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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.

$3 million gift from Susan Scribner Mirza to establish Notre Dame’s first endowed professorship in Islamic studies

Published: January 21, 2015

Dennis Brown

The University of Notre Dame announced Wednesday (Jan. 21) its first ever endowed professorship in Islamic studies, established with a $3 million gift from alumna Susan Scribner Mirza of Greenwich, Connecticut.

Hey, we just launched a school of global affairs. Now what?

Published: January 07, 2015

John Nagy ’00M.A.

Notre Dame carves out a holistic, religion-savvy niche with the creation of its first new school in 93 years.

Political science student interns with Supreme Court

Published: December 17, 2014

Jonathan Warren

As a judicial intern at the Supreme Court of the United States last summer, Notre Dame senior Veronica Guerrero got a behind-the-scenes look at one of the nation’s most influential institutions. Guerrero, a political science and Chinese major in Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters, worked in the Office of the Counselor to the Chief Justice, where she helped...

ACE launches $1M project to improve reading outcomes in Haitian Catholic schools

Published: December 11, 2014

William Schmitt

The University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Haiti initiative recently launched its “Haiti Reads” project, an innovative literacy program in 52 Haitian Catholic schools. Working in partnership with the Haitian Episcopal Commission for Catholic Education (CEEC) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the project began in the summer and is supported by a $1 million grant from an...

Student Spotlight: Karen Antonio, Chemistry and Biochemistry

Published: December 09, 2014

Mary Hendriksen

Chemistry and Biochemistry Graduate Student Karen Antonio has been twice honored during her graduate school career—once for her research and once for her leadership in promoting women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields.

Notre Dame biologist Nora Besansky leads international consortium in sequencing the genomes of malaria-carrying mosquitoes

Published: November 27, 2014

William G. Gilroy

Nora Besansky, O’Hara Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame and a member of the University’s Eck Institute for Global Health, has led an international team of scientists in sequencing the genomes of 16 Anopheles mosquito species from around the world. Anopheles mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting human malaria parasites that cause an estimated 200 million cases...

Former prime minister of Poland to deliver 2014 Nanovic Forum Lecture

Published: October 24, 2014

Monica Caro

Hanna Suchocka, former prime minister of Poland and former ambassador to the Holy See, will deliver the 2014 Nanovic Forum Lecture at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday (Oct. 28) in the Jordan Auditorium in the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.

'Gay in Christ' conference to be held at Notre Dame

Published: October 20, 2014

Michael O. Garvey

A two-day conference, “Gay in Christ: Dimensions of Fidelity,” co-sponsored by the University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Church Life (ICL) and the Gender Relations Center, will convene Oct. 31 (Friday) to explore appropriate pastoral strategies for Catholic parishioners who regard themselves as non-heterosexual, but who accept Catholic Church teaching on marriage and sexuality.

Washington Post writer Wil Haygood, author of 'The Butler,' to speak at Notre Dame

Published: October 15, 2014

College of Arts and Letters

Washington Post national writer Wil Haygood, whose feature story provided the basis for the movie “The Butler,” will discuss his career as a journalist and author Oct. 28 (Tuesday) at the University of Notre Dame. The conversation, which is open to the public and free of charge, will begin at 7 p.m. and take place in the auditorium of the...

ND Expert: Hong Kong movement unlike any other

Published: October 01, 2014

Shannon Roddel

Hong Kong marked China’s National Day (Oct. 1) in unprecedented fashion, as pro-democracy protesters crowded the streets of the Asian financial hub for what is being called a critical day in the territory’s “Umbrella Revolution.” University of Notre Dame political scientist and Hong Kong native Victoria Hui has worked in the democracy movement there. She says it is unlike any...

Faculty and staff to minority students: You belong here

Published: January 20, 2015

The Observer

This Letter to the Editor appeared in the January 20, 2015, edition of The Observer, the student-run, daily print and online newspaper serving Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s.

Nora Besansky-led studies featured on the cover of Science

Published: January 02, 2015

William G. Gilroy

Two studies led by Nora Besansky, O’Hara Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame and a member of the University’s Eck Institute for Global Health, which resulted in the sequencing the genomes of 16 Anopheles mosquito species from around the world, are featured on the cover of today’s (Jan. 2) edition of the prestigious journal Science.

Truly Christian and African: Notre Dame theologian Paulinus Odozor’s new book

Published: December 16, 2014

Michael O. Garvey

The election of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Cardinal Archbishop of Buenos Aires, as Pope Francis nearly two years ago is only one illustration of how the Catholic Church has become less concentrated in Europe and North America than in the southern hemisphere. Nearly half of the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics live in Latin America, and the Catholic Church in Africa, home...

Two Arts and Letters students receive Gilman Scholarship to study abroad

Published: December 10, 2014

Daniel Sehlhorst

Two students from Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters—Bright Gyamfi and Ray’Von Jones—have been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad. The Gilman Scholarship is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The nationally competitive award aims to diversify the kinds of students who study and intern abroad and the...

Notre Dame Haiti Program dedicates new salt facility

Published: December 09, 2014

Marissa Gebhard

In partnership with the Haitian Ministry of Public Health and the Population (MSPP), the Congregation of Holy Cross and other partners, the University of Notre Dame Haiti Program dedicated a new fortified salt production plant Monday (Dec. 8) in Delmas, Haiti. Several dignitaries were in attendance, including Sophia Martelly, first lady of Haiti.

Michelle Whaley is 2014 Indiana Professor of the Year

Published: November 20, 2014

William G. Gilroy

Michelle A. Whaley, a teaching professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, has been named the 2014 Indiana Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). She will be announced as the award winner at a luncheon Thursday...

Two Spanish architects win the Rafael Manzano Architecture Prize

Published: October 23, 2014

Notre Dame News

Spanish architects Javier Cenicacelaya and Iñigo Saloña have been awarded the Rafael Manzano Martos Prize for Classical Architecture and Monument Restoration, presented in partnership by the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture and philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus.

Film, Television and Theatre students shine at national auditions

Published: October 16, 2014

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“Imagine a kind of live, national GRE exam where students audition in open competition against one another, evaluated by representatives from the best graduate theatre programs,” said Professor Jim Collins, chair of the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre (FTT). Notre Dame had record success in 2014 at the national auditions organized by the University/Resident Theatre organization (URTA), with six...

Halal meat now available in ND student dining halls

Published: October 01, 2014

Amanda Skofstad

Halal meat is now available in Notre Dame student dining halls, thanks to a cooperative effort between Notre Dame dining staff, Muslim undergraduate students, and Notre Dame International.

College of Science hosts 4th annual Diversity, Culture and Religion in Science course

Published: September 16, 2014

Casey O'Donnell

This past Saturday (September 20), the College of Science held its fourth annual Diversity, Culture, and Religion in Science course. This one-day, one-credit course encourages students to consider the role of these three important facets of personal identity in their future endeavors. The course attendees listened to variety of speakers, ranging from successful businesspeople to professional athletes. Students also interact...

Notre Dame to honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day with prayer service, community events

Published: January 15, 2015

Notre Dame News

Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, will preside at a prayer service to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Jan. 19 (Monday) in the rotunda of the Main Building. The public is invited to participate in the prayer service and the reception that will immediately follow.

Student Spotlight: Nicole Perez, Sociology

Published: December 18, 2014

Mary Hendriksen

Sociology doctoral student Nicole Perez explores the transition from high school to college, with a focus on how Latina/o students navigate familial and peer influences in deciding where to apply and, ultimately, attend college.

Student Affairs issues diversity goals

Published: December 11, 2014

Ann Marie Jakubowski

The Division of Student Affairs issued a list of 21 Diversity Recommendations this week, working within the President’s Oversight Committee on Diversity and Inclusion chaired by University President Fr. John Jenkins.

Claire Chow selected as Microsoft Research Graduate Women's Scholar

Published: December 10, 2014

Stephanie Healey

First year applied and computational mathematics and statistics graduate student Claire Chow was recently selected as a Microsoft Research Graduate Women's Scholar.

Notre Dame’s crèche pilgrimage: Celebrating life’s most intimate moment

Published: December 02, 2014

Michael O. Garvey

When the University of Notre Dame’s Crèche Pilgrimage begins at 2:30 p.m. Sunday (Dec. 7) in the Eck Visitors Center, those on hand to visit, view and pray at some 30 Nativity scenes on exhibit throughout the campus will be participating in a Christmas tradition as ancient as it is universal. “Mary is the most ‘inculturated’ person in the Church,”...

Notre Dame unites to fight Ebola

Published: November 01, 2014

Carol C. Bradley, NDWorks

When news broke of the outbreak of Ebola in Liberia, “We knew we had to do something,” says Katherine Taylor, director of operations for the Eck Institute for Global Health and interim director of global health training. “Ebola in West Africa is a crisis in our own family,” she says. “We felt we couldn’t stand around and do nothing. This...

Video: Arts and Letters major researches perceptions of race at national library of France

Published: October 22, 2014

Todd Boruff

During the summer of 2014, Notre Dame French and history major Curran Cross traveled to Paris to conduct research at the Bibliothèque nationale de France. His project examined the differing views of Arab and African immigrants in modern France. “My hypothesis is that the French have had centuries of experience racially mixing with people of African ancestry and this is...

Video: Meet Africana Studies major Olivia Furman

Published: October 16, 2014

Todd Boruff

“I am more than glad that I chose Africana studies. It’s a major that helps you form a way of going about life,” said Olivia Furman, a senior in the College of Arts and Letters. Africana studies at the University of Notre Dame centers on Africans and the African Diaspora—the global dispersion of peoples of African descent—and examines their historical,...

Venezuelan maestro receives final Notre Dame Prize for Distinguished Public Service in Latin America

Published: October 01, 2014

Elizabeth Rankin

Visionary music educator José Antonio Abreu was awarded the final Notre Dame Prize for Distinguished Public Service in Latin America at a private campus ceremony on Sept. 22 in recognition of his extraordinary work fighting poverty and violence and developing whole, successful young people through classical music.

A poignant journey

Published: September 01, 2014

Alison Damast

Takashi Yanagi lost his mother, his house and his security while still in high school. From this unimaginable tragedy, he forged a determination to continue his dream to attend Notre Dame.