By: Erik Pedersen, Senior Communications Manager
BALTIMORE – A journey that began 17 years ago for Damian Lewis ’22 has finally reached the finish line.
Lewis, who will graduate Summa Cum Laude on May 22 with a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, first enrolled in Notre Dame of Maryland University’s College of Adult Undergraduate Studies back in 2005. Currently a senior network engineer for Alliance Technology Group in Hanover, the desire to finish his degree after an extended time away was about more than professional or financial motivation.
“The joke with everybody who knows me is that everything I’ve ever done is 95 percent finished,” Lewis said. “I sometimes lose interest in long, drawn out projects, so there is a big sense of accomplishment to say that I have 100 percent completed my degree.”
Lewis initially was in a set routine, taking two classes per semester during the early years with everything outside of book expenses reimbursed by a previous employer. When a company change took away that opportunity for reimbursement, the number of classes per year became more infrequent until Lewis stepped away from CAUS entirely in 2016 when he was just over 20 credits away from completion.
A new grant offered by the state of Maryland, the One Step Away program, provided the push Lewis needed to return to school four years later.
“Notre Dame reached out to me with information about the program, which they said was specifically to get students to come back and finish their degree,” he said. “I got a few grants of $4,000, another for $2,000 and the last semester I finished up on my own. I only had two required classes left when I returned, the rest were all electives.”
Lewis was originally encouraged to enroll at Notre Dame by his ex-wife, whose friend had graduated from the Women’s College. She looked up the CAUS program after Lewis was promoted to an assistant vice president role while working for Mercantile Bank, and she accompanied him to the initial orientation.
“My final class was a public speaking course, and our last speech was a one and a half to three-minute gratitude speech,” Lewis said. “I wrote it to my ex-wife, thanking her with getting me started and motivating me to do this. A lot of the credit for this degree goes to her.”
When asked to reflect on some highlights from his time at NDMU, several of Lewis’ memories involved classes that might appear to be outside the comfort zone of an established network engineer.
“I had to take two religious classes, and I remember the first one was taught by Sister (Eileen) Eppig,” Lewis said. “We had to write this exegesis where we picked a verse from the Bible and searched for critical responses from people who had previously analyzed it. I go to the seminary and do some research, and the whole time I’m writing this exegesis I’m convinced that I was way off base. Not only did I get an A, but she thanked me for my work and asked if I would have a problem with her using it in future classes as an example. I nearly fell out of my chair.”
Moments like that emphasize the benefit of obtaining a degree for Lewis, even after he has long established himself as a successful member of his professional field.
“I can honestly say I’ve gained something from every class I took here,” he said. “Every one has taught me something to help in my career, even if it isn’t job-specific. I’ve learned to communicate better, I’ve learned to listen, I’ve learned to write. The intended purpose of the class isn’t always the only thing you will get out of it, and I’m thankful for all of the lessons, intended or otherwise, that I learned at Notre Dame.”
Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.
