Stories

The mission of We Are ND is to bring to life the many stories of Domers doing good in the world. Since it was launched in 2018, We Are ND has told hundreds of stories of Notre Dame graduates who have dedicated their lives to improving others' through their work, faith, and philanthropic efforts.

Terry Rose '72

Finding a New Passion for Nursing

In 2016, then, at the age of 66, Terry Rose '72 decided to become a nurse.

Dr. Kendra Washington-Bass '94

Creating Pathways of Opportunity for Future Black Domers

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.

Riley Ellingsen ’22 M.S. and Danny Fritz ’22 M.S.

Envisioning Greater Accessibility

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.

Celebrating Our Native American Alumni

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.

Adam Farchone '16, '18 M.Ed.

Empowering All Students to Dream Big

Adam Farchone '16 has continued his work in education as a volunteer for Mind Matters Bay Area, a nonprofit devoted to guiding and preparing low-income, high-achieving students to attend selective colleges.

Elizabeth Wood '14

Fighting to Help Marginalized Women & Youth Gain Legal Status in the United States

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

Garrett Blad '15

Returning Home to Ignite Positive Change

Garret Blad ’15, though offered other opportunities across the world to fight climate change and engage in activism, chose to return to his home state of Indiana to ignite positive change in the community that raised him.

Rachel Wallace '17

Working Towards Ending Systemic Racial and Economic Injustice

Little did Rachel Wallace '17 know that a formative experience through the Center for Social Concerns would form the cornerstone of her work today as the Interim Deputy Director at the Policy Advocacy Clinic at UC Berkeley.

Faces of Ireland

Jeaic Mag Fhinn '17 lives, works, and plays entirely in Irish, feeling welcomed by the community and making the Emerald Isle his home.

Faces of Ireland

Mariana Silva ’21 has studied environmental issues all over the globe, from Ecuador to Uganda. Now, her research focus is understanding water movements in Irish bogs in hopes of restoring areas that bore the brunt of industrialized peat harvesting.

Faces of Ireland

When Rosie Giglia ’17 decided to study Irish language and literature while a student at Notre Dame, she opened a world of possibilities that ultimately led her to pursue her advanced degree in neurology and clinical medicine on the Emerald Isle.

Faces of Ireland

Award-winning photographer Mary McGraw '17 serves as the digital marketing and media manager at Galway International Arts Festival, one of the leading cultural events in Ireland and Europe.

Faces of Ireland

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.

Shelly Williams '07

Creating More Equitable Communities

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.

Joe Rehmann '06

Bringing Sustainable Nutrition to Local African Community

As the founder and CEO of Victory Farms, Joe Rehmann '06 has ambitious goals: He wants to restore the endangered tilapia population in Africa’s Lake Victoria using sustainable aquaculture, otherwise known as fish farming.

Stephen Ziegler '20 MNA

Empowering the Local Neighborhood

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.

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