Tower Talk - March/April 2018
Table of Contents
Upcoming Events
Stay Connected to NDMU
Spotlight
Class Notes
Alumnae and Alumni News
The Notre Dame Fund
University News
In Memoriam
SSND News
Upcoming Events
History and Political Science Early-Bird Networking: Wednesday, April 4
Join us in Noyes Alumnae House on Wednesday, April 4 from 7:30-9:00 a.m. for networking and on-the-spot mentoring. April's session will focus on students and alumnae and alumni in the history and political science fields. Whether you're currently working in the field and want to share tips or are looking to explore a career move, all are welcome. Networking will begin promptly with structured introductions. RSVPs are appreciated as we will distribute parking directions to registered guests. Please email ndmalum@ndm.edu if you plan to attend.
Math and Physics Early-Bird Networking: Wednesday, April 11 (rescheduled from March)
Join us in Noyes Alumnae House on Wednesday, April 11 from 7:30-9:00 a.m. for networking and on-the-spot mentoring. This session will focus on students and alumnae and alumni in the math and physics fields. Whether you're currently working in the field and want to share tips or are looking to explore a career move, all are welcome. Networking will begin promptly with structured introductions. RSVPs are appreciated as we will distribute parking directions to registered guests. Please email ndmalum@ndm.edu if you plan to attend.
NDMU Tennis and Softball Games: Saturday, April 14
We are hosting a Gator Rally in honor of senior day for the NDMU tennis team on Saturday, April 14 at 1:00 p.m. Come out to the NDMU tennis court to cheer on the team and recognize the work of our seniors as they take on Gwynedd University. Brunch will be available for purchase.
The NDMU softball team is also playing a double header this day at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. on the softball field, next to the tennis court. Both games are against Marywood University.
Happy Hour in Timonium: Tuesday, April 17
Meet us at Michael's Cafe on Tuesday, April 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to reconnect with local alumnae and alumni. Light appetizers will be provided. RSVPs are appreciated to ndmalum@ndm.edu.
NDMU Lacrosse and Softball Games: Saturday, April 21
We are hosting a Gator Rally in honor of senior day for the NDMU lacrosse team on Saturday, April 21 at 1:00 p.m. Come out to the NDMU lacrosee field to cheer on the team and recognize the work of our seniors as they take on Cedar Crest College. Brunch will be available for purchase before the game.
#MeToo and WOW Baltimore at Notre Dame: Saturday, April 28
Join us on campus at the WOW – Women of the World Baltimore Festival on Saturday, April 28 with an opening keynote session including Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement. Tickets are on sale now!
A gift to the WOW festival supports bringing top tier speakers to NDMU’s campus as well as keeping the ticket price affordable and accessible to all members of the Baltimore community. Any gift to WOW includes a ticket to the festival - and there’s awesome swag like tote bags and water bottles as a thanks for additional support!
Lunch in Ocean City: Monday, April 30
Do you live on the Eastern Shore or will be visiting soon? Join us for a leisurely luncheon on Monday, April 30 at The Inn on the Ocean, Boardwalk and 12th St. in Ocean City, hosted by Mary Ellen Gunther '54. The cost of lunch is $26. RSVPs are required by April 24. Email Mary Ellen if you will attend. She can also be reached at 410-289-8306.
Communication Arts Early-Bird Networking: Wednesday, May 2 (rescheduled from February)
Join us in Noyes Alumnae House on Wednesday, May 2 from 7:30-9:00 a.m. for networking and on-the-spot mentoring. This session will focus on students and alumnae and alumni in communications fields. Whether you're currently working in the field and want to share tips or are looking to explore a career move, all are welcome. Networking will begin promptly with structured introductions. RSVPs are appreciated as we will distribute parking directions to registered guests. Please email ndmalum@ndm.edu if you plan to attend.
Happy Hour in Columbia: Thursday, May 3
Meet us at The Ale House on Thursday, May 3 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to reconnect with local alumnae and alumni. Light appetizers will be provided. RSVPs are appreciated to ndmalum@ndm.edu.
Reunion Committee Meeting: Saturday, May 5
Reunion will be here before we know it! This year's program celebrates all alums, especially those in class years ending in 3 and 8. Join these milestone classes for our next planning meeting on Saturday, May 5 from 9:00-11:00 a.m. in Noyes Alumnae House. Bookmark the Reunion website and keep tabs on the page for updated information.
School of Nursing's Nightingale and Nachos: Friday, May 11
Calling all BSN alumnae and alumni: you are invited to save the date for Nightingale and Nachos on Friday, May 11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the UAB Civera Gallery. This open-mic event encourages alums to share a 3-minute career story with current seniors. RSVP to Amy Rohrs by Thursday, May 3.
Canceled: Mini-Golf Challenge in Reisterstown: Saturday, May 12
Due to low registration, we have cancelled this event. We look forward to trying again in the coming months!
Commencement: Sunday, May 20
Celebrate the newest members of the alumnae and alumni community on Sunday, May 20 at the Royal Farms Area at 10:30 a.m. Check out the commencement website for more information.
More events are already in the works! Message the Office of Alumnae and Alumni Relations with your ideas and stay tuned for additional updates.
How to stay connected to NDMU
Did you move? Change your email address? Just want to check to see if we have accurate information? We periodically send email and/or print mailings your way and the best way to make sure they land is to verify an address. Please send any new addresses to ndmalum@ndm.edu or call the Office of Alumnae and Alumni Relations: 410-532-5201.
NDMU also has an active presence on Facebook and Twitter. It's a way to share information instantly and connect with fellow alumnae and alumni. Like and follow the pages for the most immediate updates!
Spotlight
Through this new section we aim to connect you to recent additions or familiar campus faces in a new way!
In this issue we are pleased to feature our new Director of Athletics, Renee Bostic! Keep up with Renee and our game schedule online.
Hi Renee and welcome to the Notre Dame family! You joined the Notre Dame community earlier this year. Where were you previously?
I’ve been in athletics administration for a long time, on the basketball court as an athlete, as a coach, and then in more administrative roles. I moved to Baltimore, for this position, from New York where I served in a similar role at Medgar Evers College.
What's been most surprising about your transition to Notre Dame? What about your transition to the Baltimore area?
What’s most surprising is how similar students are—no matter where you go. They all want the same thing: to have the best intercollegiate athletic experience. And that’s really our charge: to make the Notre Dame experience the best it can be.
Coming to the Baltimore area has been a good transition, though I’m not used to how Baltimore handles winter weather! I’ve been here for three months and we’ve already had three snow days and a handful of delays.
Tell us about your vision for NDMU athletics.
I want to make sure we give our student athletes the best experience we can provide with our current and future resources. And I want to make sure we’re complying with the Division III rules. Right now we have about 80 student athletes. I’d like to see that number grow to 100. 100 gives us more flexibility.
We need to make sure that everyone knows about the athletics program at Notre Dame. There is great opportunity for sponsorship and involvement by alums, parents, friends, and local businesses. Athletics is a key piece of the collegiate experience—not just for the women’s college students, but for all of our students. Recently the NCAA ruled that graduate students who are eligible, are able to join teams. We are very excited to be involving graduate students in our athletics program!
What advice can you share with former athletes who want to keep up their affinity?
Maintain your visibility. We would love to see alumnae and alumni at games, active on the website and on our social media pages, willing to help gather alums together at an away game or help host a tailgate, pay attention to the high school games in their neighborhoods and help us recruit excellent athletes. Former and current athletes have a special shared bond.
What advice would you give to NDMU student athletes?
As a former student athlete, I’ve found that athletics is the great equalizer when it comes to time. Just like you receive a syllabus when you start a class, you receive a practice and game schedule at the beginning of the season. The expectations for participation are the same on the field as they are in the classroom; students are expected to show up, be present, do their best.
When employers see athletics on your resume they think three things: 1. You can manage your time, 2. You are a team player, and 3. You can see the bigger picture.
Balance is tough. How do you find the balance you need?
The older I get, the more balance I strive for. Leaving New York City and taking this job affords me a better quality of life.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
Retail therapy is always good! I enjoy concerts, too. This is a great area for music; I’m a fan of R&B, jazz, anything with a nice beat. I read a lot, too, and like to travel.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Furthering the athletics program is a village approach. Have you heard the saying, “many hands make light work”? My door is always open to students who want to talk and alums who want to volunteer.
Class Notes
Have a life-update to share? Want to announce a promotion or job change? Write a class note! Class notes are brief, 1-3 sentence updates shared with the larger NDMU community.
Notes (and photos!!) received on or before Tuesday, April 3 will be included in the annual issue of Universitas, the university magazine. Send your note to ndmalum@ndm.edu now!
Alumnae and Alumni News
Volunteer for Adelante Latina!
Adelante Latina! is the first after-school, college-bound program for Latina girls in Baltimore. We are in need of volunteer tutors.
WHERE: Esperanza Center at 430 S. Broadway (corner of Eastern Ave).
WHEN: Once a week on Tuesdays or Thursdays from 4:15-6:15 p.m. Starting in mid-September and continuing until early June 2018, with City Public School vacation breaks and snow days.
GOAL: To improve English composition, reading comprehension and writing skills of high performing, low income Baltimore City high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Adelante Latina! is a 3-year, college prep program. Tutoring is one-on-one, preferably with the same student throughout the year and, hopefully, for all three years.
TUTOR QUALIFICATIONS: Excellent English language skills, tutoring skills, ability to get along with teenage girls. No knowledge of Spanish is required, as English is their primary language. Tutoring sessions are one-on-one or, at most, two students per tutor. Three of our 28 students have only been in this country for 2-3 years and would require a tutor with ESL teaching experience.
TIME COMMITMENT: Once a week, on either Tuesday or Thursday, from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
For more information or to apply please contact Leonor Blum, Professor Emerita, Notre Dame of Maryland University, at 410-591-0547, blumle@aol.com or lblum@ndm.edu.
Alumnae and Alumni Insurance Benefits
Did you know that the Notre Dame of Maryland University Alumnae and Alumni Community sponsors an Alumnae and Alumni Insurance Program as a service to our graduates?
The program offers a variety of attractively priced insurance products, most of which are available to alumnae and alumni, students, faculty and staff, as well as their spouses, parents, children, and siblings.
Tower Talk 2017-2018
This publication has moved to a bimonthly schedule. This issue covers news for March and April. The next issue will cover May and June and will be available close to the start of June 2018.
Online Degrees at NDMU
As an NDMU alum, you know how beneficial an NDMU education is. You also know that people learn in various ways. NDMU is meeting those needs. Perhaps you’re familiar with our hybrid courses; those that offer education in combined face-to-face and online format. But are you familiar with our 100% online programs? These special programs feature rolling admissions, multiple entry dates, no previous on-campus experience, and the same personalized support NDMU provides.
So what’s available under the 100% online umbrella?
Graduate Programs
- Certificate in Risk Management
- MA in Contemporary Communication
- MA in Gifted and Talented Education
- MS in Analytics
- Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership for Changing Populations
Bachelor’s Programs
Notre Dame Fund
The Notre Dame Fund helps make extraordinary experiences possible at Notre Dame. Every gift to the Notre Dame Fund matters and makes a difference. Gifts to the Notre Dame Fund strengthen Notre Dame’s standard of excellence in teaching and student achievement by funding vital programs and services not afforded by tuition payments.
The entire Notre Dame community benefits greatly when more alumnae and alumni participate in giving to Notre Dame each year, because:
- High rates of participation reflect our alumnae and alumni’s support of the university’s mission and your desire to remain connected to Notre Dame.
- Publications like U.S. News and World Report consider undergraduate alumnae and alumni participation when determining Notre Dame’s national college ranking each year. These rankings heavily influence how third parties view Notre Dame and affect the university’s ability to secure grants from corporations and other organizations.
We hope that you will support NDMU by making a gift today!
University News
In early March, NDMU unveiled its new bachelor's and master's degree program in Art Therapy--the first in the state of Maryland! To celebrate the new programs, NDMU hosted a panel of speakers including Kyra Schuster, curator of the United State Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C., Claudia Cameron, a local art therapist whose parents escaped occupied Germany as young children, and Elizabeth Hlavek, a local art therapist and curator of NDMU's recent exhibit, Meaning Making Through Art Making: From Holocaust to Contemporary Art Therapy Practices.
Maryland's first lady, Yumi Hogan, was on campus to for this special panel and ribbon cutting. Check out the feature on ABC News.
Elizabeth Hlavek, local art therapist, and First Lady of Maryland Yumi Hogan
Common Read
The University Common Read Program is designed to foster intellectual engagement and participation for all members of the NDMU community through a shared experience. A common read also gently acquaints first year students with the academic rigor and culture of higher education. The reading is incorporated into course work, common events, and presentations.
The 2018-2019 read will be Girls Like Us by Rachel Lloyd. Ms. Lloyd will be on campus November 6, 2018 to discuss her work with our community. Please save the date!
In Memoriam
Joan Szamski Banick '87
Katie Cook
Bonnie Gray M'02
Anne Furst McCloskey '51
John Stephenson
SSND News
Please hold the date of Sunday, October 7, 2018 for the annual SSND Family Chapter Breakfast. More information will be available in the coming months.
