Inclusivity

For Chris Word ’08 M.S., drive does not end at the eighteenth hole. Guided by entrepreneurial ambition and a passion to create community for all aspiring golfers, he sees the game as more than a sport.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Notre Dame Alumni Association looks back at some of our outstanding Hispanic alumni who have dedicated their professional and personal lives towards being a force for good in the world.

In honor of Black History Month, this We Are ND story collection highlights just a handful of the many Black Alumni of Notre Dame who have used their talents and commitment to make a positive impact on the world.

David Pais ’72 always knew he wanted to help people, but he couldn’t have imagined that his work fighting HIV/AIDS would reveal parts of himself and his faith in the way it did — forever altering his outlook on life and death.

To Kisa Matlin ’17, home is a feeling. Sometimes this feeling comes natural, and other times, it has to be created. Matlin seeks to cultivate home — in people, in place, and as a teacher.

When Monica Macek ’95 left her home on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota to attend Notre Dame, she didn’t think she’d be going back.

When the Notre Dame Alumni Association launched its first Global Day of Service in 2023, it was with the belief that an international network of alumni, parents, and friends had the power to collectively make a positive impact the world over.

As director of global gender issues at the White House, Stephanie Mulhern Ogorzalek '11 sees a direct connection between her work and her life as a working mom of two. 

 Now serving as the associate director of performance quality improvement and compliance at St. Vincent de Paul in Louisville, Kentucky, Greer Hannan '09 reflects on moments of “aliveness” that inspired her to serve those on the margins.

Ashley Kyalwazi '18 is determined to help build and advocate for equitable systems of care, with a clear focus on improving health outcomes among marginalized communities.

Kendra Washington-Bass ’94 uses her expertise in education to empower Black students at Notre Dame as the board chair of the Black Alumni of Notre Dame.

By the time Danny Fritz ’22 M.S. and Riley Ellingsen ’22 M.S. graduated from the 11-month ESTEEM master’s program at Notre Dame, they had co-founded a start-up, earned seed money to start developing their innovative product, and now dedicate themselves to expanding accessibility options for people who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.

This We Are ND Native American Heritage Month collection highlights several native alumni who have dedicated their personal and professional lives to making a difference in their communities and the world.

Erin Potempa-Wall '99 is the founder and COO of Beachwaver Co., a family-run company best known for its Beachwaver rotating curling iron that helps all women feel confident and glamorous.

As an immigration lawyer, Elizabeth Wood ’14 witnesses daily the reasons why people leave their homes and migrate to the United States.

Conal Fagan ’21, the first Irish native to serve as the official Notre Dame leprechaun, returned home to Ireland to continue his mission of using sports as a means for social change.

Williams has spent her career at nonprofits that work to bring positive change to the lives of children in St. Louis and the surrounding region in Missouri.

Ziegler’s approach to working with the South Bend community  remains in line with the sustainable development principles he learned about during his Notre Dame MNA.

Kathryn Martinez ’14, a Lieutenant and Naval Flight Officer, was part of the first-ever all-women flyover crew from the U.S. Navy for Super Bowl LVII. 

Okanlami has both led and been a part of numerous initiatives to raise awareness of the program and adaptive sports and inclusive recreation as a whole.

In the same way that those with disabilities deserve equitable access to education, housing, and transportation, Adams believes that having access to outdoor, adaptive recreation is no different.

Almost since he first stepped foot on campus, Connor Toohill ‘14 has been putting his entrepreneurial and innovative mind to work toward solving society’s most pressing issues.

Ever since he was a high school student in Jacksonville, Florida, Conor Hanney ’14 has had two passions: television production and championing individuals with cognitive disabilities.

As a psychiatry resident, podcast host, ABC News medical correspondent, children's book author, and mental health advocate, Nick Nissen M.D. '16 is working to destigmatize mental health struggles and to teach emotional intelligence and empathy.

In 2017, former teacher and principal Krystal Hardy Allen ’07 founded K. Allen Consulting, an educational and management consulting firm that supports a variety of organizations in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.