Stories of Graduate & Professional Studies

Participating in the Risk Management certificate program has helped me in all areas of my job. Not only have I learned risk management principles, but I have greatly sharpened my professional skills. I was recently promoted to the Chief of Technical Support Branch in Operations Division in New Orleans, and I attribute some of that success to my completion of this program, and the confidence that it gave me in approaching various Corps assignments which involve risk. I was also recently selected as the District Risk Management Champion, which will allow me to evaluate New Orleans District risk assessments and provide support.

"The two biggest things I appreciate from my time at Notre Dame are the people/colleagues I met while there and the focus on compassion. Compassionate nursing in my opinion is what differentiates a good nurse from a great one. It provides a safe space for dialogue and a deeper level of care that makes a difference to the patients and their families. Notre Dame spent a large amount of time on compassion throughout my courses, and I appreciate that to this day." - Jennifer Dickensheets '20, a graduate of Notre Dame's first ABSN cohort who was recognized as her hospital's Rookie of the Year in 2021.

I was considering eight jobs after graduating from Notre Dame. People were really excited about having an art therapist. I think it led to a level of interest in hiring me that wouldn’t have been there if I only had a LCPC [Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor] or social work counseling degree.

All of the professors are so dedicated to helping you achieve your goals, The program is interesting, it’s hands-on, and I absolutely loved it. I would encourage anybody interested in art therapy to give it a try because it will give you all the resources and knowledge you need to be successful in your career.

I teach American Literature and AP Language & Composition at a private secondary school in Potomac, MD. Prior to my becoming a teacher, I practiced corporate and securities law as a partner in the DC office of one of the world’s leading law firms. When I decided to become a teacher, I wanted to continue to practice law while establishing my credentials for “Career 2.0.” I investigated many M.A. literature programs, but none offered the combination of quality and flexibility that NDMU offered. More importantly, once I began the program, I found myself connected to classmates who loved literature and professors who loved to teach literature. My classmates and professors became more than colleagues, they became friends. To this day, we gather (virtually) to talk about books. I received my undergraduate and law degrees at schools that are considered among the nation’s best. Yet, my most rewarding educational experience—the one that will stay with me for the rest of my life—was at NDMU.

At the time I entered MA in English Literature program, I was a public school English teacher looking to get a Masters in my field for professional development. This program gave me a breadth and depth of understanding of literary criticism and the cannon of English literature that I did not receive quite so fully in my teaching program. It helped me to contextualize readings for students in a way that better prepared them for their college experiences. Currently, I work in Higher Education, and in many ways my current role is an extension of the college preparatory work I was engaged in with my students in the past. I can speak to them from a place of knowledge about their collegiate and post-graduate options in the Humanities thanks to this program.

“You don’t join this organization if you don’t like service. That’s one of the first things we always tell new members and people that are interested. It doesn’t feel like work when you’re doing it with a great bunch of people. It’s just fun and good memories, which I’m going to remember forever once I leave Notre Dame." - Francesca Circosta '22, president of the Omega Phi Alpha service sorority for the 2021-22 academic year.

Beyond the opportunity to simply read and discuss great works of literature, my studies in the English Literature program at NDMU have encouraged me to read diverse literature and perspectives with my own students. It also strengthened my understanding of literary periods and critical analysis practices to become a better informed teacher. I often find myself pulling from class notes, text selections, and project ideas from my course work to integrate into the lessons I create and teach.

My experience in the English Literature MA program at NDMU was truly life-changing. I met friends who I know I'll keep for a lifetime, learned from professors who are experts in their field, and changed the way I think about English. I'm a high school English teacher of 16 years, and earning an advanced degree in my content, rather than Education generally, has helped me enter this phase in my teaching career with confidence and expertise. Outside of work, earning a MA in English has helped me renew my passion for literature. I'm so proud of the work I've done in the English Program at NDMU.

“Notre Dame really helped me to dive into what it means to be an instructional leader and to take the time to explore how I can look at data to effect change, make knowledgeable decisions, and look at all areas of the building to make myself an effective administrator. Having classes that were accessible to me while I was still working as a teacher allowed me to think about my career pathway once I finished my master’s degree and how I wanted to move toward being an administrator.” Deana was named the state’s Middle School Assistant Principal of the Year by the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP).