ALUMNAE BOARD MEMBERS
Looking Back, Paving the Way, and Paying It Forward
Notre Dame is honored to have six alumnae serving on its Board of Trustees. This diverse group of women represents graduates from the school’s 79th Street and St. Mark’s Place locations. In conversation with the school, they bring their individual perspectives on the Notre Dame they remember, their experiences as Trustees, their perceptions of challenges the school faces, their hopes for its future, and their advice for today’s students. Collectively, their wisdom and generosity are forces of strength and sources of inspiration for the entire Notre Dame community. We hope you enjoy hearing from them directly in this feature.
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What led you to your current career or your most recent position or interests? Do you feel your Notre Dame education played a part in your path? How so? Johanna: The lessons and development of values at Notre Dame, especially service to others, and the sense of community definitely led me to my work in the service of individuals with criminal backgrounds. At ND, your classmates were there to prop you up. The sky was the limit in terms of your goals and aspirations because you felt so safe. There was something particular about the diversity of the school. It led me to be curious about others, to ask questions. I commuted to school from Queens. My classmates and I came from all different places in New York City, and being together at ND helped me conceptualize how big the city was, but also how small and intimate ND was able to make that feel. The reliable nurturing environment and support of the school led me to my work at the Center for Employment Opportunities, and I have been with my organization for fifteen years. ND really established the value of how important it is to support one another and position others for success. A lot of society doesn’t reflect those values. In my work I play a part in improving peoples’ lives at their most vulnerable when they have been impacted by the criminal justice system. Monique: I’m a member of the core faculty of Counseling, Psychology, and Therapy at Antioch University. In my role, I help prepare doctoral students to apply what they’ve learned to clinical work and also advise them on their dissertations. I have a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and I remember very clearly that Sr. Virginia O’Brien, ND’s president, was working toward her
