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Student Stories

Notre Dame endeavors to be a place where each student can grow individually in both mind and heart, and become a part of something larger than themselves. By celebrating the unique gifts each student brings to our shared community, student life is enriched immeasurably.

The stories below share just some of the ways Notre Dame students are celebrating and taking advantage of the wonderful diversity on our campus – through both scholarship and development and formation outside the classroom.

Afghan voices call for inclusive aid, development, and governance

Published: December 02, 2022

Josh Stowe

The international community should leverage the insights of everyday Afghans to design bottom-up approaches to aid and development and negotiate a political settlement that promotes government accountability. That was the consensus among speakers at a recent panel discussion at the …

Inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Case Competition to culminate on April 1

Published: March 30, 2022

Carol Elliott

The competition, hosted by the Mendoza College of Business, takes place in Mendoza’s Jordan Auditorium and is free and open to the public.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones to speak at Notre Dame

Published: March 16, 2022

Carrie Gates

Nikole Hannah-Jones, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for The New York Times Magazine and a 1998 alumna of the University of Notre Dame, will return to campus to speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday (March 15) in the Leighton Concert Hall of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

‘Black@ND’ podcast explores the Black experience at Notre Dame

Published: February 21, 2022

Chloe McCotter

In 2020 Emorja Roberson, a doctoral student in the University of Notre Dame’s Sacred Music at Notre Dame program, started “Black@ND,” a podcast in which Black students and alumni share their experiences on campus.

Author Elijah Anderson discusses being ‘Black in White Space’

Published: February 07, 2022

Chloe McCotter

The Institute for Educational Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame hosted Elijah Anderson, the Sterling Professor of Sociology and of African American Studies at Yale University, via Zoom on Friday (Feb. 4) for a conversation about his new book, “Black in White Space: The Enduring Impact of Color in Everyday Life.”

In celebrating MLK Day, students consider what it means to be a ‘beloved community’

Published: January 19, 2022

Erin Blasko

Walk the Walk Week, an annual celebration at the University of Notre Dame of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., kicked off Tuesday (Jan. 18) with a student-focused panel discussion titled “Walk the Walk: Building the ‘Beloved Community’ at Notre Dame” — a reference to King’s vision of a global community characterized by an all-inclusive spirit...

Ruby Bridges urges Notre Dame Community to ‘pick up the torch’

Published: November 09, 2021

Chloe McCotter

The Klau Center for Civil and Human Rights hosted Ruby Bridges via Zoom on Friday (Nov. 5) for a conversation titled “The First Big Step” at the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

Notre Dame law students receive prestigious scholarships for women in real estate

Published: September 21, 2021

Brandi Wampler

Hope Swantko, a second-year law student, and Jenna Wilson, a third-year law student, are two of 28 graduate and professional students to receive merit-based scholarships for the 2021-2022 academic year.

A Message from Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. regarding Notre Dame Board of Trustees’ Task Force Report on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Published: August 16, 2021

president.nd.edu

Nearly a year ago I wrote a letter to the Notre Dame community announcing the creation of a Trustee Task Force on diversity, equity, and inclusion. The Task Force was appointed by the Chair of our Board, Jack Brennan, with my encouragement and full support. It was chaired by Byron Spruell, a member of the Board, and it included accomplished leaders from...

June is Pride Month

Published: June 01, 2021

Cidni Sanders

Pride Month is observed each June…

Abigail Abikoye receives Wood Award from Community-Engaged Alliance

Published: June 03, 2022

Chloe McCotter

Abigail Abikoye, a senior biological sciences major with a minor in poverty studies, has been named the recipient of the Richard J. Wood Student Community Commitment Award from Community-Engaged Alliance. She is Notre Dame’s 13th Wood Award recipient.

New global affairs major now available to Notre Dame undergraduates

Published: March 24, 2022

Keough School of Global Affairs

University of Notre Dame students can now declare a full academic major in global affairs and earn an undergraduate degree from the Keough School of Global Affairs.…

Women Lead 2022

Published: March 07, 2022

Notre Dame News

As we pursue an end to the pandemic, we seek a world that incorporates sustainability in every sense of the word, in every aspect of society. Meet seven Notre Dame women who are helping to create such a world through their research, scholarship, and creative endeavors.

Black History Month reflection: Allan Njomo, student body president

Published: February 18, 2022

Dennis Brown

As part of the University of Notre Dame’s observance of Black History Month, Allan Njomo, student body president, reflects on his experiences in this Q&A.

Notre Dame observes Black History Month with campus events

Published: February 01, 2022

Erin Blasko

The University of Notre Dame is celebrating Black History Month throughout February with a number of events.

Notre Dame Law School holds first Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service

Published: January 19, 2022

Notre Dame Law School

More than 130 law students, faculty, and staff members signed up to spend part of the day volunteering for local nonprofit organizations.

Notre Dame to establish new diversity and inclusion center

Published: November 03, 2021

Dennis Brown

The University of Notre Dame will soon create a campus center devoted to current and new diversity and inclusion programs, resources and initiatives for students.

Cool Courses: Three Classes Explore Gender through Lenses of English, History, and Gender Studies

Published: September 21, 2021

Hailey Oppenlander

Throughout different departments at the University of Notre Dame, faculty and students are engaging in conversations about utilizing feminist methods of study, analyzing how gender affects their discipline, and recognizing female scholars and historical figures who are sometimes overlooked. Check…

An American, Catholic university: Thomas Blantz's history of Notre Dame

Published: June 01, 2021

Stephen M. Koeth, C.S.C.

University archivist Rev. Thomas Blantz, C.S.C., looking through a card catalog in the reading room of the Notre Dame Archives…

AAPI Heritage Month: Messages from Graduating Seniors

Published: May 27, 2021

Liu Institute

…

Inaugural Diversity, Equity and Inclusion case competition winners address wealth gap

Published: April 11, 2022

Chloe McCotter

The winning team’s case focused on making educational opportunities more accessible to Indiana residents.

QuestBridge Scholars partnership provides unique route to Notre Dame

Published: March 24, 2022

Chloe McCotter

Since 2007, the University of Notre Dame has partnered with QuestBridge National College Match, a college admission and scholarship process that allows high-achieving, low-income students to be admitted with full four-year scholarships to college partners.

Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to speak, hold book signing

Published: March 04, 2022

Sue Ryan

New York Times bestselling author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will speak at the University of Notre Dame at 7:30 p.m. March 25 (Friday) at Leighton Concert Hall in the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., on threats to HBCU institutions

Published: February 09, 2022

Notre Dame News

“We deplore the bomb threats made against a number of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These institutions deserve our respect and support for their contributions to American higher education and this nation, and we stand in solidarity with them.”

Notre Dame-founded GEM Consortium advances graduate diversity in STEM

Published: January 24, 2022

The Graduate School

Funded by partnerships with nearly 200 member institutions including top research universities, national labs and research-intensive corporations, the GEM Consortium is the premier organization that supports, through fellowships, highly qualified students from underrepresented communities who are pursuing graduate degrees in applied science and engineering.

Author, activist Bernardine Evaristo to deliver 28th annual Hesburgh Lecture in Ethics and Public Policy

Published: January 19, 2022

Hannah Heinzekehr

Bernardine Evaristo, Booker Prize-winning novelist, essayist, literary critic and advocate and activist for inclusion in the arts, will deliver the 2022 Hesburgh Lecture in Ethics and Public Policy. The event will take place virtually at 4 p.m. EST Feb. 7 (Monday).

Hispanic Alumni of Notre Dame panelists encourage students: ‘You belong here’

Published: September 22, 2021

Chloe McCotter

Members of the Hispanic Alumni of Notre Dame (HAND), a University of Notre Dame Alumni Association affinity group, gathered virtually Tuesday (Sept. 21) for the second annual Hispanic alumni success stories panel.

New ThinkND series to explore the realities of migration from Central America

Published: September 21, 2021

Heather Asiala

“Beyond the Border: The Realities of Migration from Central America” is a three-part series hosted on the ThinkND platform; sessions will be held on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. EDT beginning Sept. 29 and ending Oct. 13.

Cool Courses: Two Spring Classes Explore Black Lives Matter Movement, Civil Rights in the U.S.

Published: June 01, 2021

Grace McDermott

As…

Senior Alejandra Osorio aspires to be bilingual physician and public health leader

Published: May 27, 2021

Oliver Ortega

Dressed as a bright orange carrot at the front of the grade school classroom, Alejandra Osorio would ask students to pick between her and their cupcake outfit-clad peer standing a few feet away. Almost unanimously, the students would choose her sweeter counterpart as their preferred snack.…