Tower Talk - July 2023
July 2023
Message from the Alumnae and Alumni Engagement Team
Greetings Alumnae and Alumni,
We hope those of you stuck in this heat wave are staying cool! Another fiscal year has come to an end and we want to take a moment to thank all of our incredible alumni who generously made gifts ranging from $5 to over $100,000. It's not the amount you give; it's the fact that you give every year that makes a difference. Thank you so much for your steadfast support.
Rose and I are looking forward to another great year with local and regional events, new and exciting volunteer opportunities, and more collaboration across campus to bring students and alumni together. We are so lucky to have the volunteers we do! Alumnae and Alumni Weekend kicks off on September 22, and our Reunion Committee is reaching out to classmates with class years ending in the 3's and 8's. This Alumnae and Alumni Weekend features several very special receptions for the School of Pharmacy, Athletic Alumni, Damozel’s 100th Anniversary, and the Morrissy Honors Program. That’s why it’s so important to remember that ALL alumni and their families are welcome at our events from September 22 – September 24.
As always, we are anxious to hear from you! Please share with us your news and life updates whenever you can. Are you a writer or a movie producer? Have you earned a new degree? Are you proud of your latest promotion, or have you changed companies or job fields? Have you gotten married? Moved abroad? Welcomed a grandchild into the world? We want to know. Also, we would like to hear about trips, vacations, and get-togethers you're doing with friends and classmates. We know our Notre Dame alums get together, so if you do, send us a photo with everyone’s names and get a thank-you gift from our office!
We hope your summers are filled with fun and relaxation whenever possible, and we hope we see more of you this coming year back on campus, at an event, or virtually.
Thank you for making our Notre Dame Alumni Community so incredible.
Warmly,
Alex & Rose
Your Alumni Engagement Team
Get Ready for Alumnae and Alumni Weekend 2023!
Are you excited to be back on campus this fall? Alumnae and Alumni Weekend will be held on September 22 -24, 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 Facebook and Instagram pages to meet the Reunion Committee! The committee is comprised of alums celebrating their reunion year, class years ending in a 3 or 8, 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!
Are you interested in being interviewed for an upcoming edition of Tower Talk? Sign up by clicking the button below!
Class Competition
Did you know that there is a competition every year at Alumnae and Alumni Weekend between all of the classes? Alums compete to see which class can win the highest attendance, highest giving 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 Alumnae and Alumni Weekend. Why? When individuals support Notre Dame financially, it shows the strength of our alumnae and alumni community to prospective students. It also increases our community’s opportunities to receive grants, which help support current students’ needs.. Showing up in person is additionally important to form new bonds with alumni and students, and to reconnect with old friends.
This year’s participation goal for reunion giving for each class ending in a 3 or 8 has been set to 10%. Any gift made between now and September 22, 2023, counts double for both reunion and Go Beyond: The Campaign for NDMU, so making a gift for your reunion year will have twice the meaning!
Curious to find out who won last year? Check out the 2022 winners below.
- Highest Class Attendance: Class of 1971
- Highest Class Participation: Class of 1962
- Highest Class Gift Total: Class of 1967
Congrats to the Class of 2023!
Congrats to our newest alumni who graduated on May 24 at the Baltimore Convention Center! Leading up to commencement, they enjoyed various celebratory events, including the Senior Brunch and Tower Photos event hosted by the Alumni Engagement and Student Life offices. Awards were given out to our undergraduate seniors, the School of Pharmacy had an on-campus Doctor of Pharmacy Hooding Ceremony, and many additional events recognized our newest alumni.
Several Class of 2023 spotlights highlighting graduates from a variety of programs across campus were also posted to the NDMU 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
Coming Soon- Alumni Learning Consortium Webinars
The Alumnae and Alumni Engagement Office is providing a new opportunity for Notre Dame alums to webinars with speakers who are thought-leaders and bestselling authors with national or international profiles. We have heard from our alums that something you miss the most is the ability to continue your education. Notre Dame is well-known for inspiring lifelong learning, so we are thrilled to announce a new opportunity to do just that! There will be 3-4 virtual webinars each month, with a Q&A with the presenter. Webinars are recorded and remain archived for future on-demand access by the alumni community. Some possible topics include career, professional and personal development, health, wellness, life stages. More information will be sent in the coming months, so keep an eye out!
Notre Dame Alumni Continue to Impress
Nafissatou “Nafi” Diene '23 earned her degree after immigrating to the United States as a non-English speaker 26 years ago. She accomplished that feat while dedicating an equal amount of effort towards building a school in the West African nation of Senegal where she grew up. After witnessing many young children walking miles to get to school during her elementary years, Diene had always hoped to one day build a school in Senegal which would allow them to stay and study in their own community. That dream has now been realized, as a facility sponsored by Diene and others completed its first year in operation in June 2023.
Diene’s experience with faculty members at NDMU gave her the knowledge needed to excel in her own career as an educator, and it also provided her with ideas to enhance the relationships between students and teachers at her planned school in Senegal.
“Coming to Notre Dame and seeing all of the ways that they support students – the teachers in Senegal want to provide that as well. They just don’t have the materials available. I wanted to build a school where the children wouldn’t have to worry about sharing supplies or not having materials to facilitate their learning. I want them to be able to just focus on their education.”
Dr. Nephthalee Edmond Tefera D’13 took a leap of faith when she enrolled as a student in the inaugural 
Class of 2013 for Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Pharm.D. program. Dr. Tefera currently serves as MedStar Montgomery Medical Center’s pharmacy operations supervisor. She is also a current board member of the Maryland Society of Health-System Pharmacy, and she serves as a preceptor for several schools in the area, including NDMU.
“Notre Dame focused greatly on professionalism and compassion in service, which undergirded my leadership journey. Leadership development, professionalism, and community outreach come to mind when I think about my experience at Notre Dame.”
Dr. Tefera will be back on campus this September, as the School of Pharmacy celebrates the 10-year anniversary of its inaugural graduates during Alumnae and Alumni Weekend on September 22-24. A reception highlighting everything that the school and its alumni have achieved since the program’s inception will be held in Knott Science Center on Saturday, September 23.
Alumna Impact on Notre Dame's Academics
Professor Cathy Krastel Goucher '94 is the founding director and department chair of the BA and MA in Art Therapy programs at NDMU. Goucher has been a Maryland art therapist for the past 28 years, working primarily in special education and disability settings. She is also a co-founder and associate director of the Make Studio Art Program, Inc in Baltimore, a progressive 
art studio that supports the vocational goals of adults with disabilities who wish to work as professionally practicing fine artists.
The MA in Art Therapy program that Goucher founded at NDMU in 2018 was awarded initial CAAHEP accreditation in November 2022. The accreditation, which will be in place through 2030, is due to the continued incredible work of faculty members and clinical training partners, including other alumni who are licensed and credentialed art therapists: Elizabeth Howard Shaner '83, Stacey Nelson '95, and Brianna Garrold '10. Notre Dame is the perfect place for Maryland's only graduate art therapy training program and undergraduate major, as both are firmly rooted in a shared mission to build inclusive communities, engage in service to others, and promote social responsibility. To date, the master's program has launched 20 new art therapists (LGPAT) into the mental health workforce, advancing access to art therapy services across the state.
Professor Goucher will be leading a session at Alumnae and Alumni Weekend on September 22 titled Art Therapy in Maryland: NDMU's Unique Training Role. Click here to learn more and register.
Morrissy in Paris
Calling all Morrissy alums! Dr. Evelyn Spratt, Director of the Morrissy Honors Program, is planning a trip to Paris from January 5-14, 2024 open to current Morrissy students and the alumni community! The theme of the trip will focus on the Romantic movement in Paris through art and literature. Some of the sites visited will include: The Louvre, Victor Hugo's house, Père La Chaise cemetery, and some non-themed attractions, such as Versailles and a ride on the Bâteaux Mouches.
The price is $3,185, which includes airfare, all breakfasts and dinners, accommodations in a sophisticated hostel in Montparnasse, and tickets to all events included in the itinerary. To secure your participation, a deposit of $550 is due as soon as possible; the last two payments are due at the end of September and November. For more information, please contact Dr. Spratt at espratt@ndm.edu. We hope you can join us!
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 34th year, RI is the premier lifelong learning organization in the metropolitan Baltimore region, with courses and activities on campus at NDMU, and Zoom classes that have attracted both regional and national participants.
Many Notre Dame alums, or relatives of alums, have been members. Alumna Christine Bentley '78 is a great example. Bentley is both a member and RI instructor, where she has taught courses such as Isabella of Spain, Gustav Klimt, and the Hapsburg Empire.
"I am, and always will be, grateful for the values and love of learning that Notre Dame instilled in me when I was a student. NDM prepared me well for a challenging career, and I was very happy to learn about The Renaissance Institute from a friend and member prior to my retirement in 2016. The Renaissance Institute has given me an incredible opportunity to continue my quest for ongoing learning, and it has exposed me to an amazing community of fellow lifelong learners. These are people from whom I can learn and with whom I can build a sense of community. Additionally, The Renaissance Institute has given me a creative channel to give back to the organization through teaching classes there myself, which is an important NDM value." - Christine Bentley '78
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’s Program Coordinator, Sandy Adams at sadams@ndm.edu with any questions.
Loyola Notre Dame Library Celebrates 50 Years!
The Loyola Notre Dame Library celebrated its 50th anniversary on March 30th, 2023. The celebration set the stage for a year of special events highlighting achievements of the Library, including when poet and author Lia Purpura spoke about her deep appreciation of libraries and gave event attendees an intimate view of LNDL. You can read Lia Purpura’s speech from the event here.
The Library invites all alumni in the area to visit LNDL and to view the physical exhibit in the Ferguson Gallery, which will be up through August 31. Please also enjoy this online timeline of the Library’s history, which includes images and videos. In addition, the Library would love to hear your memories of working, studying, and spending time at LNDL, so that your recollections can be added to the Archives. Please email your memories of the Library to archivist Jenny Kinniff at jkinniff@ndm.edu.
Want more NDMU Stories? Read the Bulletin, a bi-weekly newsletter with more student, staff, and faculty updates!
Save the Dates
New Student Move-in Day
August 25 | 8 AM - 2 PM | Campus
RSVP here
Please register now to indicate your interest and availability to 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.
Alumnae and Alumni Weekend
September 22 -24 | All Day | Campus
RSVP here
Registration opens on July 5 and closes on September 17 at midnight. Register by August 20 to receive early bird pricing and a guaranteed alumni gift at check-in!
Upcoming Events
- Jan 156:00 pm - 7:00 pmZoom
Class Notes
Class notes are a way to celebrate any life updates you have with your Notre Dame community. Do you have something you wish to share with us? You can submit any updates for us to share with our community here on Tower Talk. Please visit our In Memoriam page to view your deceased classmates from the past year.
Dr. Kelli Hickey D’23 presented research at the 2023 American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting in April. Hickey, along with Dr. Stephanie Savick '92 M’99 D’09 and two other presenters, presented their work titled Mixed Method Study of Teachers’ Perceptions of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Implementation of Sociopolitical Consciousness.
Dr. Kimberly Ferguson D’23 presented research at the 2023 American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting in April. Ferguson, along with Dr. Stephanie Savick '92 M’99 D’09, Dr. Heather Wooldridge D'18, and one other presenter, presented their work titled Dual Enrollment and Its Impact on the College Access and Persistence of Students of Color.
Dr. Simon Edward-Hobbs D’23 presented research at the 2023 American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting in April titled The Role of High School Counselors in Supporting ELLs’ College Readiness.
Francesca Circosta ’22 was presented with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses in January 2023 in recognition of her dedication to providing compassionate and skillful care to patients.
Dr. Vesna Grujicic D’22 presented research at the 2023 American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting in April titled Association of Project-Based Learning and Academic Outcomes of Students With Autism.
Lindsey Pytrykow '22 is attending Johns Hopkins University for a Master's degree in Teaching Writing!
Hannah Amodia '21 received the Project Operations Associate of the quarter and got promoted to Manager of Operations support in March 2022. Amodia bought a house In September of 2022 and did a lateral promotion to her current position as a Senior Contract Specialist.
Amy Watkins '21 self-published two children’s books, “We Love Nacho” and “Nacho Loves Salsa”, which are both available on Amazon.
Dr. Heather Wooldridge D'18 presented research at the 2023 American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting in April. Wooldridge, along with Dr. Stephanie Savick, '92, M’99, D’09, Dr. Kimberly Ferguson, D’23, and one other presenter, presented their work titled Dual Enrollment and Its Impact on the College Access and Persistence of Students of Color.
Krista Crockett M'15 has served as an Advisory Council Member for The Women in Leadership Professional Development Program at California State University, Chico in partnership with Zschool since 2015. Crockett completed a Certificate in Women's Leadership from California State University, and in May 2023 she was nominated and selected as an Honored Listee from the prestigious Marquis Who's Who in America's publication. Lastly and most importantly, she welcomed a daughter in March 2017.
Bonnie Lyon Tarbert M'12 now has 11 of her stories in Enoch Pratt Free Library, and all are spreading to libraries globally. Tarbert will be at the grand opening of the White Marsh Barnes and Noble on August 12th.
Dr. Christopher Wooleyhand, D'12 has recently been hired as the Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Elementary School Principals. Wooleyhand recently retired after working for Anne Arundel County Public Schools for 33 years.
Megan Anderson '09 moved from Washington, DC to Seattle, WA in April 2023 for her role at Amazon Web Services, where she was promoted to Senior Event Manager, Keynote on the Global Events Team.
Delores Floyd '05 was promoted to Assistant Vice President at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.
Jessica Brockmeyer '03 M'15 was recently promoted to Chief of Staff for White Sands Missile Range, which is the largest Test Range in the DoD.
Amanda Gaughan Berry '00 M'01 was promoted to Children’s Library Specialist at the CBirr Artz Branch of the Frederick County Public Library system in May 2023.
Lauren Watson '00 M'06 presented "Enhancing Multilingual Learner STEAM: A PDS Partnership and the MEER Grant" at the National Association for Professional Development Schools Conference in March.
Sasha Smart Welter '99 has written two Domestic Thriller novels and is currently working on a third.
Claudette Carter Henderson '97 received her doctorate in strategic leadership with a concentration in human resource development from Regent University in May 2023.
Stacey Nelson '95 co-authored an article "Minimizing Risk from Workplace Violence in Creative Arts Therapy" that was published in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association in May 2023.
Paula Thrasher M'95 is on the Board of Directors for H.O.P.E for oncology patients, and she also serves as chair of the organization’s Development Committee following her retirement from a director position at a hospital.
Dr. Stephanie Savick '92 M’99 D’09 presented research at the 2023 American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting in April. Savick, along with Dr. Kelli Hickey D’23 and two other presenters, presented their work titled Mixed Method Study of Teachers’ Perceptions of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Implementation of Sociopolitical Consciousness. Savick also presented alongside Dr. Kimberly Ferguson D’23, Dr. Heather Wooldridge D'18, and another presenter their work titled Dual Enrollment and Its Impact on the College Access and Persistence of Students of Color. Savick also co-presented two presentations at the National Association for Professional Development Schools Conference in March titled "Integrating Flourishing within PDS Partnerships to Support Students’ Mental Health and Wellbeing" and "Collaboration for Innovative Clinical Experiences to Support District Partners in Teacher Shortage."
Wendy Tribaldos '92 was named associate researcher for Panama´s Centro de Investigaciones Históricas Antropológicas y Culturales, a research center affiliated with the Panamanian Ministry of Culture with the mission of scientifically studying Panamanian history, culture, and cultural heritage in order to promote cultural rights, dialogue, sustainable development and the protection of Panamanian heritage.
Milda Motekaitis De Voe '90 had her debut story collection, A Flash of Darkness, published by Borda Books in Santa Barbara on April 15! De Voe is available to meet via Zoom with book clubs for 30-minute AMA sessions.
Margo Cunniffe '89 has a new job as the Program Officer for the Grants and Fellowships team at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, DC.
Amy Norman Mason '89 started her own business,Like Magick Restoration, which has thousands of customers and an extensive wait list. Mason repairs most objects of art including ceramics, porcelain, china, crystal, and some wood.
Margaret Newsome Scheck '78 released a new book, The Deadly Pearls of Josephine, which is now available on Kindle, with paperback to follow.
Patricia Brooks Youngkins '68 recently celebrated the birth of her granddaughter, Cassidy Leigh, in March.
Edie McParland Donohue '60 and Kathy Nolan Keenan '60 reconnected at Towson University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute classes, as they continue to learn in retirement.
Contact Information
Do you have any suggestions for content to include in Tower Talk or ways we can improve? Please contact Rose Glenn at rglenn@ndm.edu.
Any general questions, comments, and concerns not related to Tower Talk can be sent to ndmalum@ndm.edu for a member of the Alumnae and Alumni Engagement Team to assist you.
