Tower Talk

Do you have a great idea for Alumni Weekend 2026? We’d love to hear it! 

We want to create a fun and memorable weekend for all of our alumni. That is why we want to hear from YOU! Fill out the survey below and let us know what kind of events you want to see at Alumni Weekend 2026. From our most recent graduates to our Alumni Weekend veterans, we would love to hear from everyone! 

Alumni Weekend 2026 Survey 

Thank you for participating in NDMU Day 2026!  

NDMU Day—Notre Dame of Maryland University's official giving day—was on Thursday, February 19. So many of our wonderful alumni, donors, friends, family, and students were able to participate last month. In total, we received 167 gifts!  

Thanks to your generosity in support of the Notre Dame Fund, we can create opportunities and strengthen the Notre Dame community. With the support from NDMU Day, we can provide: 

• Scholarships that empower students to pursue their education without financial barriers. 
• Enhanced academic programs that inspire the leaders of tomorrow. 
• Resources to ensure every NDMU student has the tools they need to succeed. 

Every gift matters, thanks for showing your Gator Pride! 

Want to still make a gift? Visit the link below to donate, or find out other ways YOU can support NDMU. 

NDMU Ways to Give 

School of Education Alumna Named Kent County Teacher of the Year 

When Cheryl Fracassi M’17 heard her name announced as Kent County Teacher of the Year, the moment felt almost unreal.  
 
“It was surreal,” she said. “I am very proud of the work I do, but it is for such a specific population of students that it often gets overlooked. To have that work recognized and awarded on a larger stage was very humbling.”  

The Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) alumna teaches at Kent County Middle School where she leads the Pathways program, an alternative classroom designated to support students facing significant behavioral challenges in general classroom settings. Through a combination of academic instruction, social-emotional learning, and restorative practices, the program helps students build the skills needed to succeed both in and out of the classroom.   
 
The Pathways program serves general and special education students who struggle in traditional classroom environments. In the smaller, more supportive setting, students learn to regulate their emotions, develop social skills, and continue their academic progress.  

Fracassi credits her colleagues and school leadership for supporting her growth and vision. “I have always been given the autonomy and support to set my own path,” she said. “This confidence and leadership growth helps me better advocate and support my students.”  
 
She also credits her time in NDMU's Leadership in Special Education with shaping her philosophy as an educator. “My professors at NDMU believed in my potential as an educator,” Fracassi said. “The support, high expectations, and encouragement I received there continue to guide my teaching philosophy. I carry those lessons into my classroom each day, hoping to provide my students with the same sense of possibility that was given to me.”  

Read the full article here!  

In Memoriam: Professor Gene Farrington 

The Notre Dame community mourns the passing of longtime Professor Gene Farrington, who died on March 3, 2026, at the age of 94. Over a remarkable 29-year career, he served in the English and Drama departments, leaving an enduring impact through his passion for teaching, intellectual rigor, and creative spirit.   

During his tenure, Dr. Farrington taught a wide range of course, including English, Japanese, African, and African-American Literature, as well as playwriting, short fiction writing, Modernism and Post-Modernism, Shakespeare, composition. In 1997, he founded the London theatre program, an annual experience that brought together students, alumni, faculty, staff, and members of the community. The program ran for 25 years, with many participants returning multiple times.  

"Gene loved greeting each participant in the London trip every morning from his central table in the breakfast room," recalled retired English professor Bill Davis, one of his closest friends. "He was the most thoughtful and generous man I ever knew."  

As Coordinator of Drama, Dr. Farrington oversaw the creation of the Drama minor, as well as the installation of the Marian B. Copeland Blackbox Theatre, which served as an alternate campus performance venue that features many student-directed and student-written works.  He was a cornerstone of the Drama Club, Ye Merrie Masquers, and other theatrical programs on campus. Gene immersed himself fully in every production--selecting or writing plays, overseeing rehearsals, building sets, assembling props, and writing programs. For many years, he championed student voices by producing one-act plays written by his students. Generations of students remember him for his demanding yet supportive nature, and his originality and devotion. 

Dr. Farrington was described as "one of a kind," by English and Women's Studies professor Dr. Jeana DelRosso, "he is probably best remembered for his incredible generosity with students--and his excessive use of profanity! He was a dynamic presence in the English Department, making faculty and students alike feel like family. He was also an impressive chef, and regularly opened his home to host his Notre Dame friends. He had a deep love for theatre and egg-mayonnaise sandwiches, a deep hatred for musicals, a quick stride that we would run to keep pace with, and a bigheartedness that made him universally adored. He is sorely missed." 

Gene retired in 2022, leaving a treasured and lasting legacy at Notre Dame through the many students, alumni, friends, faculty, and staff whose lives he shaped. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Farrington's family, friends, and closest colleagues. 

Volunteer Opportunity!! 

The Alumni Engagement Office is looking for enthusiastic alumni to serve as an event host in their local area! We want to give our alumni near and far an opportunity to get together and reminisce about their alma mater. 

If you'd like to meet fellow alumni in your region and you like to network, this is the perfect volunteer opportunity for you, and we are open to your ideas! No matter your graduation year, no matter the location-- you can help us create fun memories for our alumni community. 

For more information about volunteering as an event host, Contact Meagan Jenkins at mjenkins@ndm.edu.  

2026 NDMU Alumni Orioles Game Coming This Summer!! 

Date announcement coming soon for our annual Orioles Game trip. Come enjoy a private pre-game hang out at Camden Yards, followed by an exciting baseball game!