The mission of We Are ND is to bring to life the many stories of Domers doing good in the world. Since it was launched in 2018, We Are ND has told hundreds of stories of Notre Dame graduates who have dedicated their lives to improving others' through their work, faith, and philanthropic efforts.| We Are ND
Stephanie Gharakhanian ’07 is comfortable in liminal spaces.| We Are ND
Kathryn Turner ’95 spent her childhood roaming the acres of her family’s ranch inside Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. First, she rode on the same horse as her mom, Mary Kay Brady SMC ’64, as the family worked around the ranch, and then, by the time she was three, she was riding her own horse. As Turner got older, a sketchbook was her constant companion as she observed the changing seasons and wildlife at the Triangle X Ranch, where she is part of the fourth generation in the famil...| We Are ND | Stories
Jorge Schippers ’07 has always wanted to create something that could make a positive impact. After years of learning from some of the best in the industry, he brought that vision to life with Pacifiko—an e-commerce marketplace expanding access to affordable products across Central America.| We Are ND
As a former athlete, teacher, and current firefighter, Daara Jalili ’17, ’19 M.Ed. has always been committed to protecting, educating, and inspiring those around him. And while he’s done so in a variety of ways, community has always been at the heart of his efforts.| We Are ND | Stories
From Our Mother on the dome to the moms and mother figures in our lives, the Notre Dame family takes every opportunity to celebrate our matriarchs. This Mother’s Day, the Notre Dame Alumni Association has compiled past We Are ND stories from women in the Notre Dame community who describe their experiences with motherhood, adoption, and fostering; open up about hardships and triumphs; and share how they are empowering others to be the best they can be. | We Are ND
The pursuit of justice isn’t one that ends in the courtroom. For Anna McGinn ’22 J.D. and her clients at the Great North Innocence Project, it’s a lifelong commitment.| We Are ND
The Play Like a Champion Today sign that Notre Dame football players tap on their way out of the locker room is more than just a motivational slogan for a big game. It’s also an involved approach to athletics that Kristin Komyatte Sheehan ’90, ’93 M.A. and the Play Like a Champion Today Educational Series have inspired in parents, coaches, and young athletes for nearly 20 years.| We Are ND
In honor of Black History Month, this We Are ND story collection highlights just a handful of the many Black Alumni of Notre Dame who have used their talents and commitment to make a positive impact on the world.| We Are ND | Stories
What began as only a yearlong commitment, launched a lifelong passion for Dr. Jim O’Connell ’70. Since 1985, when he helped found the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program (BHCHP), Dr. O’Connell has been dedicated to providing comprehensive medical care for the homeless population in his community.| We Are ND | Stories
It was never a part of the plan to work for NASA. But when life opens a door to the unknown, Annette Hasbrook ’85 says, give it a chance — after all, it is humanity’s destiny to explore.| We Are ND
One laugh is all it took. One laugh and Jimmy Brogan ’70 was hooked on comedy — a career where he finds his own happiness in bringing it to others.| We Are ND | Stories
Since 1991, the Notre Dame Club of Mid-Hudson Valley has welcomed local alumni, parents, and friends for an annual 11-hour bus trip to campus for a football game, open to all who love the Fighting Irish regardless of affiliation.| We Are ND | Stories
On his way to working in medicine, Joseph Earl Thomas ’19 MFA decided to become a writer instead.| We Are ND
David Pais ’72 always knew he wanted to help people, but he couldn’t have imagined that his work fighting HIV/AIDS would reveal parts of himself and his faith in the way it did — forever altering his outlook on life and death.| We Are ND
Editor’s Note: Dr. Stephen Lancaster ’05 MSM is a fellow with the Nanovic Institute for European Studies who performs both as a soloist and as part of ensembles. This year, Lancaster was nominated for a Grammy Award for best choral performance.| We Are ND
To Kisa Matlin ’17, home is a feeling.| We Are ND
When Monica Macek ’95 left her home on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota to attend Notre Dame, she didn’t think she’d be going back.| We Are ND | Stories
When the Notre Dame Alumni Association launched its first Global Day of Service in 2023, it was with the belief that an international network of alumni, parents, and friends had the power to collectively make a positive impact the world over.| We Are ND
In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Notre Dame Alumni Association looks back at some of our outstanding Asian/Pacific Islander alumni who have dedicated their professional and personal lives towards being a force for good in the world.| We Are ND
Editor’s Note: Brady Stiller ’20, ’21 MNA was valedictorian of the Notre Dame Class of 2020. On March 18, 2024, Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire published his book, Your Life is a Story: G.K. Chesterton and the Paradox of Freedom, which is a revision of his senior thesis at Notre Dame.| We Are ND