By: Erik Pedersen, Content Strategy Director
Class of 2024 Spotlights
BALTIMORE – Alyson Geckle made the most of her three years on campus at Notre Dame of Maryland University.
After accumulating a significant amount of college credit in high school and taking several 18-credit semesters on campus, Geckle will be graduating a year early at NDMU’s 2024 Commencement Ceremony on May 22. She was academically driven throughout her time at Notre Dame, and an internship with the Maryland State Police last summer helped confirm that she had chosen the right path as a criminology major.
Outside of the classroom, Geckle was a two-sport athlete who successfully transitioned to tennis this spring after two years on the field hockey team. She filled her remaining hours as a member of Omega Phi Alpha, NDMU’s service sorority, serving as the organization’s president for the 2023-24 academic year.
Learn more about what drew Geckle to Notre Dame, her collegiate experience, and her future career plans:
How did you first hear about Notre Dame, and what led you to apply here?
I heard about NDMU through some family friends who had graduated from here recently. I was telling them that I wanted to attend a small school while also having the opportunity to play sports. I really enjoyed the campus when I came on my tour, and I only fell in love with it more once I started my first year. I like all the old buildings, I like the small campus feel, and I like being able to have that 1-on-1 relationship with your professors.
Did you know from the beginning that you wanted to major in criminology? What drew you to that major, and what career path do you hope it leads you on after graduation?
Yes. I’ve always wanted to major in criminology or criminal justice, and I’m hoping to work for the FBI in the future. I’m very interested in helping domestic violence victims, victims of abuse, or juvenile minor crime offenders. I believe that everyone has a story, and some just aren’t heard. I want to be that person to hear their story and fight for them. The system has failed a lot of people. As a white woman, I have a lot of privilege in this society and this world, and I want to be able to use that for good and help those who don’t have that same privilege.
Did you obtain any internships during your time at NDMU which gave you real-world experience in the field?
Yes – I actually interned with the Maryland State Police last summer. I worked in the procurement division, which focuses on homeland security and behind-the-scenes computer science work. It was a little bit different from what I was used to, but I enjoyed it because I saw a different point of view on some of the issues that I am so passionate about in the criminal justice system. It showed me that there actually are some initiatives being developed to help people, and there are other people actively passionate about the same things as me. I really enjoyed working in procurement, and I’ve already applied for a few jobs to work with the state police after graduation.
Were any professors at Notre Dame particularly impactful for you?
Dr. Anne Henderson and Dr. Alyssa Brumis were both really helpful. Dr. Henderson pushed me to be a better student. She was always challenging me and saying, ‘Aly, I see something in you. You’re very academically driven, and I’m going to push you to be even better.’ I’ve taken several classes with her, and she has really helped me build critical thinking skills and develop an ability to look at issues from multiple perspectives. Those things will definitely translate to a future job.
Dr. Brumis is just an amazing professor who allows students to think for themselves and become self-advocates. She emphasizes that everyone has a voice, everyone should speak up for themselves, and no one should be left out. She also really motivates people to go for something if they’re passionate about it. That really resonated with me as I was thinking about pursuing a career in criminology. She helped me realize that, ‘Yes, this is what I was meant to do. This is my passion. This is what I’m put on this earth for.’
How did your time playing both field hockey and tennis improve your overall NDMU experience?
I didn’t know a lot of people coming in as a freshman, and playing field hockey gave me three of my best college friends. I met some really amazing people, and they will always stay with me. The seniors and the juniors really helped me get a sense of the campus. They were people that I could look up to – they were always there if I needed someone to talk to. I really enjoyed that I got to play field hockey. I love my sport – I have been playing since I was a little kid. I got to be my best self on and off the field.
My one tennis season has taught me that everything happens for a reason. I was kind of letdown that I wasn’t going to get my senior year for field hockey, but something told me to go play tennis, and I’m really glad that I did. I got to play with people from different majors that I hadn’t met on campus previously. Tennis really brought everyone together, and it was inspiring to do so well after being considered underdogs all season.
I have been playing since I was young – tennis has always been my second sport. Playing at NDMU with the current group of girls here has made me fall in love with tennis more than I ever had before. Our coach (Andre Ervin) knows how to push us in a positive way. I’ve never had a coach who is willing to work with each person 1-on-1, not just the starters. He wants to help everyone be the best player they can be, and he’s had a big impact on me.
What motivated you to get involved with Omega Phi Alpha (OPhiA), and what was your experience like as the organization’s president this year?
When I first arrived on campus, I really wanted to be involved in community service, because I love helping people in any way I can. I feel like it keeps me grounded and allows me to interact with people in day-to-day life that I normally wouldn’t see. OPhiA gave me that opportunity, because we’re not just helping people on campus, we’re helping people locally, federally, and across the world. We worked this year on a project sending aid, food, resources, and money to a woman in Syria for an entire year. We’ve changed her entire life. She went from being a lady in a homeless shelter to owning her own house. Being a part of that, and seeing her entire life change was so inspiring.
OPhiA taught me that I can be confident in my leadership ability. I can be someone for people to look up to. I can be driven and passionate working with OPhiA and still be able to do all of the other things that I love, like playing sports and concentrating on academics. It’s taught me time management skills, which has been very helpful. It’s also taught me about business and budgeting money in my role as president. I’ve gained so much from OPhiA, all while having the opportunity to help others and learn their stories.
Is there any message that you’d like to give to NDMU students who are still working their way through college?
My message would be to keep pushing, even during the most stressful times. Keep pushing, keep fighting, keep self-advocating for yourself, and keep doing the things that you love. Take any opportunity that presents itself because you never know how much it could help you. Things will work out in the end.
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.
