A Seton Hall profile where grief, service, and fundraising turn into long-term community help.
Kathy Cunningham's story frames grief as sustained action, following her work with Tunnel to Towers after her brother Donnie Robertson Jr. died on 9-11.
Pirate’s Eye Podcast
Seton Hall Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy
42 episodes listed below
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In their own words
Seton Hall boasts more than 100,000 living alumni. In this podcast, we chat with some of those proud Pirates about their latest accomplishments and career paths. We have our Pirate’s Eye on what great alumni minds can do.
As heard by us
Based on 6 episodes we listened to · September 2026
Alumni interviews turn career profiles into grounded lessons about mentorship, higher education, entrepreneurship, and the experiences that shape professional purpose.
Bianca Velez gives Pirate's Eye Podcast a clear recurring question: how did Seton Hall shape the person an alumnus became? Her interviews trace careers through the mentors, setbacks, and campus experiences behind them, letting guests explain their choices in their own terms…
Why you'd press play
One last jar of Dad's pesto gives your next alumni catch-up a lump in the throat.
Press play if you want
- to hear a founder's business story with the grief still visible
- to find better ways to support first-generation students and their families
Talks about
Best episodes of Pirate’s Eye Podcast
Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.
A steady alumni profile shaped by learning, service, and civic responsibility.
Dr. Naima Ricks reads as a Seton Hall alumna whose work in education and service took shape early and has stayed central to her role as Executive Director of Afterschool All-Stars New Jersey.
A Seton Hall alumni story about music, punctuality, and the work behind every performance.
Bianca Velez follows Devin McGuire from Seton Hall transfer and commuter student to professional baritone conductor and music educator, and the episode is at its best when it lingers on the labor behind a music career.
A warm Christmas conversation about listening, campus community, and Seton Hall's call to something bigger.
Father Colin Kay brings a warm December reflection on Christmas at Seton Hall, and the conversation fits neatly with his work as Vice President for Mission and Ministry.
A Stillman School of Business graduate turns career change into a Franciscan calling.
Brother Greg Cellini's conversation follows a Stillman School of Business graduate from the corporate world into Franciscan brotherhood, with his work as host of Thank God for Monday and author of Transform Yourself, Transform the World, A Franciscan View of Career folded into…
A thoughtful alumni conversation about gratitude, trauma, and community healing.
Dr. Emmanuel Mercedes gives a Seton Hall alumni conversation a steadier, more human shape than that setup might suggest. Manny's path as a three-time graduate, former EOP student development specialist, and Unanue Latino Institute board member gives the piece its frame, but the…
A warm alumni conversation that ties campus memory to volunteer service.
For National Volunteer Month, Pirate's Eye changes things up by putting host Bianca Velez in the guest seat, with Erin Smith steering a conversation about Bianca's Seton Hall path as a student, employee, and volunteer.
A warm alumni story about finding voice, purpose, and a first break that changed everything.
Pirate's Eye gives Linda Schaefer's Seton Hall story a calm, steady frame. It follows how she moved from the path others expected toward a career she made for herself, with her early graduation, the IRS pilot program with 10 students, and her move into forensic accounting giving…
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Episodes
- 1
Pirate’s Eye on Kathy Cunningham - Ep.34
Hidden gemKathy Cunningham, Class of 1985, joins the conversation.
·28m·1 clip - 2
Pirates Eye on Marcellis A. Counts '19 - Ep.39
Hidden gemMarcellus Counts talks about how the idea for Apian Industry first came together during Seton Hall's Pirate Pitch Boot Camp.
·32m·2 clips - 3
Pirate's Eye on Viviana E. Zambrano '03 - Episode 40
The show welcomes Viviana Zambrano for a warm, alumni-centered conversation.
·42m·2 clips - 4
Pirate’s Eye on Dr. Naima Ricks '13 - Ep.37
Hidden gemDr.
·26m·1 clip - 5
Pirate’s Eye on Father Colin Kay, M.Div. ’04 - Ep. 31
Hidden gemDecember settles over Seton Hall.
·44m·2 clips - 6
Pirate’s Eye on Dr. Enmanuel Mercedes ’02 / M.A. ’05 / Ph.D. ’13 - Episode #36
Hidden gemDr.
·49m·3 clips - 7
Pirate's Eye on Claudia Guevara-Olivier '12 - Ep. 32
Hidden gemClaudia Guevara returns to Seton Hall roots through a conversation that links alumni memory with a career in higher education.
·49m·3 clips - 8
Pirate’s Eye on Victor Gomez ’17 - Ep. 29
Victor Gomez, Seton Hall alum and eSports manager, discusses the growth of the university's eSports program from a small club to Big East champions.
·41m·3 clips - 9
Pirate's Eye on Luciana (Contuzzi) Gencarelli '14 - Episode 42
Hidden gemLuchana Gencarelli wanted a store early.
·36m·2 clips - 10
Pirate’s Eye on Devin Mcguire ’16 - Ep. 28
Devin McGuire, a Seton Hall alum and music educator, discusses his journey as a transfer and commuter student, his late start in music, and his dual career teaching middle school while performing in touring productions like the Zelda Symphony.
·27m·2 clips - 11
Full Court Press: Previewing the Season with Bryan Felt ’97 - Ep. 30
Brian Felt, Seton Hall's Director of Athletics, discusses his journey from fan to athletic director, the impact of NIL on student athletes, and previews the basketball season.
·37m·3 clips - 12
Pirate's Eye on Brother Greg '85 - Ep.35
Hidden gemBrother Greg Cellini traces a Seton Hall path that began as a dream and grew into Franciscan brotherhood.
·30m·1 clip - 13
Pirate's Eye on Carina Castagna '21, '22 M.P.A - Episode 41
Hidden gemKarina Castagna returns to Pirate's Eye as a two-time Seton Hall graduate, Young Alumna of the Year, and current Young Alumni Council member.
·35m·2 clips - 14
Pirate’s Eye on Linda Schaeffer ’73 - Ep.38
Hidden gemLinda Schaefer joins for a reflective alumni conversation about the Seton Hall path that shaped her.
·34m·2 clips - 15
Pirate's Eye on Viannca Velez '10 - Ep. 33
Hidden gemFor National Volunteer Month, Erin Smith flips the script and puts Bianca Velez in the guest chair.
·38m·2 clips - 16
Pirate’s Eye on Bob Sumner ’84 - Ep. 27
Mar 20, 2023·50m - 17
Pirate’s Eye on Christmas at the Hall - Ep. 26
Dec 9, 2022·31m - 18
Pirate’s Eye on Cathy Davey ’83 - Ep. 25
Nov 30, 2022·34m - 19
Pirate’s Eye on Tela Wittig ’19 - Ep. 24
Nov 1, 2022·33m - 20
Pirate’s Eye on the Center for Sports Media and Jane McManus - Ep. 23
Sep 28, 2022·30m - 21
Pirate’s Eye on Kevin Oliva ’20 - Ep. 22
Aug 9, 2022·51m - 22
Pirate’s Eye on Matt Horace ’13 - Ep. 21
Jun 28, 2022·32m - 23
Pirate’s Eye on Tiffany Knighten ’15 - Ep. 20
May 2, 2022·36m - 24
Pirate’s Eye on The Pub - Ep. 19
Mar 30, 2022·38m - 25
Pirate’s Eye on Women in Business - Ep. 18
Dec 7, 2021·1h - 26
Pirate’s Eye on Jason Hernandez ’05 - Ep. 17
Oct 15, 2021·40m - 27
Pirate’s Eye on Grant Billmeier ’07 - Ep. 16
Sep 22, 2021·38m - 28
Pirate’s Eye on Sampson Davis ’95, M.D. - Ep. 15
Jun 3, 2021·48m - 29
Pirate’s Eye on Leigh Ann Rofrano ’21 - Ep. 14
May 3, 2021·27m - 30
Pirate’s Eye on Scott Chesney ’92 - Ep. 13
Apr 5, 2021·46m - 31
Pirate’s Eye on Anna Negrón ’13 - Ep. 12
Mar 2, 2021·25m - 32
Pirate’s Eye on Daniel Jean, Ed.D. ’10 - Ep. 11
Feb 5, 2021·28m - 33
Pirate’s Eye on Matt Loughlin ’79 - Ep. 10
Dec 5, 2020·33m - 34
Pirate’s Eye on Sabrina Troiani ’93 - Ep. 09
Nov 7, 2020·31m - 35
Pirate’s Eye on John Garcia ’10 - Ep. 08
Oct 7, 2020·48m - 36
Pirate’s Eye on Gerard Hanson ’75/J.D. ’78 - Ep.07
Sep 2, 2020·25m - 37
Pirate’s Eye on Carolyn Welsh ’94 - Ep. 06
Aug 5, 2020·24m - 38
Pirate’s Eye on Chuck Aaron ’90 - Ep. 05
Jul 9, 2020·24m - 39
Pirate’s Eye on Catherine Alicia Georges ’65, Ed.D. - Ep. 04
Jun 2, 2020·26m - 40
Pirate’s Eye on Bryan Jakovcic ’09 - Ep. 03
May 5, 2020·36m - 41
Pirate’s Eye on Tiriq Callaway ’10 - Ep. 02
Apr 7, 2020·27m - 42
Pirate’s Eye on Carrie Sharpe - Ep. 01
Mar 4, 2020·23m