Alumna Spotlight Ruby Mateo ‘06

ALUMNA SPOTLIGHT

Ruby Mateo ’06

Ruby Mateo is the LA-based Emmy-nominated Head of Development & Production of Hudlin Entertainment, the company headed by Reginald Hudlin that produced films, such as House Party, Boomerang, Django Unchained, and Marshall, among many other movies and television shows. In her current role, Ruby oversees an entire project through its beginnings to its premiere, from meeting with writers pitching ideas or working on stories, to finding funding, to scouting locations, to creating and supervising a complete production plan. With a very successful and upward career trajectory, Ruby feels fortunate that “my job is also my hobby.” Not that doing what she loves is easy! Ruby attests that “It’s really hard to make something,” but also incredibly meaningful, especially when the project propels representation and inspires confidence in young viewers with their own dreams to fulfill.

After graduating from Notre Dame, Ruby attended Fairfield University, majoring in Film and Television and minoring in philosophy. She interned with the WWE for one year after graduation and then spent four years at ESPN as an original content producer, where her project Anatomy of a Pitch garnered an Emmy nomination. Ruby says that attending the Emmy awards ceremony and hearing from other artists and nominees confirmed her desire to tell stories on film. She went on to produce and edit content for the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee before earning her MFA in Producing at the prestigious American Film Institute Conservatory, which brought her to California. After graduation from the AFI, Ruby joined the studio/film team at Netflix, before taking on her current role at Hudlin Entertainment.

Growing up in public housing in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Ruby recognized the opportunity to attend Notre Dame was a turning point. She remembered hiding her uniform under a hoodie until she got to school, as the neighborhood didn’t see too many kids headed off to private schools. She describes the ND of that time as “perfectly imperfect” and boasting a “real blend of badass women students and teachers.” For her part, Ruby leaned into athletics, playing softball, basketball, and volleyball. It was Ruby who started creating the highlight reels for the school’s sports banquets, which are still a tradition today, and marked the merging of her passions for sports and film. She recalls crying during a viewing of the movie Glory in Mary Kate Blaine’s US

History class and being “amped up” by Ms. Blaine's clear love for her subject and deep commitment to her students. She remembers class discussions, field trips, and group projects, while forging friendships in and out of the classroom that she still holds close today. At Notre Dame, Ruby learned the value of a good story and how to write well. It wasn’t until she got to college that she really appreciated the “grand spectrum” of diversity that was the Notre Dame student population. She had always known she wanted a job in film or television, and believes that “everything I did at ND helps me now.” The school was challenging but also a family, a safe place. Teachers cared. She remembers Ms. Crosson looking out for her even though she didn’t take French. In her English classes, she learned to ask, “What is this story saying? Why? What is the theme?”—questions she still asks when choosing projects to develop today. Ruby’s time at ESPN offered the chance to create content in a very stable position. Her time at Netflix enabled her to pay off her school loans and help out her family. She took a risk in applying to one of the best film schools in the world and Ruby and classmates on a field trip to Yankee Stadium moving to the west coast, where her career has reached a new level. Ruby still misses the vibrancy of what she calls the “greatest city in the world” and wouldn’t trade her New York roots for anything. She urges current ND students to take advantage of all they can do as high schoolers in NYC. For those interested in a career in TV or film, Ruby warns, “If you don’t like to read, you can’t be in the business.” She also advises young aspirers to “learn how to have hard conversations” and to strive to be kind and direct in such interactions. Ruby Mateo certainly models the drive, hard work, verve, and esprit of making the most of an ND education and making your dreams come true!

2014

Chloe Elyse FASANMI has been living back in NYC, in the same neighborhood she grew up in (Bed Stuy) with her partner and their lovely cat. Chloe is currently a full time therapist in private practice. At Boston College, she studied Sociology, minoring in African and African Diaspora Studies and Education. After college she worked at a nonprofit, advising low income college students regarding their classes, managing finances, and whatever other general life matters they needed counseling on.

Chloe notes, “From this experience I learned that I really enjoyed mental health work and, of course, pursued another degree–haha.” Chloe went to Boston University School of Medicine and studied Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine full time for two years while maintaining a position as a graduate assistant role at another university and two internships at Boston Medical Center. She started her private practice work first in an admin role and now as a full time clinician. Chloe is also studying to be a sex therapist/sexual educator at the Institute for Contemporary Psychotherapy (where she was named the 2022 scholar for her program!). She has been thinking about Notre Dame a ton lately, primarily feeling grateful for the absolutely wonderful, supportive and loving environment to be a high school student in. She is still best friends with herChez Nous sisters to this day, and they mean the world to her! Angelique RUGGIERO Rivera is currently a student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and is happy to be a point of contact for any current ND students interested in the veterinary field. She can also answer any questions for anyChez Nous sisters aiming to enter into the health profession in general because she has worked as a nursing assistant and was on the premed track during college for quite some time and so has a lot of experience with the application process. She has an extensive background in research, as well, if anyone has any questions about science careers in general! Angelique writes that she is looking to help and guide students the way everyone at ND helped and guided her.

2016

Tiffany MELENDEZ started working at Williamsburg Northside Preschool in January. Her classroom is pictured. Notre Dame is ever grateful to Tiffany for filling in as our permanent substitute teacher during the height of the pandemic!

2018

Claudia Osorio graduated this past May from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in Information Systems and two minors in Sonic Arts and Intelligent Environments. She recently started a full time job at Twitter NYC as a Software Engineer.

Ambar PAGAN will attend Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), where she will be pursuing a Master's in International Affairs (MIA) with a Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy Concentration and International Organizations and United Nations (UN) Studies Specialization.

Before graduating from Boston College in May, Siobhan PENDER went to Ireland and Portugal for her spring break with her college roommates. After visiting Dublin and Galway in Ireland, they spent a few days in Lisbon and Sintra in Portugal–a wonderful way to wrap up four years together! In September, Siobhan is moving back to Boston to work for Ramboll as a Due Diligence Consultant in their Environment & Health Division, and is excited to spend more time up in Massachusetts. Isabela ADUAR, Rebecca RASLOWSKY, Jaylin SANTOS, and Emma SIMMEL reconnected at the Cristo Rey School Benefit on October 27th.

Rebecca RASLOWSKY graduated from Georgetown with majors in government and theology. She wrote her senior thesis on theology in faith-based rehabilitation programs in prisons and received the Brennan Medal as the outstanding graduate in theology and religious studies while also being recognized as an outstanding student leader. She is pictured with her family.

2019

Teresa PAVIA will attend SUNY Albany's Rockefeller College in the Public Administration Program. She spent the spring semester participating in the New York State Legislature’s Assembly Session Internship Program and continues working for Assembly Member Harvey Epstein of the 74th Assembly District over the summer out of his East Village office. Teresa holds the title of Executive Editor for her school's newspaper, the Albany Student Press. Elizabeth SULLIVAN will be pursuing a Masters in Museum Curatorial Studies at Bard College after studying film, art history, and the German language in Berlin, Germany.

Vivian TODD has been begun a 4+1 Master's degree program with Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs.