Our Stories

Envisioning greater accessibility

Jack Rooney

By the time Danny Fritz ’22 M.S. and Riley Ellingsen ’22 M.S. graduated from the 11-month ESTEEM master’s program at Notre Dame, they had co-founded a start-up, earned seed money to start developing their innovative product, and now dedicate themselves to expanding accessibility options for people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.

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Liberal studies alumnus uses big data to fight inequality in education

Jack Rooney

For his entire academic career, Sean Reardon ’86 has sought to use his passions — the humanities and quantitative research — to make a difference in the field of education. One of the nation’s leading experts on educational inequality, Reardon researches how opportunities and outcomes vary in the United States for students of different racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic backgrounds. 

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Japanese major’s study abroad and internship experiences help launch career as U.S. diplomat

Jack Rooney

Before Beth Gee ’10 studied abroad in Tokyo during her junior year, the Japanese and political science major had never left the United States. Now, as a U.S. foreign service officer, Gee travels for a living. She is currently working at the American Embassy in the Republic of the Congo — where she employs the language, communication, and critical thinking...

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