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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.

Notre Dame adds to Wall of Honor on Founder’s Day

Published: October 13, 2015

Brendan O’Shaughnessy

Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, added two plaques to the Wall of Honor in Notre Dame’s Main Building on Tuesday (Oct. 13). One plaque honored Notre Dame theologian and teacher Rev. John S. Dunne, C.S.C., and another honored the first generation of African-American students at Notre Dame.

History Ph.D. students win major fellowships and grants

Published: October 07, 2015

Josh Weinhold

The projects took them them to Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and England. The research offers new insights into the Renaissance, Protestantism, immigrant religiousness, monks, and begging practices. Eight graduate students from Notre Dame’s Department of History received competitive fellowships or grants in support of their research—awards including a Rome Prize, a Fulbright, and Louisville Institute, Newcombe, and Schallek fellowships.

Anything you want to be

Published: October 05, 2015

Heather Treseler ’10Ph.D.

I was taught to pursue my dreams, but I wasn’t told that every woman must weather something like gravitational resistance if she is to make what she wishes out of her one life.

Notre Dame hosts international biology workshop at Rome Global Gateway

Published: September 24, 2015

Stephanie Healey

The 15th International Workshop on Molecular and Cellular Biology of Plasminogen Activation began this week at the University of Notre Dame Global Gateway in Rome. Held every other year since 1985, this year’s workshop will host more than 85 scientists from 16 countries.

Celebrate Latino Heritage Month!

Published: September 15, 2015

Ke'Ana Bradley

Join MSPS in celebrating Latino Heritage Month! There are tons of events going on across campus which means there is a little something for everyone.

$20 million gift to fund initiative to support students from low socioeconomic families

Published: September 04, 2015

Dennis Brown

University of Notre Dame graduate Sean Cullinan and his wife, Sue, from Glen Ridge, New Jersey, have made a $20 million gift to his alma mater to fund a groundbreaking program that will make a Notre Dame education a reality for students from low socioeconomic households. The Fighting Irish Initiative will fully fund the cost for low-income students to...

Kellogg PhD funding bears fruit in new book on Haiti

Published: August 25, 2015

Elizabeth Rankin

A decade ago, Notre Dame graduate student Marlene Daut received a Kellogg Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship to continue her study of Haitian Creole.

Study abroad reflection: Joseph Ong

Published: August 12, 2015

Ke'Ana Bradley

One of the funniest things about being in Southeast Asia is my identity as “American”…

Video: Meet Latino Studies major Juan Rangel

Published: August 10, 2015

Todd Boruff

Latino studies is an interdisciplinary field engaged in understanding the fastest-growing population in the United States. Students explore the latest Latino-focused research in fields such as anthropology, history, literature, and theology. “Latino studies is for anyone and for everything,” said Juan Rangel ’15.

A Notre Dame man for others

Published: July 23, 2015

Daily Domer Staff

From his heroism during World War II to his support for the elderly and homeless veterans, Judge Robert L. Miller Sr. '42, '47 J.D. continues to lead an inspiring life of service.

Video: Cross-Cultural Leadership Program immerses students in Latino communities

Published: October 09, 2015

Todd Boruff

The Cross-Cultural Leadership Program (CCLP) is a three-credit, eight-week summer course administered by Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies. This service learning experience immerses students in organizations serving Latino communities in either Chicago, Los Angeles, or Washington, D.C. All living expenses are covered for the students during the program. “We’re able to go out into the community, speak Spanish,...

Senior Mark Brahier explores barriers to healthcare in Nicaragua

Published: October 07, 2015

Stephanie Healey

Mark Brahier, a senior biological sciences major and international development studies minor, spent five weeks in Nicaragua this summer. Traveling with International Samaritan on his fourth trip to Central America, Brahier set out to study social, political, economic, and geographic barriers to healthcare access.

Notre Dame Black Law Students Association hosts regional academic retreat

Published: October 02, 2015

Lauren Love

The Notre Dame Black Law Students Association (BLSA) will host a one-day academic retreat Saturday with the Midwest Regional BLSA. The day will focus on mock trial preparation, stress management and networking.

A brother with autism led to this software startup

Published: September 23, 2015

Will Thwaites

Crain's Chicago Business profiles Katie Hench MNA '11 about her company, Infiniteach.

Exploring new horizons as an intern in Puerto Rico

Published: September 04, 2015

Mary Beth Zachariades

Like many of her fellow students, Caitlyn O’Malley ‘16 spent her summer as an Architectural Intern. Unlike the others, she was also experiencing a new culture as she worked in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Corey Robinson: In My Own Words

Published: September 01, 2015

Daily Domer Staff

South Africa is known as the Rainbow Nation, and it has a history that’s been largely defined by division. That’s what makes it such a fascinating place: A country that prides itself on unity and cultural diversity was for years defined by discrimination and hatred.

CCHR welcomes class of 2016

Published: August 25, 2015

Sean O'Brien

The Center for Civil and Human Rights welcomes its new class of international human rights lawyers for the 2015-16 academic year.

Study abroad reflection: Liliana Sanchez

Published: August 11, 2015

Ke'Ana Bradley

As I reflect back upon my time in Jerusalem, I become poignantly conscious of how intrigued I am by the Holy Land but at the same time how challenged I am by it, in regards to my faith but also my political views. While this is not necessarily the response I anticipated, it is certainly a response organic to the context...

First person: Danielle Green's ESPY moment

Published: July 30, 2015

Daily Domer Staff

When I found out several weeks ago that I was being honored at the ESPY Awards with the 2015 Pat Tillman Award for Service, I was overwhelmed with both excitement and anxiety. I was excited about being the second recipient ever to receive the award and being recognized for my continued service to my fellow veterans.

Three universities host an international summer chemistry program in Santiago, Chile

Published: July 15, 2015

Stephanie Healey

Twenty doctoral students from Europe, Latin America, and the United States are participating in the Santander International Summer School on molecular catalysts from July 14-24 at the Heidelberg Center for Latin America in Santiago, Chile. Organized by the University of Notre Dame, University of Heidelberg in Germany, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC) in Santiago, the summer school...

Notre Dame alumna establishes Chávez Family Law Fellowship to benefit Hispanic students

Published: October 08, 2015

Denise Wager

Notre Dame Law School is pleased to announce the generous donation from alumna JoAnn Chávez, ’86, ’90, J.D., to establish the Chávez Family Law Fellowship to benefit Hispanic students at Notre Dame Law School.

FTT course on nonfiction graphic novels inspires visual storytelling by students

Published: October 06, 2015

Carrie Gates

After adapting his award-winning documentary On the Bridge into a graphic novel that both portrayed stories of veterans and offered a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Olivier Morel’s emotions and struggles as he interviewed them, the FTT assistant professor was inspired to create an undergraduate course. In Graphic Wounds, Graphic Novels, in-depth readings and discussions with some of the genre’s leading...

Notre Dame observes Hispanic Heritage Month with events around campus

Published: October 01, 2015

Monika Spalinski

Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the culture of and recognize the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans, is being observed in the U.S. from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. The University of Notre Dame is marking the month with several events and an award.

Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary Yu, ’93 J.D., shares key insights with students

Published: September 23, 2015

Lauren Love

Growing up in Chicago’s Bridgeport neighborhood, an area historically inhabited by working class Irish immigrants, Mary Yu, ’93 J.D., wasn’t afforded the opportunity of seeing many people who looked like her in positions of power or significant influence, she told Notre Dame Law students this week. The daughter of a Mexican farm worker and Chinese factory employee, Yu was...

Fighting for unaccompanied immigrant children, one client at a time

Published: September 04, 2015

Denise Wager

In early June, Michael Hagerty, ‘13 J.D., a staff attorney with Public Counsel, a non-profit legal aid firm in Los Angeles, was in Visalia for the first time to represent a client in the Tulare County Probate Court. On that day a crucial guardianship hearing was set to take place—one that Hagerty knew was likely to determine the ultimate fate...

Architecture students explore design solutions during Accessibility Awareness Day

Published: September 01, 2015

Michael O. Garvey

Several students of the University of Notre Dame’s School of Architecture will experience firsthand the challenges confronting people with disabilities in daily campus life, during the University’s eighth Accessibility Awareness Day on Friday (Sept. 4).

Notre Dame Class of 2019: Passionate, dedicated and diverse

Published: August 21, 2015

Michael O. Garvey

The University of Notre Dame’s Class of 2019 arrives on campus this week impressively equipped with intellectual promise, creativity, leadership and commitment to service of others. “This year’s ‘yield rate,’ the number of students who enroll after being admitted to Notre Dame, was 56 percent, which places Notre Dame among the top 10 private national research universities for yield success,”...

Anthropology major explores his interest in science with a summer internship

Published: August 11, 2015

Stephanie Healey

Rising senior Andrew Flatley, recently completed a 10-week research internship at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Established in 1995, the Summer Internship Program provides biomedical and public health research experiences to college juniors and seniors. The goal of program is to encourage students to pursue careers in science, medicine and public health.

Notre Dame Law School hosts ICLEO summer program

Published: July 28, 2015

Denise Wager

Shashan DeYoung knew the odds were against her to attend law school. As an African American single mom to twins, she realized her chances for success in law school might be lower than many of her classmates. But she was determined. “Statistically I am not expected to succeed,” she said. “I knew a program like ICLEO would give me the...

CCHR announces 2015 internships

Published: July 14, 2015

Kevin Fye

The Center for Civil and Human Rights has announced post-graduate professional internships for its LL.M. class of 2015.