The Elizabeth P. Hoisington ’40 Distinguished Alumna Award
The Elizabeth P. Hoisington ’40 Distinguished Alumna Award is presented to a graduate who, through achievements in career and/or community service, embodies the principles of Notre Dame. Winners, who graduated no fewer than five years ago, have demonstrated loyalty to the University and achievements in career and/or community.
Dr. Janine Good ‘81 is a nationally recognized headache specialist, former Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) Midtown Campus, as well as an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Known for her transformational leadership, she has driven advances in patient-centered care, education, and community health --- directing neurology residency training, overseeing all University of Maryland Medical Center outpatient centers, and serving as the lead physician executive of an entire hospital campus.
Dr Good spearheaded the University of Maryland System’s first Opioid Stewardship Task Force, earning the highest level honor from Baltimore City Health Department for its impact on the opioid crisis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she led the hospital’s agile clinical practices and mass vaccination effort. She established the hospital’s first high-risk outpatient center to address complex social determinants of health, led the implementation of the electronic health record, and guided UMMC Midtown to national quality and safety recognition.
A dedicated mentor, Dr. Good has shaped the careers of over 50 neurology residents and numerous colleagues, many of whom have risen to leadership roles and continue to benefit from her ongoing guidance. She has received numerous honors, including teaching awards, Physician Colleague of the Year, multiple Baltimore’s “Top Doc” awards, the Maryland Daily Record’s “Top 100 Women,” and the creation of the Janine Good MD Distinguished Service Award, which is bestowed annually in her name.
Service to Society Award
The Service to Society Award is presented to a graduate who best exemplifies the ideals of a Notre Dame education through the application of their education, initiative and humanity to socially useful ends in the community, nation or world. In 1999, the Alumni Association established the Service to Society Award. All graduates are eligible.
Sister Charmaine Krohe, SSND ’75 has been a School Sister of Notre Dame for the past 58 years. Her deep love and compassion for the marginalized have been the focus of her religious life. After teaching in Pittsburgh and Southeast Washington, DC, she began her ministry at St. Ambrose Parish in Northwest Baltimore. For 34 years she lived and served the African American community there as teacher, pastoral associate, hospital chaplain and founder of St. Ambrose Outreach Center. The Center served more than 40,000 families and guests each year through its daily meal program, food pantry, adult literacy program, job training and placement outreach, and after-school, summer camp and Head Start programs.
Sister Charmaine envisioned and brought to reality the Cottage Avenue Transitional Housing program that transformed 21 vacant houses into renovated transitional housing units for struggling families with children. This revitalization effort included a state-of-the-art children’s playground and community park. In 2006, Sister Charmaine became president of Mother Seton Academy, a co-sponsored, tuition-free, independent Catholic school for at-risk students in Baltimore City. During her six year tenure as President, she raised more than $7 million dollars, which was used to renovate the Saint Ann school building on Greenmount Avenue to establish a permanent home for the school.
Her community achievements include: first woman president of the Board of Directors of St. Vincent de Paul Society for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Alum of NDMU, Chair of the Corporate Board for Notre Dame of Maryland University and member of the Board of Trustees, recipient of the Kathy Hughes Humanitarian Award from the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, Public Citizen of the Year Award from the National Association of Social Workers, the President’s Medal from Notre Dame of Maryland University, the Loyola University Milch Award from Loyola University, the induction into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame which is on display in the Knott Building at NDMU, and an award from the Baltimore Historical Society for her contributions to the Baltimore area history.
Sister Charmaine has been in provincial leadership since 2012. She currently serves as the Provincial Leader for the School Sisters of Notre Dame of the Atlantic-Midwest Province, a position she has held since 2016. It is clear that Sister Charmaine Krohe is a Maryland woman who has made a unique and lasting contribution to improving the lives of children and families and she has also provided a role model of achievement for tomorrow's female leaders.
Regina Russo Hammel ’41 Outstanding Recent Graduate Award
The Regina Russo Hammel ’41 Recent Graduate Award honors a recent graduate, not more than 10 years ago, who exhibits professional achievement and/or contributions to community life and who demonstrates loyalty to the University. In 1999, The Regina Hammel ’41 Outstanding Recent Graduate Award was created by Gary and Laura Hammel Dicovitsky in honor of Mrs. Dicovitsky’s mother.
Victoria Meadows ‘15 currently serves as Assistant Director of Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Program at University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). As Assistant Director, Victoria leads the way in the development of the ERM program to bring it to new heights through program development, data analytics, project management, strategic plan connection, relationship building across UMB schools and units, and related tasks. Previously, Victoria worked in the School of Medicine at UMB as Lab Manager and Research Specialist in the Center for Epigenetic Research in Child Health and Brain Development in the Department of Pharmacology. Victoria has also worked as a Research Assistant in the Department of Anesthesiology within the School of Medicine at UMB. In addition to working at UMB, Victoria serves as a consultant for ERM to the University System of Maryland Office (USMO) where she works alongside the system office and eleven Maryland system schools in the development or reimagining of their ERM Programs.
Victoria was recognized last year as one of the 2024 Daily Record Leading Women Under 40 for her tremendous accomplishments she has made so far in her career, for her community involvement, and for her commitment to inspiring change. She is a member of the University Risk Management and Insurance Association (URMIA) as well as serves on the State & Local Outreach Committee for the Association of Federal Enterprise Risk Management (AFERM). Victoria earned her M.S. in Management (specialization in Interdisciplinary Studies) from University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and her B.A. in Biology (minors in Chemistry and Mathematics) from Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) – class of 2015. Victoria is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Law with a focus in Homeland Security & Crisis Management Law at University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She is also pursuing a Health Professions Education Leadership Certificate at University of Maryland School of Graduate Studies.
A couple of cool items about Victoria is that she is a former Marine Mammal Assistant Trainer at the National Aquarium in Baltimore where she worked alongside seven Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins. Currently, at the National Aquarium she is an Ambassador Animal Husbandry Volunteer working and training alongside reptiles that include turtles, lizards, and snakes. She also volunteers at the Maryland SPCA as a General Store Associate at the name your price George’s Flealess Market which provides a chance for individuals to purchase new or gently used items for their pets.
During her time at NDMU Victoria served as Honor Board Chairperson and was Road Scholars President. She served as the student representative to the Inauguration Committee of the Inauguration of NDMU's 14th President, Dr. Marylou Yam. She also served as the student representative to the finance, facilities, and IT task force of the Strategic Planning Committee. Victoria is a member of the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honor Society, Kappa Mu Epsilon Math Honor Society, and the Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society. Once Victoria graduated from NDMU in 2015 she became immediately involved with Alumni activities serving on the Alumnae and Alumni Association Executive Board. She served as Vice President and President of the NDMU Alumnae and Alumni Council. In her current Past President role of the NDMU Alumnae and Alumni Council, Victoria remains deeply rooted in Alum activities and always supports the current students in all capacities.
Alumni Engagement Award
In 2017, the Alumnae and Alumni Community established the Alumnae and Alumni Engagement Award. The award is presented to a graduate celebrating a milestone Reunion year who has achieved long-standing and consistent support for Notre Dame of Maryland University. Support is measured through the sharing of time, talent, and/or resources.
Nicholé “Nikki” Gatewood, Esq. ‘01, is an accomplished attorney, civic leader, and strategist. As founder and Managing Attorney of Gatewood & Associates, LLC, planning and protection are the two pinnacles of her practice, which includes estate and trust planning, guardianship, probate, and civil litigation. Before founding her firm, Ms. Gatewood served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Maryland, working on critical legal matters ranging from federal law enforcement litigation and civil rights to election law. Whether guiding her clients through a multi-state estate plan, resolving sensitive disputes with dignity, structuring risk-aware agreements, or serving as a guest lecturer, she blends legal rigor with heart-centered strategy. Ms. Gatewood is a tireless advocate for building stronger communities and safeguarding our future.
Deeply involved and committed to service and leadership, her impact extends far beyond the boardroom and courtroom. Shattering ceilings while developing future leaders, Ms. Gatewood made history as the first woman of color elected President of Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Alumni Council in its 125-year history. During this tenure, she was also elected to serve as the 43rd President of the Maryland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. In addition, she serves as President of the Hillsdale Heights Neighborhood Association, as a board member and legal advisor to the Forest Park Action Council, as a member of the Maryland State Bar Association Estates & Trusts Section, and as a valued contributor to the Wealth Counsel DC/Maryland Roundtable Forum.
Ms. Gatewood is a civic catalyst and has been a leadership-development practitioner for more than two decades. A sought-after change agent and lecturer, she is regularly called upon to discuss topics ranging from professional development and legacy planning to protection strategies, litigation, think tank strategy, and best legal practices. Recognized for professional achievement, community impact, and mentoring, Ms. Gatewood was selected by The Daily Record as one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 2025. She has also been recognized for her presidential leadership and wise counsel by the National Federal Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association, and numerous other organizations.
Despite her many professional and civic roles, one of Ms. Gatewood’s proudest roles is being an ambassador for NDMU, a term she coined and encourages all alumni to embrace. For more than a decade, Ms. Gatewood has faithfully shared her gifts and talents with her Gator Family. She has served as an instrumental member of the Networking Committee, First Impression Committee, and several other university initiatives and task forces, as a mentor and guest lecturer, and most recently, as a panelist kicking off the 2025 Women of the World “WOW Baltimore” Festival.
Wherever Ms. Gatewood is, opportunity finds her. She can be seen paying it forward by innovating creative solutions for communities, clients, alumni, and students. Using her platform to live out the university’s mission and honoring the meaning of her name, “victory of the people,” she is a catalyst for change, empowering her alumni family, clients, and community to rise with her.
Athletics Hall of Fame
The Notre Dame of Maryland Athletics Hall of Fame Award is presented to a former student-athlete, coach, administrator, or staff that demonstrated outstanding achievement in athletics at Notre Dame. The individual exemplified the Notre Dame Athletics mission of striving for success in both educational and athletic pursuits.
Alla Stepanov ’18, a Baltimore native and proud member of the Notre Dame of Maryland University’s Class of 2018, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. During her time at NDMU, she was a member of the Beta Beta Beta National Science Honor Society and served as the treasurer of the Omega Phi Alpha service sorority. On the field, she appeared in 58 of 64 soccer games, starting in 52, served as captain her junior and senior years, and in 2018 also competed as a member of the tennis team. Stepanov was recognized with the CSAC Sportsmanship Award, named to the CSAC All-Academic Team in 2016 and 2017, earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award, and received the Coach’s Award in 2017.
Following her collegiate career, Stepanov became a distinguished soccer official, earning the title of Maryland Soccer Referee of the Year in 2019. She has served on the Maryland State Referee Committee since then, officiating at the highest levels, including National Women’s Soccer League matches, the NCAA Division III National Semi-Final, the 2023 USASA Women’s National Amateur Cup Final, and regular appearances on ESPN+. In 2021, she earned a Master of Science in Public Health with distinction from the University of East London, where she also competed with East London FC under the West Ham United partnership. Currently, Stepanov is the head coach of The Catholic High School of Baltimore’s varsity soccer team, leading the program to multiple championship appearances and two titles, and was named the 2024 IAAM Soccer Coach of the Year. In addition to coaching, she teaches Chemistry, Public Health and Epidemiology, and Sports Medicine at Catholic High, continuing her passion for education and mentorship on and off the field.