July 2024
Tower Talk logo

Alumni Engagement Summer Updates!

Greetings to our Alumni Community,

The Alumni Engagement Team at Notre Dame has some exciting news and updates as we are in full preparation mode for the upcoming academic year!

First, I would like to introduce myself as your new Director of Alumni & Constituent Engagement. My name is Erin DaSilva, and I am a Notre Dame graduate from the Class of 2002. I have been a full-time staff member at the University for a number of years and am extremely excited and grateful to begin this journey working with the amazing members of our alumni community near and far, and partnering with our incredible Alumnae & Alumni Engagement Officer, Rose Glenn. We especially look forward to connecting with alumni, families and friends who are able to attend our annual Alumni Weekend on campus, September 27th 鈥 29th 2024! Registration for Alumni Weekend is currently open, and early bird pricing is available through August 18th! Click for more information about Alumni Weekend.

As we look ahead to the 2024-2025 academic year and beyond, we are taking a fresh look at our alumni focused events, participation, and communications, so please feel free to connect with us if there is anything on your mind regarding alumni engagement and programming. As our alumni network expands, we want to ensure that we are providing resources and opportunities that match what you are looking for. Cheers to you and to another exciting academic year for Notre Dame!

Gratefully,
Erin DaSilva '02


Get Ready for Alumni Weekend 2024!

Alumni from A&AW 2023

Are you excited to be back on campus this fall? Alumni Weekend will be held on September 27 - 29, and registration is now open! We have a jam-packed weekend full of the events you know and love mixed with brand-new activities. The weekend is open to all of our alumni from any class year! It's a time to reconnect with old friends and make new memories.

Follow along on our  and  pages to meet the Reunion Committee! The committee is comprised of alums celebrating their reunion year, class years ending in a 4 or 9, who help the Alumni Engagement Team plan the weekend.

Check out our website for more information on the schedule of events, FAQs, registration, and more!

Alumni from A&AW 2023


Are you interested in being interviewed for an upcoming edition of Tower Talk? Sign up by clicking the button below!

Group photos of the Class of 1973 and their street sign
Alumni Weekend Class Competition

Did you know that there is a competition every year at Alumni Weekend between all of the classes? Alums compete to see which class can win the highest attendance, highest donor participation, and highest total giving. The three winning classes will rename three circles on campus with their class year. In addition to attending, giving is a significant part of "showing up" at Alumni Weekend. Why? When individuals support Notre Dame financially, it shows the strength of our alumni community to prospective students. It also increases our community鈥檚 opportunities to receive grants, which help support current students鈥 needs. Showing up in person is additionally important to form new bonds with alumni and students, and to reconnect with old friends.

This year鈥檚 participation goal for reunion giving for each class ending in a 4 or 9 has been set to 10%. Any gift made between now and September 27, 2024 will count towards this competition.

Curious to find out who won last year? Check out the 2023 winners below.

  • Highest Class Attendance: Class of 1973
  • Highest Class Participation: Class of 1973
  • Highest Class Gift Total: Class of 1973
Pharmacy student speaking during Commencement
Congrats to the Class of 2024!

Congrats to our newest alumni who graduated on May 22 at the Baltimore Convention Center! Leading up to commencement, they enjoyed various celebratory events, including the Tower Photos Celebration event hosted by the Alumni Engagement and Student Life offices, and the inaugural Almost Alumni Social. Awards were given out to our graduates, the School of Pharmacy had an on-campus Doctor of Pharmacy Hooding Ceremony, and many additional events recognized our newest alumni.

Several Class of 2024 spotlights highlighting graduates from a variety of programs across campus were also posted to the 麻豆视频 website in the week leading up to commencement. We're so excited to welcome every single graduate into our alumni family!

Campus News and Updates

School of Pharmacy Alumna Earns National Award

Mayrim Millan-BareaDr. Mayrim Millan-Barea D'18, who is also a current adjunct faculty member for the School of Pharmacy, was named to the National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA) and National Hispanic Health Foundation (NHHF) inaugural 40 Under 40 list, which spotlights individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary dedication, exemplary leadership, and profound contributions to the advancement of health equity. Dr. Millan-Barea currently serves as the Assistant Director of Pharmacy Operations and Medication Use Systems at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

鈥淢ayrim is truly an incredible practitioner and leader. Her support to diverse and underprivileged communities is a testament to her empathy and leadership. When she was a student at 麻豆视频, all of the faculty knew how special she was, as she brought academics, leadership, professionalism, and integrity to our program.鈥 - Dr. Sherry Moore, assistant director of experiential education in the School of Pharmacy.

Read the Full Story


Alumna Featured in Local News

Melaney Sanchez

Dr. Melaney Sanchez D'12, who has also served as an adjunct faculty member for 麻豆视频鈥檚 School of Education for the past 17 years, was highlighted on an NBC-4 Washington broadcast after organizing six separate trips for over 600 elementary school students to the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

鈥淭his created so many memorable moments for our students. A bunch of them came up to me afterwards and said it was the best day of their lives. We also did lessons before they went to give them some background knowledge on the monuments. It was empowering for them to be experts on a real world topic that was significant to them. It made such a positive impact.鈥

Read the Full Story


Father Mario Vizcaino Remembrance

By: Mary Moher Gabriel 鈥70

Reverend Mario Vizcaino Piarists Fathers, a native of Cuba, died on February 13, 2024, in Hialeah, Florida. Father Mario VizcainoHe was 89, and had been in hospice care for a month. Father Mario taught theology at Notre Dame in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and he was a beloved mentor and friend to many.

I met him in a theology class, and in 1972, he suggested I accompany him and a small group to Mexico, where he had started helping a local parish in Macuspana, Tabasco. Our group went that summer for two weeks to the rancherias 鈥 far-flung little villages where the native Chol lived a subsistence existence. There was no running water, sanitation, roads, or bridges over the rivers. This project gradually grew into multiple rancherias, with a clinic, housing projects, latrines, and cooperatives to store harvested grain to be sold later when prices rose. It is still in action today.

Father Mario (Padre, as he preferred) also established the Southeast Pastoral Institute (SEPI) which worked to establish resources, education, and ministry to the Hispanic populations of the southeast. He ran this Institute for decades, and accomplished a great deal for those communities.

His death will be felt and mourned by many who knew him, who were his friends, and who benefited from his missionary zeal. He was a close friend and mentor to me, and I am sad and bereft at his passing.

May he rest in peace, reunited with the God whom he served so well, and his countless friends in heaven.

Thank you to Mary Moher Gabriel '70 for sharing this meaningful remembrance.


Alumnae Field Undergoes Renovation for New Turf Playing Surface

Mock up of turf field麻豆视频鈥檚 primary outdoor athletics field is undergoing a $2.2 million renovation this summer, funded by the historic $50 million Go Beyond campaign, with the installation of a new turf surface.

Construction of the new turf playing surface for Alumnae Field began in mid-May 2024 and is expected to be completed by August 2024. In addition to the turf field itself, the project includes an upgraded stormwater drainage system, a new retaining wall and fencing along the road side of the facility, and replacement netting behind the goals.

Learn More


Be a Lifelong Learner at the Renaissance Institute

Continue your Notre Dame connection through the Renaissance Institute (RI), an active and engaging community of lifelong learners. In its 35th year, RI is the premier lifelong learning organization in the metropolitan Baltimore region, with courses and activities on campus at 麻豆视频, and Zoom classes that have attracted both regional and national participants. Many Notre Dame alums, or relatives of alums, have been members.

Members may select six-week noncredit classes from our varied catalog of offerings. You also can share your acquired knowledge by teaching courses on subjects you are passionate about. Course topics include literature, public affairs, philosophy, history, Baltimore and Maryland topics, music, art, languages, qi gong, film, science, computers, yoga, acting, and more. Members additionally will find a wide array of cultural, social and physical activities in our popular Summer and Winter in the City Programs.

Intriguing classes, special events, clubs, and camaraderie make RI an affordable experience for people over age 50. The catalog is now available. Please contact RI鈥檚 Program Coordinator, Sandy Adams, at sadams@ndm.edu with any questions.


Want more 麻豆视频 Stories? Read the Bulletin, a bi-weekly newsletter with more student, staff, and faculty updates!

Save the Dates

Get to the Point: Communicate More By Saying Less

Tuesday, July 16 I 12 PM I Virtual

Whether you鈥檙e an executive, manager, or starting out, you can鈥檛 seal the deal or make your point unless you can speak clearly and concisely. In this eye-opening webinar, author and certified speaking professional  will share how to create a crisp message, discover where you stumble, and identify your most common speaking situation. You will benefit from these tools she has built from decades of experience. You will learn to be crisp in your delivery, and your credibility will soar!


Emotion by Design: Creative Leadership Lessons From a Life at Nike

Tuesday, July 23 I 12 PM I Virtual

In this engaging webinar, bestselling author and former CMO at NIKE  unveils the concept of "Emotion by Design," illustrating how we can all harness its power to craft products, stories, and experiences that make people feel that even their most audacious pursuits are possible to achieve. He will share the philosophy and methodology behind creating a brand that empowers and deeply resonates with people, unveiling his three guiding principles: Creativity is a Team Sport, Dare to Be Remembered and Spark a Movement. These principles served as the cornerstone of Hoffman's leadership at Nike, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the company's brand identity and voice through compelling storytelling and immersive experiences.


Data-Driven DEI: A Blueprint to Achieving Lasting Impact with Your DEI Initiatives

Wednesday, August 7 I 12 PM I Virtual

How can you effectively use data to accelerate your DEI efforts? In this enlightening webinar, author and DEI expert  will present his Data-Driven DEI鈩 simple, step-by-step process鈥攃entered on people first and then organizations鈥攖o help you assess your DEI current state, analyze that data to create a personal and organizational action plan and implement data-driven, science-based, and technology-enabled interventions for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. It begins with self-reflection and introspection to identify your DEI Incentives. These intrinsic and extrinsic factors motivate you to pursue DEI and culminate in a cyclical, groundbreaking five-step cycle that delivers a practical and evidence-based blueprint to achieving lasting impact with your DEI initiatives.


Find Your True Self in a Noisy World

Wednesday, August 14 I 12 PM I Virtual

Has anyone called you naive for suggesting that business can do more good and positively impact not just profits but also employees, consumers, and the world? , author of Dare to Be Naive, contends that intentional naivete isn't a hindrance but a catalyst for innovation, positive transformation, and better business outcomes. This unique webinar will explore the power of curiosity, trust, authenticity, and optimism 鈥 the positive attributes of chosen naivete 鈥 and how embracing them can lead to a more fulfilling professional and personal life.


8 Ways to Increase Self-Confidence in Your Career and Life

Wednesday, August 21 I 12 PM I Virtual

Do you sometimes feel like you are not enough? Do you feel like you're not seen or heard at work? Self-confidence is needed no matter what industry you are in to build your career and/or business. A report from Gitnux mentioned that 93% of people believe self-confidence is critical to professional success. In this eye-opening webinar, Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Tao of Self-Confidence, will share with you her 3-step process to building self-confidence, eight ways to increase self-confidence, along with actionable steps that you can use in your own journey. After this webinar, you will feel confident enough to speak up, live life on your own terms, be unapologetically yourself, show up, and have a mindset shift and, in turn, create your dream life.


New Student Move-in Day

August 23 | 8 AM - 2 PM | Campus

Join us as part of the welcoming committee to our newest alumni-in-training! We would love for our alums to volunteer with us to help move new students into their residence hall rooms. Breakfast will be provided.


Student and Alumni Welcome Mixer

Thursday, August 29 I 6:00 PM I Noyes House, 麻豆视频 Campus

Hosted by the Young Alumni Committee and the Student Alumni Leadership Council, you're invited to this Welcome Week event with new and returning students. At this casual networking event, you will be able to share your Notre Dame experiences and help guide students in their college career. Light refreshments will be served.


Turning Anxiety Into a Blessing: How to Use Anxiety to Thrive

Tuesday, September 10 I 12 PM I Virtual

Let鈥檚 face it: Everyone has anxiety. Furthermore, our ongoing quest to rid ourselves of this ubiquitous human emotion worsens it. What if, instead of fighting our anxiety, we could turn it into a strength? This enlightening webinar will teach you how to use anxiety to become more self-accepting, connected to others, and resilient. Author of Thriving with Anxiety constructive, compassionate, and evidence-based approach will not make you less anxious. Instead, it will empower you to use anxiety to thrive.


Strategies for Leading Through Inevitable Setbacks

Wednesday, September 18 I 12 PM I Virtual

Setbacks are unavoidable in any career journey, from C-suite executives, to those just starting out, to teams navigating staffing changes after layoffs or restructuring. But once we understand how to work through the cycle collectively, we'll have the tools to foster growth not only for ourselves but for our organizations, teams, and communities. , author of The Setback Cycle, has studied how leaders work through setbacks for the past few years. In this webinar, she'll offer a sneak peek at some of her research around the neuroscience of setbacks, helping us understand why this phenomenon happens and offering tips and tools to work through the phases of The Setback Cycle. You will walk away with a framework to guide decision-making, set boundaries, prioritize your focus areas, and get clarity on your next move.


Accelerate Your Reinvention with a New Networking Mindset

Thursday, September 26 I 12 PM I Virtual

As you imagine new possibilities for your professional future, don鈥檛 let past habits and outdated notions about 鈥渘etworking鈥 hamper your transformation. This is the perfect time for you to adopt a new networking mindset and reimagine how to engage and build strong connections to advance your ambitions. In this dynamic and practical webinar, author, networking strategist, and coach  provides fresh insights and actionable network-building tips to accelerate your reinvention (and calm any lingering networking anxieties). You will learn about reimagining networking, goals + networking, and networking quick-fixes.


Alumni Weekend

September 27 - 29 | All Day | Campus
RSVP here

Registration opens on July 1 and closes on September 22 at midnight. Register by August 18 to receive early bird pricing. The first 100 registrants will receive a guaranteed alumni gift at check-in. Alumni Weekend is for all alumni, and their family and friends. Anyone celebrating a milestone reunion that's from a class ending in a 4 or 9 is especially encouraged to attend! 


View all upcoming events here!