Message From the President

A Year of Change

This year has been a momentous and exciting one in Notre Dame's history, filled with changes both physical and philosophical. After conducting extensive research and with careful consideration, we officially became a university. This designation change more accurately reflects our multifaceted nature and a four-school structure that is more typical of a university than a college. Our new name—Notre Dame of Maryland University—honors our history while enthusiastically embracing our path forward in leadership in in the liberal arts, health sciences and education.

Energized and inspired, and continuing a tradition of great accomplishments in times of change, we also opened a new academic building, launched a new academic delivery structure and programs, and introduced a new graphic identity and website. We even opened a new entranceway to campus.

Strategic and innovative responses to contemporary needs—one of the hallmarks of our mission—merited us pride of place in USA Today’s “10 Groundbreaking American Women’s Colleges." Proof of our nimbleness includes three new master's programs: knowledge management, contemporary communication (fully online) and English, to help meet the growing demand in the Baltimore County school system for teachers with master's degrees.

Our School of Education continues to be among the largest and most respected in the state. As testament to its reputation, Notre Dame graduates were recently named Teachers of the Year in Anne Arundel, Kent and Harford counties. Programs at the graduate level have expanded significantly, with a heightened focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs and our offerings in special education, early childhood education and instructional leadership.

Building on our strong history of training compassionate and professional nurses for more than 30 years through our coeducational adult programs, we now offer a bachelor of science in nursing to students entering the Women’s College.

Our innovative School of Pharmacy, the only pharmacy program affiliated with a private university in the state, is now based in the new G. Avery Bunting Hall. The building is not only technologically advanced but designed to meet LEED Silver specifications as part of our environmental stewardship efforts.

All of these achievements and changes have been informed and inspired by our mission and belief that education can transform lives—and the world. As we enter a new chapter in a proud history that spans 116 years, we look forward to the change that is yet to come in the life of our university and in the lives of our students and graduates.

With warmest wishes,
Mary Pat Seurkamp, Ph.D.
President