Being the Change

Experience the Episode

Presented by

Join Dr. Milo Dodson ’08 and a panel of intergenerational alumni, Dr. Dom (Dominic) Acri ’18, Savanna Morgan ’20, and Dominique DeMoe ’19, as they explore the legacy of the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program. Discover how “Being the Change” transcends individual success, fostering a communal ecosystem of advocacy that spans decades. Learn why betting on yourself is the first step toward institutional transformation.

Since 1986, the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program has served as a cornerstone of many students’ university experiences, guiding them through the critical transition from high school to campus life and beyond. The Program, built on three core pillars of leadership, intellectual engagement, and commitment service, has been more than just a summer program; it is a lifelong community committed to making a positive difference in the world. We invite you to hear stories of struggles and successes that have shaped Balfour Scholars’ journey over forty years.

Meet the Moderator:  Dr. Milo Dodson ’08

Originally from Covina, CA, Dr. Milo Dodson ’08 earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Dodson currently serves as Senior Manager of Diversity & Inclusion and Community Outreach at Belkin International, Inc. Prior to joining Belkin in January 2021, Dr. Dodson served at the UC Irvine Counseling Center for 8 years. In addition to clinical responsibilities, he also taught a class called Ensuring #BlackLivesMatter, started a Black men’s group, and served as a liaison to both the Athletics Department and Esports Program.

Dr. Dodson is a committed advocate for service-based leadership, directing Hip-Hop artist Common’s Dreamers and Believers Summer Youth Camp for nearly six years, and volunteering for both Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp and Kenny Stills’ Still Growing Summit. He contributed an original essay to April Ryan’s book At Mama’s Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White, speaks as an invited guest for radio stations and keynotes, including a panel with Kerry Washington, Nnamdi Asomugha, and Yesi Ortiz for the movie Crown Heights. Dr. Dodson’s unique pedigree as a Counseling Psychologist informs his empowering approach for improving companies’ diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments.

Dr. Dodson co-hosts a podcast with nationally acclaimed radio personality Yesi Ortiz called Mental Health is R.E.A.L. (Reflecting Empathy and Love) to discuss wellness, mental health, and social justice. He also adamantly believes self-care is a necessity for creating a balanced life, and enjoys traveling, exercising, and photography.

Meet the Speaker: Dr. Dom Acri '18

Dominic J. Acri, Ph.D. ’18 is a neuroscientist and bioinformatian studying the role of the innate immune system in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. Dr. Acri got his start in research thanks to his Balfour summer which connected him with the lab he spent 8 semesters and 3 summers studying in. After Notre Dame, he went on to get his PhD in Medical Neuroscience from Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. His time at Notre Dame was marked by his involvement in the Native American Student Association of Notre Dame, which culminated in his jointly receiving the ND Department of Africana Studies Academic Freedom Award in 2018. As a proud member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Dr. Acri’s time at Notre Dame and afterward involves educational initiatives and other forms of activism to reach Indigenous students, tribal members, and those of all backgrounds.

Meet the Speaker: Savanna Morgan ’20

Savanna Ni’chael Morgan ’20 is an interdisciplinary researcher, writer, sound artist, and archivist whose work explores Black music, oral tradition, spirituality, cultural memory, and the blues as a form of knowledge production. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where she studied Film, Television, and Theatre, Morgan was a Balfour-Hesburgh Research Scholar, an ND Ignite Research Fellow, and founder of End Hate at ND. She later earned an M.A. in Devised Theatre and Performance Practice from Rose Bruford College in Berlin.

Her publications include the poetry collection cow tripe (Hopscotch Editions, 2022; reprinted by Archive Books in 2025), the essay “The Poetics of Sweetwater” in Afrikadaa Magazine: Politics of Sound (2025), and work in Vortex Magazine and Parabolis Virtualis 3: Neue, Queere Lyrik. She also co-edited the 2025 Archive Books anthology Togetherness.

Morgan’s research and artistic practice have been presented internationally at institutions and programs including the Ford Foundation Gallery, Haus der Kulturen der Welt, SAVVY Contemporary, the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program, the Dutch Art Institute, and the 15th Dak’art Biennale in Senegal. Her honors include an Arena Stage Allen Lee Hughes Fellowship, Musicboard Berlin and Pop-Kultur Lokal funding, and an artist residency with the Haptic Library at Dak’art. Her current work centers blues epistemology, Black sacred and vocal traditions, diasporic sound, and the relationship between sonic practice, ritual, and ancestral knowledge.

Meet the Speaker: Dominique DeMoe ’19

Dominique DeMoe ’19 is a Senior Visuals Editor and Producer, Creative Strategy & Integration at ESPN. She is a visual storyteller obsessed with captivating narratives. From capturing the perfect shot to diving deep into data, she loves experimenting with different mediums to create work that resonates.

She grew into my love of storytelling at the University of Notre Dame while working for The Observer and graduated with a BA in Design and a minor in Computing and Digital Technologies. When she’s not immersed in a project, you can find her exploring Philly, trying new things (currently taking piano lessons!) or spending time with loved ones.