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At the time I entered MA in English Literature program, I was a public school English teacher looking to get a Masters in my field for professional development. This program gave me a breadth and depth of understanding of literary criticism and the cannon of English literature that I did not receive quite so fully in my teaching program. It helped me to contextualize readings for students in a way that better prepared them for their college experiences. Currently, I work in Higher Education, and in many ways my current role is an extension of the college preparatory work I was engaged in with my students in the past. I can speak to them from a place of knowledge about their collegiate and post-graduate options in the Humanities thanks to this program.

“You don’t join this organization if you don’t like service. That’s one of the first things we always tell new members and people that are interested. It doesn’t feel like work when you’re doing it with a great bunch of people. It’s just fun and good memories, which I’m going to remember forever once I leave Notre Dame." - Francesca Circosta '22, president of the Omega Phi Alpha service sorority for the 2021-22 academic year.

“I think Catholic social teaching is a value that is world renowned. Notre Dame is my mom’s alma mater, and once I saw the academic rigor I knew I wanted to apply as well. I got into the honors program, received a presidential scholarship and there’s been a world of opportunities ever since.”

I just had such a pleasant experience at the college. The instructors cared about us. They would coach you along with your assignments if you were having problems. I realized that this is possible: you can have a full-time job and a family and still do this, so it just motivated me to stay on. Thirty-five years after her graduation with a bachelor’s degree, Carolyn’s Notre Dame story is still being written. She continues to thrive at the place that gave her the confidence and motivation to realize her dreams in education.

Beyond the opportunity to simply read and discuss great works of literature, my studies in the English Literature program at �鶹��Ƶ have encouraged me to read diverse literature and perspectives with my own students. It also strengthened my understanding of literary periods and critical analysis practices to become a better informed teacher. I often find myself pulling from class notes, text selections, and project ideas from my course work to integrate into the lessons I create and teach.

My experience in the English Literature MA program at �鶹��Ƶ was truly life-changing. I met friends who I know I'll keep for a lifetime, learned from professors who are experts in their field, and changed the way I think about English. I'm a high school English teacher of 16 years, and earning an advanced degree in my content, rather than Education generally, has helped me enter this phase in my teaching career with confidence and expertise. Outside of work, earning a MA in English has helped me renew my passion for literature. I'm so proud of the work I've done in the English Program at �鶹��Ƶ.

"Getting a paper published in an academic journal was never something that I thought would be attainable, especially at 21 years old. However, the advice and support of �鶹��Ƶ's English Department allowed me to realize my writing potential, which led to this accomplishment! Despite the English Department being small, every professor has an immense number of outside connections that they are ecstatic to share with English majors." Lindsey’s paper, “Colonized Education in I, Rigoberta Menchu, An Indian Woman in Guatemala,” written in ENG223, will be published by Johns Hopkins in the Richard Macksey Journal.

Nursing programs at �鶹��Ƶ provide hands-on experience using high-tech mannequins that breathe, blink and even talk using microphones controlled by faculty members watching from the control room. "It gives us the time to get all your nerves out and go through the steps we're taught. There are certain protocols to do certain things and when you get in front of a real patient in the hospital, sometimes you get nervous and forget things," Clark said.

An outstanding �鶹��Ƶ student leader was recognized for her community involvement with the prestigious Newman Civic Fellowship by Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education. “It is a great honor to be a part of so many communities and use my voice to promote change on a local and national level while advocating for those whose voices are silenced or ignored,” said Thompson. "My commitment to leadership is demonstrated through my acts of service, love, and compassion."

“Notre Dame really helped me to dive into what it means to be an instructional leader and to take the time to explore how I can look at data to effect change, make knowledgeable decisions, and look at all areas of the building to make myself an effective administrator. Having classes that were accessible to me while I was still working as a teacher allowed me to think about my career pathway once I finished my master’s degree and how I wanted to move toward being an administrator.” Deana was named the state’s Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP).