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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.

NDLA Board honors Vietnam veteran John Lancaster ’67, ’74 J.D. for contributions to disability rights

Published: May 08, 2023

Charles Williams

John Lancaster ’67, ’74 J.D., a Vietnam War veteran and pioneering advocate for disability rights, was honored this spring with the Notre Dame Law Association’s Father William Lewers Award.

Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., recognizes Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Published: May 01, 2023

diversity.nd.edu

“Our campus community is enriched by their contributions and cultures,” Jenkins said.

One-day gathering celebrates Latinidad and poetics in all its complexity

Published: April 28, 2023

Oliver Ortega

A select group of poets and critics convened at the University of Notre Dame for "Latinx Poetics, a One-Day Gathering", as part of a marquee spring event for Letras Latinas, the literary arm of the Institute for Latino Studies. The event, held on the second floor…

FLTA spotlight: Cin-Hua Chen

Published: April 25, 2023

Luke Van de Walle

Taiwan boasts a rich culture and picturesque scenery unlike any place in the world, offering a unique blend of indigenous, Chinese, and Japanese influences that is evident in its architecture,…

Notre Dame Black Law Students Association holds 50th alumni reunion

Published: April 19, 2023

Jonathan Bailey

The Notre Dame Black Law Students Association held its Spring Alumni Weekend 50th Reunion on March 23-26. The weekend included an alumni panel discussion, awards banquet, and black-tie gala, among other activities.

Confronting cultural change: Divinity students seek intercultural competency to improve ministry

Published: April 17, 2023

Office of Brand Content

Students in Notre Dame’s Master of Divinity program cited a visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe as the emotional highlight of their pilgrimage to Mexico City.…

Expert on racial justice to speak at Notre Dame

Published: April 12, 2023

diversity.nd.edu

Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, professor of history, race, and public policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, will speak at Notre Dame at 1:30 p.m., Friday, April 14.

Cristian Villatoro awarded Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF)

Published: April 10, 2023

Kathy Phillips

ACMS…

Arnaldo Serrano and Katharine White Receive NSF CAREER Awards

Published: April 07, 2023

Rebecca Hicks

Arnaldo Serrano, Assistant Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry, and Katharine White, Clare Boothe Luce Assistant Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry, have been selected as recipients of the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award. The award is given to recognize outstanding research and its integration with education, and it is one of NSF’s most prestigious awards for...

Haleemah Ahmad (MGA '24)

Published: April 04, 2023

Ciera Griffin

…

Kristen Friday named valedictorian; Miguel Coste selected salutatorian

Published: May 05, 2023

Sue Ryan

Kristen Friday of Pittsburgh has been named valedictorian and Miguel Coste from Tampa has been selected salutatorian of the 2023 University of Notre Dame graduating class.

Junior Lizzie Stifel named 2023 Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public Service Scholar

Published: May 01, 2023

Erin Blasko

University of Notre Dame junior Lizzie Stifel, of Easton, Pennsylvania, has been named a 2023 Phi Beta Kappa Key into Public Service Scholar. She is the University’s fourth Key into Public Service scholar since the program was established in 2020.

ND Law’s Religious Liberty Clinic participates in oral argument before the en banc Ninth Circuit to defend Oak Flat

Published: April 28, 2023

Arienne Calingo

Apache Stronghold v. United States was one of the first cases that the …

JoAnn Chávez ’86, ’90 J.D. devotes energy to helping Detroit youth

Published: April 25, 2023

Notre Dame Law School

Chávez is senior vice president and chief legal officer for DTE, an energy provider and Fortune 250 company based in Detroit.

Women in Engineering group experience Ireland’s sustainable engineering solutions

Published: April 19, 2023

Margaret Arriola

While others may have been catching a tan on the Florida keys, 12 undergraduate students in the Society of Women Engineers, led by Maria Warren, assistant teaching professor, Aerospace and Mechanical…

Junior Michelle Kwok named 2023 Goldwater Scholar

Published: April 17, 2023

Erin Blasko

University of Notre Dame junior Michelle Kwok has been named a 2023 Goldwater Scholar in recognition of her exceptional promise as a future research leader in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.

Panelists share insights on Carson v. Makin and the legal landscape for school choice

Published: April 11, 2023

Arienne Calingo

On March 30, the …

"Sueños sin Fronteras": Local teens learn about college application process a campus life from current students

Published: April 10, 2023

Oliver Ortega

Current students & program participants outside the Main Building (Credit: Nadxielli Arredondo)…

Junior Kendra Lyimo named 2023 Beinecke Scholar

Published: April 06, 2023

Erin Blasko

As a Beinecke Scholar, Lyimo plans to study art and art history with the goal of advancing scholarship around East African art and its ideas and expanding access to East African art through teaching and outreach.

MA Student Ester Aguirre Alfaro wins Social Justice Award

Published: April 03, 2023

Maurcia Marschke

Spanish MA student Ester (Tesi) Aguirre Alfaro is the recipient of the 2023 Social Justice Award. This Graduate School award recognizes and honors distinctive and exceptional achievements…

Global Religious Observances Calendar highlights diversity, promotes inclusion

Published: May 05, 2023

Cidni Sanders

The free resource is designed to help the Notre Dame community stay informed about faith traditions and celebrations that may be observed by students and colleagues.

London book launch with Lord David Alton explores need for international response to genocide

Published: April 28, 2023

Arienne Calingo

The …

Latino studies students learn spiritual leadership skills during Easter Monday workshop

Published: April 25, 2023

Angela Olvera

ILS group flanked by CSPL's Gabriel Lara (left) & Michael…

Notre Dame Law School holds second annual Interfaith Dinner in observance of Ramadan, Passover, Easter, and Ridvan

Published: April 24, 2023

Jonathan Bailey

Notre Dame Law School held its second annual Interfaith Dinner on April 12 in observance of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Jewish Passover, Easter, and the Baha’i festival of Ridvan.

Maria Mercedes Salmon named director of Mexico City Global Center

Published: April 18, 2023

Cory Hankins

Notre Dame International is excited to announce that Maria Mercedes Salmon has been appointed director of the University of Notre Dame’s Global Center in Mexico.

New Gospel Mass premiering at the Basilica

Published: April 15, 2023

blackcatholicmessenger.com

On April 15, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame will host the debut of a new Gospel Mass composed by Fr Carl Gales, SVD, a Black Catholic priest serving in Chicago.

Five questions with Marisol LeBrón: Decolonizing scholarship in feminist studies/critical race and ethnic studies

Published: April 11, 2023

The Editors

Marisol LeBrón is an Associate Professor in Feminist Studies and Critical Race and Ethnic Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Prior to arriving at UCSC, Dr. LeBrón held appointments at the University of Texas at Austin, Dickinson College,…

From Dublin to London to D.C., American studies major is focused on improving affordable housing for urban communities

Published: April 10, 2023

Hailey Oppenlander

In just the past year, Notre Dame junior Jasmine Mitchell has studied in Dublin, London, and Washington, D.C. In each location she’s traveled to, Mitchell has studied how localities are addressing affordable housing, and she hopes to eventually bring innovative solutions back to urban communities in the United States. Because no matter how far her travels have taken her, she’s never...

Dianne Pinderhughes named fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science

Published: April 06, 2023

Tracy DeStazio

Dianne Pinderhughes, a Presidential Faculty Fellow and the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Professor of Africana Studies and Political Science at the University of Notre Dame, has been named the Eleanor Roosevelt Fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science (AAPSS) for the 2023 academic year.

Making sports and exercise more accessible

Published: April 03, 2023

Andrew McGuinness '24

Dr. Feranmi Okanlami ’15 M.S. has both led and been a part of numerous initiatives to raise awareness of the program and adaptive sports and inclusive recreation as a whole.