafe a day after the 2023 New York City Regional Event for alumni and scholars. Hailing from a creative household in Burke County, North Carolina,...

Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Malini Moorthy ’91, is entitled, “We Are Not in Golden Rock Anymore.” Malini is the General Counsel of argenx, a biotech company. You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel .  More about Malini Since 2022, Malini Moorthy ’91 has served as the General Counsel of argenx, a biotech company...

Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Bruce Gellin ’77, is entitled, “Serendipitous Lessons.” Bruce is the Chief of Global Public Health Strategy at The Rockefeller Foundation.  You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel .  More about Bruce Bruce Gellin ’77 has pursued a career that’s blended medicine, science, policy, and p...

On a spring day in Chapel Hill, Bobby Evans ’91 joined scholar host Benny Klein ’25 outside the Morehead-Cain Foundation to share about his life and career as a Major League Baseball executive. Bobby is the former general manager of the San Francisco Giants, a role he served from 2015 to 2018.  Bobby speaks about his grandmother’s pivotal advice as a high schooler, his start in baseball as an inte...

Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Sophie Cho ’23, is entitled, “Searching Beyond the Well.”  You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel .  More about Sophie Sophie Cho ’23 of Raleigh received her bachelor’s in public policy, business, and statistics from Carolina. During her time as a scholar, she interned with the U.S....

Maggie Helmke ’23 and Roli Enonuya ’23, two graduating scholars, joined Catalyze to reflect on their four years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Maggie and Roli share with scholar host Stella Smolowitz ’26 about their favorite classes and memories, challenges they overcame, and advice for incoming and current scholars. The seniors also share their plans following graduation on...

Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Janel Monroe ’10, is entitled, “Finding Freedom Through Fertility.” Janel is the strategy senior manager for Accenture. You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel .  Janel Monroe ’10 is an inclusion, diversity, and equity practitioner who currently works as a strategy senior manager at A...

For Earth Day, we’re releasing a three-part miniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina.  Elias Guedira ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 of the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team traveled to Tryon (Polk County) to understand more about the food we consume and those who produce it.  The two co-hosts spoke with representatives of a farmer’s market, the founder of a creamer, and Carolyn Roff Henry...

For Earth Day, we’re releasing a three-part miniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina.  Elias Guedira ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 of the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team traveled to Tryon (Polk County) to understand more about the food we consume and those who produce it.  The two co-hosts spoke with representatives of a farmer’s market, the founder of a creamer, and Carolyn Roff Henry...

For Earth Day, we’re releasing a three-part miniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina.  Elias Guedira ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 of the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team traveled to Tryon (Polk County) to understand more about the food we consume and those who produce it.  The two co-hosts spoke with representatives of a farmer’s market, the founder of a creamer, and Carolyn Roff Henry...

For Earth Day, we’re releasing a three-part miniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina.  Elias Guedira ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 of the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team traveled to Tryon (Polk County) to understand more about the food we consume and those who produce it.  The two co-hosts spoke with representatives of a farmer’s market, the founder of a creamer, and Carolyn Roff Henry...

For Earth Day, we’re releasing a three-part miniseries on sustainable farming in North Carolina.  Elias Guedira ’26 and Stella Smolowitz ’26 of the Morehead-Cain Scholar Media Team traveled to Tryon (Polk County) to understand more about the food we consume and those who produce it.  The two co-hosts spoke with representatives of a farmer’s market, the founder of a creamer, and Carolyn Roff Henry...

Josh Stein, attorney general of North Carolina, spoke with the Scholar Media Team’s Cate Miller ’25 and Content Manager Sarah O’Carroll before his Food for Thought talk this spring. Stein shares about his career path to serving as attorney general, his views on academic freedom and college access, and his plans to run for state governor.  Food for Thought is a breakfast and conversation series hel...

Today’s episode is a recording of a SEVEN Talk from the 2022 Alumni Forum. This talk, given by Naimul Huq ’08, is entitled, “The Un-blockable Chain.” Naimul is the senior vice president of operations at VaynerNFT, a Web3 consultancy. You can watch all of the SEVEN Talks on our YouTube channel .  More about Naimul Naimul Huq ’08 is the SVP and head of operations for Vayner3, a Web3 consultancy. Fou...

Cindy Parlow Cone, president of U.S. Soccer, spoke with the Scholar Media Team’s Laurelle Maubert ’25 and Content Manager Sarah O’Carroll before her Food for Thought talk this spring. On this episode, Cone shares about historic equal pay agreements she led as president, her goals for the federation, and advice for female college athletes.  Cone is the first female president of U.S. Soccer and the...