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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.

Hispanic alumni offer advice to help students navigate college and life

Published: September 29, 2023

Cidni Sanders

The Success Stories of Hispanic Alumni virtual panel is a signature Hispanic Heritage Month event held in response to students’ desire to connect with alums who share their cultural heritage and experience.

ND graduate and professional students share how HBCUs helped prepare them

Published: September 18, 2023

Cidni Sanders

Historically Black Colleges and Universities have filled an important role in the U.S. educational landscape for generations. Over the years, a number of Notre Dame’s graduate and professional students have arrived in South Bend by way of an HBCU.

Now scheduling IRR artist-in-residence class visits

Published: September 14, 2023

Pauline Namuleme

The IRR 2023-24 Artist-in-Residence is David Martin, a Pokagon Potawatomi painter, bead worker and tattoo artist. During his residency he is open to visit classes during the Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 semesters. If you are interested in having David come speak to or work with your class, please fill out this request form…

TSU and ND grad Algie Oldham became a pillar of the community

Published: September 01, 2023

Notre Dame Magazine

Members of the Oldham family will celebrate their connections to both Tennessee State and Notre Dame when the schools meet on the football field September 2.

Students recognized for their contributions to Latino Studies

Published: August 30, 2023

Oliver Ortega

Each year, the Institute for Latino Studies recognizes exemplary work by undergraduate and graduate students in the humanities and social sciences. This past academic year, five students were recognized for their written work in classes related to Latino Studies or Spanish-speaking populations. Four graduate students and one undergraduate students were celebrated for their contributions.…

Football weekend events center historic matchup with Tennessee State

Published: August 29, 2023

Erin Blasko

Though distinct and celebrated universities in their own right, the values and histories of the University of Notre Dame and Tennessee State University align in many ways, including shared commitments to educational access and equity, civil rights, service and building community among students. That said, the two schools — one a leading Catholic research university, the other a historically Black...

Shakespeare at Notre Dame to present ‘Hamlet 50/50,’ a new gender-balanced adaptation of the play

Published: August 17, 2023

Carrie Gates

This week, the Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival Professional Company will debut “Hamlet 50/50,” a world-premiere adaptation of the play focused on creating a more gender-balanced and equitable production model. “Hamlet 50/50” will be performed in the Patricia George Decio Theatre in the University’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center from Aug. 17 to 27.

Michiana Community Health Coalition addresses health disparities in South Bend-Elkhart

Published: August 07, 2023

Erin Blasko and Gwen O'Brien, Office of Public Affairs and Communications

Who has their finger on the pulse of public health? One could argue it’s community health workers (CHWs). Some CHWs work in clinics and others are mobile, moving through city neighborhoods and rural areas, sometimes going door to door or hosting resource tables at community events. The workers serve as a link between health and social services and people facing...

History major and Latino Studies Scholar wins Fulbright to attend summer technology, innovation, and creativity institute in Scotland

Published: August 02, 2023

Beth Staples

Connor Kaufmann was selected for the program based on academic excellence (3.7 minimum GPA), a focused application, extracurricular and community activities, ambassadorial skills, and a plan to give back to his home country. “I strongly felt that it would give me the opportunity to foster my creativity in a unique, robust, and international way,” he said. “This would, in turn,...

Speaker and author inspires others

Published: July 27, 2023

Notre Dame Alumni Association

In continued recognition of National Disability Independence Day, we look back at a story previously published by Notre Dame Alumni Association about an alumnus who shares his story of overcoming adversity and not taking life for granted.

Award-winning novelist Colson Whitehead to visit Notre Dame

Published: September 26, 2023

JP Shortall

Renowned author Colson Whitehead will visit Notre Dame on Oct. 3 (Tuesday) to deliver the 2023 Rev. Bernie Clark, C.S.C., Lecture at 5 p.m. in the Patricia George Decio Theatre of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

Anthony Banderas-Infante '26 recounts summer internship at D.C.'s KID Museum

Published: September 18, 2023

Anthony Banderas-Infante

Through the Cross Cultural Leadership Program (CCLP) run by the Institute of Latino Studies at Notre Dame, I was given the opportunity to intern at KID Museum this past summer. KID Museum, located in Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb of Washington DC, describes itself…

Notre Dame Law School's Religious Liberty Clinic students help draft UK Parliamentary report on the state of religious liberty in Nepal

Published: September 13, 2023

Arienne Calingo

A group of student fellows in Notre Dame Law School’s Religious Liberty Clinic worked with the All Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief to draft a report that was submitted to the United Kingdom Parliament. This report aims to assist the Nepalese government in ensuring that religious freedom is fully respected throughout Nepal.…

Alumni Association and YoungND Board announce 2023 Domer Dozen honorees

Published: August 31, 2023

Allie Griffith

The Notre Dame Alumni Association announced its 2023 Domer Dozen cohort, honoring 12 graduates ages 32 and younger for excellence in their contributions in faith, service, learning or work — the core pillars of the Alumni Association’s mission.

‘Powerful Conversations’ with TSU President Glenda Baskin Glover to explore race, gender and faith in leadership

Published: August 30, 2023

Jessica Sieff

“Powerful Conversations,” a series hosted by Angela Logan, the St. Andre Bessette Academic Director of the Master of Nonprofit Administration Program and associate teaching professor at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, will explore the importance of race, gender and faith to the work of leadership. Logan’s first guest is Glenda Baskin Glover, president of Tennessee State...

Witnessing the work of advancing gender equity and women's rights at Religions for Peace

Published: August 23, 2023

Kelly Shinnick

This past semester, I was offered the opportunity to work with Religions for Peace through the Ansari Institute at Notre Dame. During my time with Religions for Peace, I was able to work with various staff members, but I primarily worked under Liliana Ashman, the Executive Officer and Special Assistant to the Secretary General. I contributed to various tasks, including...

Global works of art from Notre Dame Crucifix Initiative to be displayed at The History Museum

Published: August 16, 2023

Carrie Gates

Selected works of art from the Crucifix Initiative will be on display in an exhibit on view starting Thursday (Aug. 10) at The History Museum in South Bend, Indiana. Launched in 2019, the initiative seeks to highlight the globalism of Catholicism — and to represent the diversity and internationalism of the University and its community — by building and displaying...

Isabel Güiza-Gómez awarded Graduate Women in Science National Fellowship

Published: August 07, 2023

kellogg.nd.edu

Kellogg Institute Doctoral Student Affiliate and Kroc Institute Ph.D. student Isabel Güiza-Gómez conducts research focusing on insurgent and rural-poor collective action for wealth redistribution in the high-risk circumstances of civil war and entrenched inequality.

Notre Dame alumni assist with University-backed Habitat project

Published: July 31, 2023

Erin Blasko

Kristen Cooper, wife of Notre Dame alumnus Christopher Cooper, participates in a Habitat Build on Turnock Street in South Bend, in the city's Northeast Neighborhood. Wanting to preserve access to affordable housing in South Bend, the University of Notre Dame in January partnered with Habitat for Humanity of St. Joseph County to build as many as seven new homes in...

Making sports and exercise more accessible

Published: July 27, 2023

Notre Dame Alumni Association

In continued recognition of National Disability Independence Day, we look back at a story previously published by Notre Dame Alumni Association about an alumnus who is changing the world of adaptive sports and inclusive recreation.

Thomas Berg explores how religious liberty can reduce polarization in book talk hosted by ND Law’s Religious Liberty Initiative

Published: September 22, 2023

Arienne Calingo

In Religious Liberty in a Polarized Age, author Thomas Berg shows us how reaffirming religious freedom cultivates the good of individuals and society. In a book talk hosted by Notre Dame Law School’s Religious Liberty Initiative…

Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month

Published: September 15, 2023

diversity.nd.edu

Find out about events taking place on Notre Dame’s campus and get resources to learn more about the annual observance

English language at ND: a bridge, a door, and a passion

Published: September 10, 2023

Staff

The English language is a major lingua franca in today’s world–that is, a “bridge language” that two speakers of different languages can use to communicate with each other. For a variety of reasons, people from all across the world have chosen to devote their lives to studying English for themselves and teaching the language to others. One of those individuals...

Notre Dame business student spends summer teaching and working at school for disabled in Uganda

Published: August 31, 2023

Shannon Roddel

Sophomore Anna Koeberlein spent the summer in Jinja, Uganda, where she taught English to students at Holy Cross Lake View school and volunteered at St. Ursula’s, a boarding school for Ugandan children with disabilities.

Notre Dame panel to shine light on current and historical significance of HBCUs

Published: August 29, 2023

Jessica Sieff

When the University of Notre Dame hosts Tennessee State University (TSU) this weekend (Sept. 2), it will be the first time in program history the Irish will take to the field with a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Several campus and community events are scheduled to commemorate the historic matchup — beginning with “The Historical and Current Significance of...

The Rome Global Gateway launches the Rome Summer Seminars on Religion and Global Politics

Published: August 20, 2023

Costanza Montanari

In June 2023, the University of Notre Dame’s Rome Global Gateway co-hosted the first edition of the Rome Summer Seminars on Religion and Global Politics…

Interconnectedness, Interdependence, and the Role of Religion: My Internship with Religions for Peace

Published: August 14, 2023

Mariama Dampha

Mariama Dampha, recipient of a Riberas Orjales Family Fellowship, recently interned with the global interfaith peacebuilding coalition Religions for Peace, an opportunity made possible by a partnership with the Keough School of Global Affairs’ Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion.

Pavithra Rajendran ’23 LL.M. wins Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs’ graduate prize

Published: August 07, 2023

Denise Wager

Pavithra Rajendran, a 2023 graduate of Notre Dame Law School’s LL.M. Program in International Human Rights Law and an incoming J.S.D. student, has won the Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs’ Percy Buchanan Graduate Prize in the South Asia category.

Creating more equitable communities

Published: July 31, 2023

Maura Sullivan Hill '11

Williams has spent her career at nonprofits that work to bring positive change to the lives of children in St. Louis and the surrounding region in Missouri.

NDLA Board honors Vietnam veteran John Lancaster ’67, ’74 J.D.

Published: July 26, 2023

Notre Dame Law School

This National Disability Independence Day, we look back at a story previously published by Notre Dame Law School about an alumnus honored for his “contributions to people with disabilities worldwide and his life’s reflection of Notre Dame values.”