Stories

The 2023 Commencement Ceremony will complete a seven-year journey for Rose Sebastian at NDMU. Sebastian first enrolled in NDMU’s 3+4 program, which allows participants to attend one fewer year of school while earning bachelor’s and Pharm.D. degrees, back in the fall of 2016. She began her pharmacy coursework three years later after earning a bachelor’s degree in biology, and she has excelled as one of the top students in Notre Dame’s School of Pharmacy during her time on campus.

Notre Dame of Maryland University’s School of Pharmacy has been a great experience and opportunity for me. I started my pharmacy career in 2019 as a Pharmacy Technician at Johns Hopkins Hospital where I met a young pharmacy intern that was in his third year at NDMU. I was impressed with his work ethic, his excitement, and the enthusiasm he had about his future was contagious. He told me all about the resources and opportunities that he enjoyed as a pharmacy student at NDMU, and how excited he was about his future. I applied immediately.

The faculty at NDMU inspire me and give me the tools I need to be the best version of myself. I enjoy the unique classes that allow for hands-on experiences while learning the craft. And at the same time we are afforded the opportunity to serve our community, expand our knowledge, and improve upon our professionalism and confidence. Not only has the NDMU Pharmacy program helped my career grow as a healthcare provider, but as a person as well. The only regret I have is not doing it sooner.

“My main focus is public health, and I saw firsthand the innovative ways that Notre Dame was giving back to the local community. They don’t just prepare you to become a successful pharmacist: they are setting you up to use those skills to benefit society.”

"The Sr. Alma program had been on my radar ever since I applied to Notre Dame. It was great to get in-person experience, speak with doctors, work on projects, and also have my own projects. It has led to countless other opportunities for me moving forward.” – Isabella Dallasta '22, a 2021-22 Sr. Alma Science Year Scholar

"What attracted me to go here is the open-door policy of all the professors. These professors not only teach for the School of Pharmacy, but they also have their own practices. Despite their busy schedules, every time I had a question they would make me feel comfortable."

Originally from Puerto Rico, Paola Rivera Mudafort D’22 first came to Maryland 10 years ago. As a pharmacist, she wants to use her medical knowledge and ability to speak Spanish to help the immigrant community.

The NDMU Business Program set me up for success and has impacted me in so many ways. As a senior preparing to enter the workforce, I attended the First Impressions event organized by the Business Program. This proved helpful—I met some Alums who shared about their journey and transition into the workforce, learned how to make a good first impression, and learned the dos and don'ts of resume writing that I still carry with me. Also, the professors of the Business program continuously challenged me and other students to step outside our comfort zone and believed in us. I am grateful for the preparation I got from Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Business Program. I currently work as a U.S. Bank Oversight & Operations Analyst at Morgan Stanley.

The business program at NDMU provided me with the opportunity to learn under professors with relevant experience. The communication, networking, and technical skills I learned in the business classes all have proven to be invaluable to achieving my career goals. I'm currently a Senior Asset Management Analyst at American Electric Power.

Participating in the Risk Management certificate program has helped me in all areas of my job. Not only have I learned risk management principles, but I have greatly sharpened my professional skills. I was recently promoted to the Chief of Technical Support Branch in Operations Division in New Orleans, and I attribute some of that success to my completion of this program, and the confidence that it gave me in approaching various Corps assignments which involve risk. I was also recently selected as the District Risk Management Champion, which will allow me to evaluate New Orleans District risk assessments and provide support.

"The two biggest things I appreciate from my time at Notre Dame are the people/colleagues I met while there and the focus on compassion. Compassionate nursing in my opinion is what differentiates a good nurse from a great one. It provides a safe space for dialogue and a deeper level of care that makes a difference to the patients and their families. Notre Dame spent a large amount of time on compassion throughout my courses, and I appreciate that to this day." - Jennifer Dickensheets '20, a graduate of Notre Dame's first ABSN cohort who was recognized as her hospital's Rookie of the Year in 2021.

I was considering eight jobs after graduating from Notre Dame. People were really excited about having an art therapist. I think it led to a level of interest in hiring me that wouldn’t have been there if I only had a LCPC [Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor] or social work counseling degree.