November 6, 2024
Biology Faculty Member Awarded $450K NIH Grant to Expand Student Research Opportunities
An NDMU student working in a bio lab

Dr. Jennifer Kerr, NDMU's Dr. Mary Kay Shartle Galotto ’64 Endowed Chair in the Biological Sciences, was recently awarded a $451,560 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which will greatly enhance student research opportunities.

Through the three-year grant, which will begin this November, the Biology Department will develop genomic data science curricula that will use cloud computing to increase student access to research opportunities both locally and abroad.

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Marylou Yam
NDMU President Marylou Yam Selected to Higher Education Power List

The Daily Record has named NDMU’s president, Dr. Marylou Yam, to its 2024 Higher Education Power List. The list, chosen by the publication’s editorial team, recognizes influential leaders in Maryland who are helping to guide their institutions in the ever-changing field of higher education.

This is the third-straight year that Dr. Yam has been recognized on the Higher Education Power List, and it is the third award she has received from the publication in 2024. Dr. Yam was previously selected to the Most Admired CEOs list in September, and she was inducted into The Daily Record’s Circle of Excellence in May after becoming a three-time recipient of the publication’s Top 100 Women award.

Esther Omisore Francisca Biann
NDMU’s 2+4 Program Provides Accelerated Path for Students to Become Pharmacists

Notre Dame’s 2+4 Program, which launched in fall 2023, provides students with an opportunity to earn two degrees – a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts and a Pharm.D. degree – in an accelerated six-year timeline which leads to substantial tuition savings.

In the feature story below, Francisca Biann ’27 and Esther Omisore ’28 discuss their initial experiences in the program and the continuous support they’ve received from School of Pharmacy staff and faculty during their undergraduate years.

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Morrissy Honors Students Travel to Kansas City for National Conference

Morrissy students in Kansas City

Four members of NDMU's Elizabeth Morrissy Honors Program traveled to Kansas City last week for the 2024 National Collegiate Honors Conference. Anna Choudhary, Eliza Davis, Katelyn Stephenson, and Nwanneka Udolisa were accompanied by Dr. Evelyn Spratt, director of the Morrissy Honors Program, and Dr. Rachel Burk, Morrissy faculty fellow. All four students gave presentations at the conference, which took place from October 30 through November 3, and they also had the opportunity to visit both the Harry Truman Presidential Library and the National World War I Museum and Memorial.

Choudhary, Davis, and Dr. Spratt presented "The Woman's Industrial Exchange: Baltimore Heritage, Economy, and Community," Choudhary, Dr. Spratt, and Darryl Peterkin presented "This Is Us: Researching the Heritage and Community of NCHC," Davis presented "On the Frontlines of History: The Legacy of Jane Addams," Stephenson presented "Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: Current and New Treatments," and Udolisa presented "Survival, Resistance, and Mistreatment: The Evolution of Monstrosity in N.K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season."

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NDMU Celebrates Inaugural Gator Spirit Day

Gator Spirit Day

NDMU's Division of Student Life organized the University's first Gator Spirit Day on Tuesday, October 29! Community members showed their appreciation for fellow students, faculty, and staff at "Thank a Gator" tables set up across campus, and the day was capped off in MBK, when our volleyball program posted a 3-0 sweep on Senior Night to clinch a home game in this year's United East conference tournament. The Gators will host Penn State Berks in a United East opening round matchup at 7 p.m. this evening at MBK Sports Complex.

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Renaissance Institute Participates in Power of Age Expo

RI members

Members and staff of the Renaissance Institute engaged with thousands of individuals from Maryland’s senior community last week at the Baltimore County Department of Aging Power of Age Expo at the Timonium Fairgrounds. Visitors to the booth received free candy and information about membership benefits, including the array of classes available.

In exchange for sharing their email addresses, visitors to the booth got to spin the wheel to win a prize. Prizes included bookmarks, bumper stickers, chocolate, cookies, and copies of Reflections, RI’s literary and arts magazine. Silent auction bidders were able to bid on a semester at Renaissance, and the proceeds of the silent auction went to the Seniors In Need program, which provides emergency assistance to older adults in need in Baltimore County.


​Student/Faculty/Staff Updates


School of Education

SOE canoe trip on Dundee Creek

Dr. Juliann Dupuis and Dr. Lisa Pallett recently led an unforgettable canoe trip on Dundee Creek in Northern Baltimore County for School of Education students visiting from China. This unique experience gave students a break from the intensity of their studies while introducing them to both the art of canoeing and the beauty of Maryland's natural landscapes.

Reflecting on the day, one student expressed gratitude, saying, "Thanks for the trip arrangement, from which we not only gained, for the first time in our lives, new skills with canoeing, but also discovered a harmony between the ecosystem and human beings, pulling us away from the heavy final term workload."

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Ryan Schaaf

Dr. Ryan Schaaf, associate professor of Educational Technology in the School of Education, recently participated in a panel titled "Teaching Tomorrow: AI's Role in K-12, Higher Education, and Instructional Design," with fellow AI researchers and practitioners. The webinar, hosted by the Maryland Society for Educational Technology, explored the impact of artificial intelligence on education at every level.

Dr. Christa de Kleine, professor of TESOL in the School of Education, presented an invited highlighted session at Maryland TESOL's 44th Annual Conference on November 2. Dr. de Kleine's session was titled "Critical language awareness: What is it and why is it essential for advocacy in TESOL?" She additionally gave a talk (along with Dr. Rachele Lawton) at the International Symposium on Language Ideologies and Attitudes, which was held in Palma, Spain, in October. That discussion was titled “A Critical Analysis of Standard Language Ideology among Community College Writing Instructors in the United States.”

Dr. Angelo Letizia, associate professor in the School of Education, presented a paper titled “Moving from ‘is’ to ‘ought’, the pedagogy of Utopia” at the 50th annual American Moral Education Conference on October 24 in Queens, N.Y.


School of Nursing

SON and Caroline Center students

Junior year nursing students collaborated with members of the Caroline Center’s Certified Nursing Assistant program during a simulation and skills day at the Center for Caring with Technology last week! The morning included a tour of the CCT’s state-of-the-art simulation labs, discussion on the importance of caring and compassion in nursing, and opportunities for the students to sharpen their skills at several patient stations.

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School of Pharmacy

SOP students

The School of Pharmacy hosted several activities on campus to celebrate National Pharmacy Week, which took place from October 20-26. Activities included a selfie station, trivia prize drawings, an event recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and a self-serve coffee, beverage, and snack station.

SOP students


Library Updates

LND Library

The Loyola Notre Dame Library has several exciting classes, workshops, and events coming up through the end of November. Additional Information is available below!

Pop-Up Class - Reading is Tactile: Bookbinding

Thursday, November 7, 7 - 10 pm, Loyola Notre Dame Library IDEA Space

Learn about basic bookbinding techniques and create a hand-bound notebook of your own! This class is capped at 10 participants.

Register Here

Workshop - Copyright and Careers: Understanding Copyright for Visual and Graphic Artists

Monday, November 11, 4:30 - 5:30 pm, Loyola Notre Dame Library IDEA Space

Are you planning on a career as an artist, photographer, graphic designer or other visual artist? This workshop will provide information on how copyright law will affect your work including who owns the copyright, how you can protect your rights as the creator, how you can legally use other people’s work as part of your work, and the implications of copyright on AI in creative works.

Register Here

Workshop - Addressing the Textbook Affordability Problem Part 1: An Introduction to Open Educational Resources

Thursday, November 14, 4 - 5 pm, Online via Zoom

Hoping to reduce textbook costs for your students? This workshop will provide an introduction to open educational resources and information on how to locate and reuse existing OER materials.

Register Here

Pop-Up Class - Reading is Data Literacy: Visualizing Data

Monday, November 18, 4:30 - 5:30 pm, Loyola Notre Dame Library IDEA Space

Learn about how to turn quantitative data into engaging visuals!

Register Here


Conference and Auxiliary Services


Updated Dining Information

 

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Artists' Reception: Substrata

Saturday, November 9  |  5 - 7 p.m.  |  Gormley Gallery

Substrata is an exhibition of paintings and drawings by artists Se Jong Cho and Alyssa Dennis exploring the overlapping layers of art, science, and ecology. The artists will be in attendance and light refreshments will be provided at Saturday's reception.


2024 Busta Business Forum

Tuesday, November 12  |  12:00 - 1:30 p.m.  |  Doyle Formal

We are thrilled to welcome alumna Keeyana Lock '06, MD, Medical Science Liaison at AbbVie and Tammira Lucas, DBA, CEO of The Cube Cowork and co-founder of Moms as Entrepreneurs. These two dynamic thought leaders will share their journeys and provide a road map for you to take your path to the highest levels of leadership.

Space will be limited, so be sure to register early!


Through a Glass Darkly: The Social History of Stained Glass in Baltimore

Wednesday, November 13  |  4 - 6 p.m.  |  LND Library - Ridley Auditorium

The Renaissance Institute Legacy Lecture series presents: “Through a Glass Darkly: The Social History of Stained Glass in Baltimore” with Dr. Linda Rabben, Associate Research Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of Maryland, College Park. This lecture is open to all NDMU members and affiliates. 


NDMU Drama Presents "On the Verge, or the Geography of Yearning"

Friday, November 15 through Sunday, November 17  |  Various Times  |  Marian B. Copeland Theatre

On the Verge, or the Geography of Yearning is the inaugural performance in NDMU Drama's newly relocated Marian B. Copeland Theatre, located on top floor of LeClerc Hall. In this whimsical saga, a trio of daring Victorian travelers set out to explore an unknown land —Terra Incognita! But these travelers quickly realize that they’re moving through more than just geography, maneuvering a shifting landscape of time and language. On the Verge ventures deep into the uncharted realms of our imagination to celebrate women’s history and the joys of exploration and discovery!


Academic Calendar

View the latest version of the Academic Calendar for 2024-25.


NDMU Events

Check out the NDMU Events calendar below for all upcoming events.