Accomplished data strategist Stephanie Singer will speak at this year’s Geneseo Recognizes Excellence, Achievement and Talent Day. With her wide range of impressive life accomplishments and experiences, she will educate students by addressing the issues of power and democracy and discussing their prominent role in society.
Singer has devoted countless years of her life to educating people, learning about societal power and volunteering religiously for various organizations. Through her unique experiences, Singer learned and now teaches others the importance of democracy and systematic power.
Singer hopes that, through her words on G.R.E.A.T. Day, she will inspire students to think more critically about power and respect since she felt uninformed on topics in her younger years.
“I will speak about power and democracy from a concrete perspective. I chose this topic because I wish I had understood it earlier in life,” Singer said in a phone interview. “I wasted a lot of time and effort doing things I thought should be powerful before I got involved in local politics and learned how power really works.”
In earlier years, Singer acknowledged that she dreamed of helping people and making change. She is heavily involved in local politics and campaigns, where she vouches for her beliefs.
Specifically, with her passion for democracy, she has prompted change by starting a podcast. Her podcast, “Defend Democracy,” preaches why she believes a fair, equivocal democratic system is so crucial to have today. In hopes of preaching and fighting for fairness in the government system, her motto idealizes equality and respect.
“Prevent suffering, create joy.” Singer said. “Free, fair elections and an informed, engaged electorate.”
In addition to her podcast, she currently assumes a role in Verified Voting, an organization that focuses on the role of technology in elections. Their project ensures the promotion of “sound post-election audits.”
As a woman who exhibits involvement in various organizations, of intelligence in the real-world and of a passion for different educative fields such as mathematics where she published two books, Singer surpasses all levels of success.
This makes her qualified to offer advice to Geneseo students as she reflects on a time when she wanted to make change and realized that her occupation did not fulfill her wish to help others.
“Find a mission and start working to move it forward. Be aware of how your actions and choices affect your mission. By the way, a mission doesn’t need to be a public mission—it could be as simple as ‘have fun!’” Singer said. “And you don’t need to stick to one mission for the rest of your life. When you’re ready for a mission that works to help others, you’ll do your most satisfying work, but you need to put your own oxygen mask on first.”
Singer’s words are applicable to anyone who questions their life’s aspirations. Her knowledge and desire to educate herself and others is inspirational.
Students will have the opportunity to attend her lecture on G.R.E.A.T. Day, April 17 at 1:45 p.m. in Wadsworth Auditorium.