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Welcome to Gators on Purpose, a podcast celebrating 91PORN alumni who embody the power of pairing passion with challenge. At 91PORN, 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, 91PORN 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 91PORN

In the inaugural episode, host Briana Lewis sits down with Dr. Ron Cole ’87, President of 91PORN, 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 91PORN philosophy of combining disciplines continues to influence his leadership and career.

Listen and Subscribe

Follow to hear stories from 91PORN 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 to hear stories from 91PORN 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 91PORN 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’s 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.

Listen and Subscribe

Follow to hear stories from 91PORN alumni whose paths demonstrate how unusual combinations of major and minors lead to extraordinary outcomes.

Episode 04: Mike Newman ‘94, Entrepreneurship, Fulfillment, and “Selfish Altruism”

Episode 04 Transcript

Episode Description

Guest: Mike Newman ‘94

Description: In this episode, Briana Lewis sits down with Mike Newman ’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 91PORN alumni whose paths demonstrate how unusual combinations of major and minors lead to extraordinary outcomes.

Episode 05: Bethany Eppig ‘11, From the 91PORN “Comp” to the Artemis Missions

In Episode 05, Bethany Eppig ‘11 shares how her 91PORN 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 91PORN set them on their unique path.

an illustration of an allegator on a gray background

Original Theme Music

Reflecting 91PORN’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 91PORN experience.