Nate Yohannes ’07 believes in his North Star—principles that guide him forward to help those who are underrepresented or less privileged gain access to impactful opportunities.
Technology affects almost everything we do, and Nate believes in its power for the greater good. Through his work with Microsoft and now Meta, he’s bringing ethics to the forefront, ensuring artificial intelligence is unbiased—doing more to help society than hinder it. Nate sees the possibilities: How AI can be used to train employees, teach languages and advance medicine. How we can “democratize technology” to ensure it represents diverse viewpoints and considers the biases around us? But to change the future, you first need to understand our past. Nate studied history at Geneseo, seeing him on the path to a law degree, a focus on human rights, and his work creating opportunities for women and underrepresented people. He believes in technology as a way to empower people, not leave them behind.
In 2015, Nate’s push for access and equity in technology led to his appointment as a senior advisor with the US Small Business Administration and to the White House Broadband Opportunity Council, where he worked with the Obama administration to expand internet access in rural and underserved communities. Nate’s following his North Star from the hill to the tech industry and beyond—ensuring all people have access and opportunity.
During the 2022 financial year, Geneseo provided 525 student scholarships and 362 student and faculty research awards, which include undergraduate travel, research and creativity (TRAC) grants, assistantships, fellowships and ambassadorships. And in fall of 2022, more than a quarter of the students who started at Geneseo were first-generation students. All of these initiatives and the successes of our students are directly impacted by the donor support we’ve received. With ongoing funding, we’re able to continue making a lasting difference by providing access and opportunities for students and strengthening outcomes.
