Stories of Graduate & Professional Studies

Beyond the opportunity to simply read and discuss great works of literature, my studies in the English Literature program at NDMU have encouraged me to read diverse literature and perspectives with my own students. It also strengthened my understanding of literary periods and critical analysis practices to become a better informed teacher. I often find myself pulling from class notes, text selections, and project ideas from my course work to integrate into the lessons I create and teach.

My experience in the English Literature MA program at NDMU was truly life-changing. I met friends who I know I'll keep for a lifetime, learned from professors who are experts in their field, and changed the way I think about English. I'm a high school English teacher of 16 years, and earning an advanced degree in my content, rather than Education generally, has helped me enter this phase in my teaching career with confidence and expertise. Outside of work, earning a MA in English has helped me renew my passion for literature. I'm so proud of the work I've done in the English Program at NDMU.

“Notre Dame really helped me to dive into what it means to be an instructional leader and to take the time to explore how I can look at data to effect change, make knowledgeable decisions, and look at all areas of the building to make myself an effective administrator. Having classes that were accessible to me while I was still working as a teacher allowed me to think about my career pathway once I finished my master’s degree and how I wanted to move toward being an administrator.” Deana was named the state’s Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP).

“I consider all my students young intellectuals. The arts are impactful and can create social awareness, foster the social and emotional needs of students, and assist in academic achievement as a cross-curricular activity,” she said. “My classroom art studio is a place of rigor, growth, and empowerment for all my students.” Camille, who teaches at Golden Ring Middle School and leads the art department, was named the NAEA’s Eastern Region Middle Level Art Educator of the Year.

Patient care is my number one priority. Before I came to pharmacy school, I wanted to help patients in need. Notre Dame was the right choice for me because they offer various community outreach opportunities. We went to communities in downtown Baltimore and helped patients in need at women’s health centers. Our instructors were always right there with us, advising us to do better.

Being an adult learner and coming back to school after many years, I found the faculty at Notre Dame to be so accommodating and understanding. It always felt like there was an open door policy here. You could come to a faculty member with any concern, and they would help you sort it out.

The small classroom environment at Notre Dame has really helped my confidence. I feel comfortable taking risks, which has translated into my profession at school with my students and also with my teammates. I feel like I’m taking on more leadership opportunities because I have that confidence. Notre Dame was a safe place to foster that, and I’m very thankful.

Every single professor that I had at Notre Dame seemed very concerned with keeping a personal connection. The interactions that we had, even virtually, felt friendly and not distant whatsoever. The professors found a way to put you at ease when it came to assignments and studying. Everyone in my cohort was a full time teacher, which in my opinion is one of the most time-consuming jobs that exists. We were able to do our jobs very well and also succeed in our studies because of the flexibility. I was very grateful to be able to put 100% of my effort into both.

The NDMU School of Pharmacy has a great balance between didactics and leadership/extracurricular opportunities, which has prepared me to enter the real world and impact patients’ lives. The thing I love most about NDMU is the culture and environment the school sets for its students. As a class, we came here as strangers and now we are parting ways as one big family.

I would not be leading my organization today, and I would not be leading it nearly as well, if not for my Notre Dame education. What I learned was practical, it was insightful, and it was exactly what I needed.”