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Alumnae Board: Looking Back and Paying it Forward
ALUMNAE BOARD MEMBERS
Looking Back, Paving the Way, and Paying It Forward
Notre Dame is honored to have six alumnae serving on its Board of Trustees. This diverse group of women represents graduates from the school’s 79th Street and St. Mark’s Place locations. In conversation with the school, they bring their individual perspectives on the Notre Dame they remember, their experiences as Trustees, their perceptions of challenges the school faces, their hopes for its future, and their advice for today’s students. Collectively, their wisdom and generosity are forces of strength and sources of inspiration for the entire Notre Dame community. We hope you enjoy hearing from them directly in this feature.
What led you to your current career or your most recent position or interests? Do you feel your Notre Dame education played a part in your path? How so?
Johanna: The lessons and development of values at Notre Dame, especially service to others, and the sense of community definitely led me to my work in the service of individuals with criminal backgrounds. At ND, your classmates were there to prop you up. The sky was the limit in terms of your goals and aspirations because you felt so safe. There was something particular about the diversity of the school. It led me to be curious about others, to ask questions. I commuted to school from Queens. My classmates and I came from all different places in New York City, and being together at ND helped me conceptualize how big the city was, but also how small and intimate ND was able to make that feel.
The reliable nurturing environment and support of the school led me to my work at the Center for Employment Opportunities, and I have been with my organization for fifteen years. ND really established the value of how important it is to support one another and position others for success. A lot of society doesn’t reflect those values. In my work I play a part in improving peoples’ lives at their most vulnerable when they have been impacted by the criminal justice system. Monique: I’m a member of the core faculty of Counseling, Psychology, and Therapy at Antioch University. In my role, I help prepare doctoral students to apply what they’ve learned to clinical work and also advise them on their dissertations.
I have a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, and I remember very clearly that Sr. Virginia O’Brien, ND’s president, was working toward her
PhD in Psychology at Fordham during my time at Notre Dame. In fact, so many ND faculty members at the time were pursuing advanced degrees, and it really sent the message to me and to other students that education is an ongoing journey. Learning doesn’t stop. At Notre Dame I consistently felt supported and challenged in my academic and career goals. Patricia: I wanted a career in law from a very young age. I grew up watching a television show called The Young Lawyers, and I always admired the idealism of the characters who opened up a legal aid center right after graduating. Ironically, I was never a “young lawyer” because I worked in the accounting field for thirteen years before going to law school. At Notre Dame I learned to be confident, which helped me to leave a career I was good at in order to pursue my dream.
ND was a safe and judgmentfree zone, where you could say what you thought and be who you were. You didn’t have to put on an act. It was always okay to speak your mind. I learned that it’s okay to have healthy competition with your classmates, but at the same time you can relate to them on a personal level and be friends who support each other. That lesson carried over into my career as a litigator. Lawyers are advocates for clients and might argue passionately over a case, but you can be respectful and even friendly with each other despite your respective clients’ differences.
I grew up in Queens, and my parents were very conservative. It was a big deal for me to go to high school in Manhattan and later attend college at Fordham in the Bronx. My high school teachers had a lot of faith in me and my ability, and pushed me to do some unorthodox things that helped me advance. I took Math 11 and Math 12 during the same year, and actually sat for two Regents exams on the same day. Then I took Calculus my Senior year, with a small group of others. My English teacher, Sr. Mary Gerald (Sr. Carol Perry), was an advocate for me,
especially when it came time to choose a college. I truly believe she deserves the credit for getting my parents to be more openminded on that topic. Justine: In college, I knew I wanted to go into a field that helps people. After graduating, my first job was working for Catholic Charities as a Case Worker in Foster Care. My supervisor at the time was a retired NYPD Sergeant. He convinced me to take the police test. He thought I could help more people in a citywide atmosphere and make a difference with the same communities I was already serving. I followed his advice and took the test in 1997. I’ve been with the NYPD for 23 years. I laugh when I think that I went from the social life of an all-girls school to a male-dominated career.
The NYPD has numerous divisions and units within its 40k member organization. My career path has led me through various
divisions, culminating in my work within the Cyber Crime Division. I have seen the good and the bad, along with people at their best and their worst. I saw a clear distinction between those who had opportunity and those who did not. My perspective has been constantly challenged by plenty of hands-on life experience.
Opportunities can steer your career path, and I know for sure that attending Notre Dame School was my opportunity. Opportunity, though, has a twofold meaning for me.
First, the ND school structure gave me a chance to challenge myself academically. The school gave me a leadership platform and improved my self-confidence
Johanna Vespe Aulisa ’01
via the support of the strong faculty and staff. After striving and excelling at ND, I felt I could face any challenge in the future. Second, I believe once afforded an opportunity, you are obligated to do something with this chance at advancement. Therefore, I always want to give back to ND for laying the groundwork for my future success and contributing to my inner sense of empowerment.
In the Police Academy, they hand you a packet of flashcards to use as a reference when you are on your first foot post by yourself. We were told we might need to translate if encountered by someone on the street. It’s a bit intimidating; you’re nervous, trying to figure out if you remember all your training and wondering if you are fit for the job at hand. After looking through my packet, I came across one entitled “Spanish Phrases.” The sentences on the cards gave me a flashback to freshman Spanish. One simple phrase was Preguntas? It was as if Senorita Harrington wrote them herself! That is when I knew it; I got this.
Years later during a prisoner interview, my subject, arrested for embezzlement, was talking down to my partner. He was commenting on his education, how he had a Ph.D. and how we were wasting our time talking to him. We let him ramble on until he got tired of listening to himself. I don’t know why I said it, but I mumbled under my breath, “Tu est mendax.” (you’re fake/ a liar). Ms. Lumley-Clark took over my brain, and I floated back to Latin class and the adventures of Caecilius. I don’t remember how well I did in her class, but I remembered Ms. Lumley’s animated reading from the textbook and her lunging across the room shouting, “Tu est mendax.” My spontaneous utterance isn’t the funny part of the story. The prisoner heard what I said and understood me. He then stopped talking about his crime and asked what Ivy League school I went to, since I was clearly fluent in Latin. I never answered him but walked out of the room with a smile on my face.
I still get a sideways look when I tell people I attended an all-girls school. I’ve always been a bit outspoken, but I was a little intimated in the classroom. My time at ND shaped my self-confidence, and the faculty challenged me to speak publicly without hesitation. ND planted the seed in me and promoted my self-worth, which stuck with me in my college years, social work career, and the police department. Talya: I’ve always been interested in math, science and the desire to make things. From an early age I enjoyed creating things from basically nothing. During high school, it was actually Sr. Virginia, our school counselor at the time, who told me to look into engineering. As they say, the rest is history. I attended Stevens Institute and have been a practicing Mechanical Engineer for the past 22 years. Carolyn: I credit Notre Dame with my lifelong love of languages; and during much of my career as an administrator in the ethnically diverse setting of Saint Francis Preparatory School in Queens, NY, I was able to put my multi-lingual skills to good use. Now that I am retired, I have had the opportunity to travel to 75 different countries.
Monique Sulle Bowen ’90
During your high school years, what experiences were most formative for you? How would you describe the Notre Dame of your time?
Johanna: The academics at Notre Dame were very challenging for me. It was hard, and I sometimes had to take summer school classes. At times I thought, I don’t think I can do this, but I always felt encouraged and supported. Everyone was patient, and I knew I could find my fit. The education that was offered was amazing. Everyone was
so smart. I think most memorable for me were a couple of the “immersive” experiences: the trips to the Pearl Theatre and when Ms. Crosson took her French classes to the local creperie. We were in the city for school, in a neighborhood that was “lively,” to say the least, and we weren’t allowed to leave for lunch, but outings like these provided just enough exposure. I even remember simply having conversations with Ms. Geer while we walked to the gym at the nearby Boys’ Club. The message at ND was, yes, you’re in class, but there is also a life outside. The school was special and offered a unique, added layer of experience. Monique: My first three years at ND were at the 79th Street location. I was from the Bronx, and I remember leaving for school in the dark and taking three subway trains to get there. Bronx kids typically went to Bronx schools, so I felt a little like a trailblazer. There was, perhaps, a small group of us from the Bronx who were willing to do something hard to get something good where our educations were concerned. It was a big change, and I gained a different sense of myself.
I remember Joe Rapaglia’s class. He was tough but authentic as a teacher. We would ask questions in class, and he would ask us questions right back! He forced us to think and to be able to defend our views.
We learned the school was going to close during my junior year, and it felt like a real injury. How were we going to recover from this? Sr. Mary talks to me often about that time, and her memories are vivid. I don’t remember a lot because it was so shocking. It felt impossible to think about transferring. I remember holding tag sales to raise money for the school, and my mother and little sister coming down from the Bronx to help with those. All the families got involved. We fought for something we didn’t even know what it would be. The school eventually found a new location on St. Mark’s Place in the East Village. I was in Ghana with my family for the summer, and I remember insisting that I be back at ND for Senior Portraits. It meant taking a separate flight home from my parents, and I literally took a taxi from JFK to my new school building on St. Mark’s Place that morning. I was the Student Council president, and I needed to be there. When I arrived, I remember seeing John Joven and Rigo Chery screwing in lightbulbs and fixing a ceiling. Our school building was now steps from Tompkins Square Park. We saw a lot! ND changed me. I was forced to grow up, to turn outward, to find and develop a public voice. Patricia: During the fall of my senior year, the 1972 presidential election ended in a landslide victory for Nixon despite the fact that the Watergate break in was on the news. Before the election, our social studies class was supposed to have a presidential debate, but no one wanted to be Nixon. Finally, I agreed to take on the challenge, and I learned so much from that exercise. I learned that no person is a singular dimension and no one is all bad. I drew on that experience later on as a lawyer when one of my mentors, a federal judge, advised me that to really be an effective advocate, you must be able to argue the other side’s case just as well as your own. Justine: My time at Notre Dame was competitive but straightforward (in a good way). Technology has changed everyone’s lives in the last 20 years, but our class had no cell phones, no Google, no Starbucks, no Uber, no streaming, no Grubhub, no video games (only arcade) and no Amazon.
School was more than academics and striving for college acceptance; it was a way to gather with our friends and grow as young women. Some of my memories include looking forward to hanging out in the lunchroom, playing on the basketball team, St. Ursula Day, and of course, school dances with Xavier, Regis, and LaSalle.
I formed close friendships with other students, and we respected and looked up to the school faculty and staff. The faculty challenged our way of thinking; they pushed us to be opinionated and speak up. It takes a lot to hold the attention of teenage girls while making academics fun.
Academic excellence was our primary focus, and the workload
was heavy. However, we did have some serious and even some funny debates, especially in History and English classes. Some discussions would continue after the bell and spill out into the hallways until the next bell rang. My son is a sophomore at Xavier, and I recognize that we were lucky not to have the distractions, like social media, that the kids have today. Our class grew closer every year at Notre Dame because everyone needed to be present to strengthen our friendships. We were spoiled in our brownstone location at 79th Street
–Carolyn Wahlig Szostek ’65
with carpeted stairs and Miladys’s homemade meals served at lunchtime. Even at our St. Mark’s Place location, we had a live band play during class from time to time. Going to school in NYC was never dull.
Talya: Notre Dame was a school of diverse women from different cultures and different backgrounds. There were many times that assignments and class activities, for example, current events discussions in Mr. Rapaglia’s Social Studies classes, would spark conversations and allow for all to provide input and have open dialogue about important national and global issues. Often views expressed in the classroom were not shared by all, but the platform allowed us all an opportunity to hear, consider, and discuss others’ opinions. This is something I wish we could see a bit more of these days. Carolyn: I always knew Notre Dame had great, wonderfully nurturing teachers, but I really didn’t realize how exceptional they were until I compared my high school experience with friends and colleagues. I also felt very well prepared for college academically. During my high school and college years, our country was in an era of seminal social change. My experience at Notre Dame helped me navigate all the newness and also helped me thrive and fully engage in this period of progress and breakthroughs.
During my career, I worked hard to make sure everyone was treated fairly and diversity in the school setting was honored. During this time period, there were racial tensions. I started a conflict resolution program at my school and trained students and faculty for peer mediation sessions.
What led you to join the ND Board of Trustees, and how has that decision and your board participation shaped your vision of the school?
Johanna: My mother is a very loyal alumna, and seeing her remain connected to her alma mater imbued me with a sense of service to the school. Once I felt grounded enough in my career, I wanted to be a part of the next iteration of Notre Dame. It is my way of paying back all that my parents and the school did for me. Since joining the Board, I’ve been so impressed by the way
so many initiatives needed to keep the school running and thriving are aligned with its values. The school does embody its mission at its core and makes decisions accordingly. Everyone puts so much thought and care into proposed changes and enhancements. Board members ask, are ideas for change representative of the values? As the school grows, there is also a growing awareness of the need to always do better and to be more inclusive and reach more students.
Monique: There’s a picture in my yearbook of me standing next to Sr. Mary. That’s how I think about that time, Sr. Mary and I putting our heads together. I was just 17, but she would ask me, “What do you think? What do the students need? What am I not seeing?” For an adult to trust me like that, it was remarkable. As students, we had been through a lot, but we were expected to lead, to be reasonable, to help. We knew we needed school spirit and engagement. We had to keep it together.
The summer after I graduated. Sr. Mary told me, “I need help down here,” and I told her, “I need a job.” So I worked in the school office that whole summer before college. Once I was in college, I still leaned on ND. Mia Schilling, my English teacher, was really not much older than I, but I probably would not have returned to college one fall without her counsel and support. Sr. Mary called me over the years after I graduated. She used to joke that I should be the school’s principal one day. As a Board member, I can return and contribute. I can be a leader and have an impact. My professional background and experience with DEI issues seems very relevant at this time. Patricia: As a student, my scholarship award made it possible for me to attend Notre Dame; most other girls in my neighborhood went to our diocesan high school or to Mary Louis Academy, which was close by. I have always wanted to give back to the school, and being on the Board is a great way to do that. It’s a rare gift to have a strong interest in an organization and also to have the qualifications and skills to make a contribution as a board member. Although my career has been in accounting and law, I have always been interested in education, and many of my family members are educators. My father was a sixth-grade teacher for many years and then an assistant principal and a principal. After I left
“As a female engineer for over two decades, I can tell you that sometimes there will be obstacles along the way, but obstacles are meant to be overcome. Remain focused and trust in the foundation and values that ND has taught you.
—Talya Pinto Santillan ’95
a big law firm and opened my own practice specializing in arbitration and mediation, I had more control over my schedule and more time to devote to things personally important to me, like ND.
Through my role as a Board member, I can see first-hand how ND has grown into a bigger and more diverse community. I loved our building on West 79th Street, but the current building is a much more complete and modern facility. We didn’t have an art room or a gym. The science labs and library are much more extensive than we had on 79th Street. And there’s no longer a need for a typing room since today’s students have been using keyboards for years. Justine: My sophomore year at Notre Dame was challenging because we lost the school building on 79th Street. From the student’s perspective, it felt hopeless, and it looked like our class was breaking up and everyone was looking at different high schools. My parents, however, were hopeful and determined to fight to keep the school open. Along with other ND parents, my father didn’t give up on the school’s future and helped secure the next location on St. Marks Place in the East Village. Parents chose ND for their daughters for many reasons and knew the school was worth the fight. My father’s time with the ND Board, which I was lucky to witness first-hand, was rewarding and fulfilling. He stayed with the board for some time, and I still hear stories about his insights and his service to the school.
As my father gave his time, I, too, as a Notre Dame alumna, have made efforts to give back to the school. Whether I can provide a monetary gift or provide my time, I believe in ND’s educational program. Previously, I always wanted to involve myself more with the school, but life kept getting in the way. I put things into perspective and realized my father juggled many things, yet he always made time to be available for Notre Dame. I want to carry on his legacy of supporting the school and his dedication to the young women who will run the world one day.
As a Board of Trustees member, I look forward to bringing together my experiences in my career, my perspective as a minority student, and my interactions as an alumna to be an advocate for the school’s goals while tackling student life matters.
Talya: In recent years I have been involved with some infrastructure projects and Career Days at ND. Visiting the school really sparked the good memories from my time at ND. I decided I wanted to do more and get more involved. As an alumna feeling that sense of community when I walked in the doors, I thought it was important to pay it forward and give back. Carolyn: I didn’t return to Notre Dame until the Farewell Party at the building on 79th Street. In the previous years, I was very busy with my career and family and found it challenging to keep up with my high school friends, even though I cherished them. After the party, I kept up more closely with the school. I met Board member Matt Killion P ’91 and alumna Vivian Cardia ’70 who told me all about the school, its move, and the formation of its Board of Trustees. I started attending the Career Days when the school was on St. Mark’s Place. I got more and more involved and also started making financial contributions to the school.
In 2003, Sr. Mary Dolan asked me to be on the Notre Dame Board. By then, I had plenty of experience to share as an AP and also as someone who had been involved in the Middle States accreditation process several times. I also became an Alumnae Sister to support specific
Patricia Cullen ’73
Justine Killion ’91
“Opportunities can steer your career path, and I know for sure that attending Notre Dame School was my opportunity. “
current ND students. I have always opted to donate anonymously in this role, but I am gratified that the students I have sponsored over the years have all done exceptionally well. I’m also proud to report that I have attended every Benefit but one over the course of more than 25 years.
Currently, along with my membership on the ND Board, I also serve on two other boards: Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, which was the epi-center of the COVID-19 crisis in the early days of the pandemic, and the Long Island Consultation Center, which provides mental health services to people in need.
What makes you proud of Notre Dame?
Johanna: My parents’ investment in a Notre Dame education for me has matured so much over time. Now ND is an even more amazing place that cares so much about young people’s development in school and in society. My high school education has continued to pay off for me in so many ways. A lot of us feel that way. Monique: I am so impressed by the blossoming of the school. Times are different in terms of what is required by and expected from a school. ND has a clear intentionality now about diversity. I’m also impressed by how well the ND community takes care of one another with kindness and support. Patricia: I’m so proud that we have survived all this time. People were really upset about the sale of the buildings on 79th Street, and then 9/11 delayed our move to West 13th Street. But at Notre Dame, there always seems to be a core group of people determined and dedicated enough to make things happen. And so far, there has always been enough financial support.
As when I went to school, I sense that at the ND of today you can be a smart, competitive person but one who will always have respect and admiration for others. Another big difference since I was in school is that sports have flourished at ND. The fact that Brigid McCabe from the Class of ’21 could start a crosscountry team and is now a studentathlete at Columbia University speaks to the nimbleness and open-mindedness of the school. The top college placements and numerous scholarships earned by our girls every year are a testament to the strength of the curriculum as well as the talent of our girls. I’m proud of what our students accomplish, and how they seem so much more prepared to take on the world than we were at that age. Justine: There are so many things that make me proud to say I am an alumna of Notre Dame. ND is a family. The sisterhood is strong at ND. It’s almost something that I can’t explain, but you know an ND student when you see one. Our freshman year, we entered the school as a group of young women looking for direction and a good education. We ended up graduating as scholars, empowered and ready to accept any challenge or face any obstacle.
Notre Dame pushed me academically, which prepared me for an easier college life. But I remember and treasure most my long-lasting friendships and our journey during our four years together. Notre Dame created an atmosphere that accepted our differences, encouraged our expressions and opinions, and embraced our various backgrounds. It was an environment where everyone was comfortable and felt safe, which allowed us to learn from another while getting an exceptional education. I still lean on my ND sisters, and it’s fun to remain close now that our children are in their high school years.
I have interacted with high schools throughout the city within my career, and Notre Dame, in
my opinion, is unique. The school has adapted to the change exceptionally well. Over the years, the school upgraded technology access, addressed student life issues, and made changes to the curriculum to reflect what its students want and need.
Talya: I am most proud of the education and strength that Notre Dame instills in young women. Educating women to be strong individuals and giving them the confidence that they can do anything is a lesson that you just do not forget. Carolyn: The school today is so different. We didn’t have AP or honors courses in my day. The approach was more traditional, in general. The schedule expansion of today is remarkable to be able to include AP classes and special programs like Anne’s Leaders. During my years as a student, there was only one Black student in my class and no Asian-American students. The diversity of today’s ND is something to be very proud of.
I also well remember as an early Board member when making payroll was iffy. The school on St. Mark’s Place had no gym, and the East Village neighborhood was challenging. Today, ND is on solid financial ground in a beautifully renovated building.
What challenges do you believe the Notre Dame of today faces, and how are they similar to or different from the challenges of your high school years?
Johanna: Like a lot of learning institutions, there is a new focus on DEI issues and more of an impulse to be justice driven now at ND. It’s not something we weren’t doing before or were doing wrong, but there is now an awareness we hadn’t achieved in earlier years. Now we know we have to push ourselves out of our comfort zones where DEI work is concerned and weave it into the moral fabric of our school. The school’s mission propelled it to reach into marginalized neighborhoods to draw students. Notre Dame is crafting a response to the urgent call for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and moving the community forward. Monique: I think about the financial health of the school going forward. I took a lot from the Sisters of St. Ursula who taught at the school when I was a student. It was painful to hear they had decided to close the school, but I also understand their need to take care of their futures. They taught us resilience; and though they forced us to struggle, they also fought right alongside us to relocate and survive. I think about the lack of accumulated wealth among marginalized people and in certain institutions, as well. I want Notre Dame to have
a safe, secure base so that the school never finds itself again in the situation it did when it had to move during my time as a student. Justine: I feel like I have a bit of an advantage in assessing the growth of Notre Dame over the years. As an alumna, a daughter of a father who served with the Board, and a current Trustee, I see all sides of what it takes to support the school’s mission and goals.
Compared to my classmates, the current students are more affected by the “in your face” social climate of NYC. Although NYC had its challenges in the 80s and ’90s, most of us were shielded from it, pre-internet. My biggest afterschool hurdle often was trying to catch the train on time.
Today, I see a rise in student activism and awareness. The challenge ND faces is to determine which issues can be solved with academic solutions (like curricular changes) and which issues need to be given space outside the classroom. Notre Dame is aware students want change that reflects current social issues. Change doesn’t happen overnight. Keeping the communication open with students and parents and addressing issues within a timely manner has been helpful. Listening to student issues and finding a solution together is a step in the right direction. Acknowledging matters within the school is an excellent strategic approach, but the school’s vision, foundation, and mission cannot be compromised or clouded.
–Monique Sulle Bowen ’90
The school is strongly focused on and committed to a culture of diversity, equity, and belonging for all in its community. It is ongoing and important work. How does your experience at ND shape your sense of diversity and equity at the school? And what do you expect of and hope for Notre Dame regarding DEI efforts?
Johanna: It is all very interesting to me. My day-to-day work, my life’s vocation dealing with the justice system, is tightly tied to DEI. I’ve been working in this space for a very long time. At Notre Dame the sense of community, that feeling of being limitless, and being encouraged is so strong. There is always a distinction between one’s whole identity and how it shows
up in the school. For instance, my commute to high school was horrible. I remember being cat called and inappropriately touched on the train. You bring those experiences with you, but because it’s a girls’ school, it’s a shared experience. An African American student has a different experience, one that it is not shared by all. It’s important not to diminish the reality of what happens beyond ND’s walls. Students are affected by gender, race, and class and have so many different experiences. It’s important to acknowledge those experiences and turn them into a shared, collective commitment to a nurturing environment. Monique: When I was a student, it was a pretty diverse school, with many first-generation students, students of color, and the children of recent immigrants. There was a lot of striving of people who knew they had to do more to go far. The wealthy surroundings of our Upper West Side location gave way to the grit of the Lower East Side, but once inside the building on Saint Mark’s, it was still a place I recognized.
Still, we did not have a single non-white faculty member back then. Having a person of color in front of a classroom is a big thing. Here’s where alumnae can come in. As a new Board member, I am asking myself how can I help the lives of students in this way? Patricia: During the years I was in school, Notre Dame did not have the same diverse student population that it does now, and all of the students were from within New York City. I learned first-hand the difficulty of being in a non-diverse environment in the early 1980s when I became the only woman manager at a Fortune 500 company in New York. As an employment attorney, one of my roles was to help employers to embrace diversity and create an environment where everyone is treated with respect. I am proud that Notre Dame has become such a diverse community, and continues to make progress in diversity among the faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees. I believe the earlier in life you have exposure to diversity, the more it becomes natural. You learn that’s how life is supposed to be. Justine: When you see a young woman scholar of distinction and prestige, it’s like you already know she is a graduate of ND. When an
issue arises within the school, we can predict that the student will be knowledgeable and understand that their challenges will be complex and demanding but not impossible to face. For those that do not know my background, I am a Black-Asian female who was adopted by an Irish-American family. If you have seen an episode of “This Is Us”, well then, that is me.
My 1991 class was very diverse, and our counselors put us on track with the college process, I don’t recall black colleges and universities at the forefront of the process. This is not a dig at ND or the guidance process. The guidance and the college path at ND have changed so much since the ’90s. I didn’t attend an HBCU, but having more information at the time would have contributed to a more inclusive range of choices for me and for other students of color.
Judgment is sometimes made in the first few minutes, or even seconds, of meeting someone. When I enter a room, you see a Black female. You do not know my family background, Catholic-based faith and education, or work experience within the foster care system and the NYPD. We have become a culture that does judge a book by its cover. My work ethic and how I treat others should speak volumes over my race and appearance. I have had up and down issues with equality in a male-oriented profession, so I can empathize with students that do not feel noticed and present.
The challenge is to do more than listen. That ND is asking these questions and making an effort to check in with everyone’s DEI education is a tremendous start. Acknowledging the students and faculty could gain from educating one another regarding DEI issues is an excellent step toward strengthening the ND community. Talya: I would like ND to focus on the importance of respect for others. Respect is a central school value and should be at the heart of every interaction and conversation. Carolyn: I’m impressed that the school always finds a way to make time in the schedules to address issues of racial equity and social justice. When I was a student, most of my classmates were pretty well off. Today’s students come from varied social classes. Many are the first in their families to go to college. They have further to go from where they started, but they do it. I have seen Notre Dame get better and better every year.
–Johanna Vespe Aulisa ’01
What is your vision for ND in the years ahead? How do you see the road ahead unfolding to make that vision a reality?
Johanna: I look forward to watching Notre Dame continue to be this values-driven institution that prepares young women and sends them into the world. At ND there’s
no boundary to your success, growth, and development. I look forward to hearing success stories that started out at ND.
Patricia: I want ND to stay independent and to stay all girls. I want it to be financially secure enough to always have the resources to attract the students who might otherwise not be able to attend. The school has been really good at keeping up with technology, and I hope the school will always have a vision of what the next generation of girls needs and that the school will be able to offer them what they need and more. Justine: I would like to see a closer relationship between the current students and the alumnae. Sounding alarmingly like my own mother, there’s a lot to learn from an older person with a bit more life experience. Notre Dame opened my eyes to the strength of women. The ND faculty uses their platform to give us the tools to prepare us for our next step in our journeys.
I can now provide that platform for an ND Student who wants to enter my field. Our alumnae have the opportunity to share their gifts of knowledge and networking to guide active students in their fields of choice. ND already does a great job with career days and alumnae events, but we can expand on our bridge to future success. Talya: My vision for ND is for it to continue to educate women to be strong role models in the world. Carolyn: It would be great if we could buy the building!
What advice do you have for today’s Notre Dame students?
Johanna: The communal and social education you get from your peers is just as important as the formal education that Notre Dame provides. Students are rare gems, and they can help one another shine. Help one another stand out. Lean on one another, especially during this time when so many questions challenge our moral values. Depend on the stable foundation of a Notre Dame education.
Monique: Reach beyond the lowhanging fruit. Don’t do the easiest thing. Ask a teacher for that letter of recommendation or for help with your college essay. I remember taking advantage of a summer program at Mount Holyoke when I was in high school and of becoming part of the Archbishop’s Leadership Project. Someone at ND must have told me about both opportunities, and I went
for it! The Archbishop’s Leadership Project changed my life. It raised consciousness about race and inclusivity. It made me confident in my own agency. So I urge today’s student to take risks, within reason. You’re in a safe space. Push yourself. Be bold. Patricia: Enjoy these years in an environment where you can be who you are surrounded by peers and mentors who support you. Take advantage of your home away from home in the big city. We Queens girls often took the long way home —walking across Central Park and getting on the subway on the east side. One day we decided on some crazy whim to walk all the way home, and at that time there was no walkway on the 59th Street bridge! We went to museums; we shopped on 34th Street after school. I remember once sitting in the lobby of the New York Hilton with a classmate
speaking French to each other and pretending to be tourists. It sounds silly now, and I’m sure in our green uniforms we didn’t fool anyone, but it still makes me smile when I think about it. It reminds me that we studied hard but we still found time to have fun.
Talya Pinto Santillan ’95
Justine: It’s hard to give just one piece of advice for today’s ND student. I like to compare my experience at ND to a four-leaf clover. Individually, each petal is its own entity, but the flower isn’t whole
until all four leaves bud together. My petals for advice are broken into (but not limited to): education, sisterhood, self-worth and FUN. • Education: “Embrace your studies”. The education at ND is rigorous, but I felt like a junior when I started my freshman year of college. What I had learned in high school was light years ahead of the other students in my college. The re-integration of boys in the classroom wasn’t intimidating. In fact, I found myself raising my hand with confidence and being the loudest in my debate class. Every day I looked forward to coming to class and applying myself to excel. • Sisterhood: “Enjoy your friendships and DON’T hold grudges.” I keep in touch with a majority of my graduating class. We might not talk every day, but when I hit people up on social media, it’s like we are back in the lunchroom all over again. Your inside jokes, class trips, funny moments together,
these will all stay with you for years to come. You will have traditions from ND that will carry on until your adulthood. Worrying about the little things and petty arguments will tarnish all the good times you will have over the four years. In the future as an ND graduate, your alumnae sisters will help you on your journey and support you when you cross paths. • Self-worth: “You are IT, be true to yourself.” Can I say y’all are WOKE! I am beyond impressed with the current student body. You want change and you are willing to accept responsibility for improving things for future ND students. ND has grown into a powerhouse of strong, educated women who are our future. Know your worth, because you matter. • FUN : “Yes...Fun.” These are your teenage years. Enjoy life. Enjoy spending time with your family. Enjoy your friendships. Hang out (in person), de-stress, attend a school dance, meet up for coffee, volunteer.... I understand you are preparing for college, juggling school and sports, long commutes, etc. However, you are still young. Don’t let these years slip by without embracing your youth and having fun. Talya: I want to tell ND students to be confident in who you are, respect others for who they are, and trust in the education that you receive at ND. Always challenge yourself, use your voice, and believe that you have been given the tools to succeed. As a female engineer for over two decades, I can tell you that sometimes there will be obstacles along the way, but obstacles are meant to be overcome. Remain focused and trust in the foundation and values that ND has taught you. Carolyn: I want to encourage current students to strive for the best outcome. Use what you’ve learned at ND and make a better society. Things are still tough for women, and we are dealing with the hubris of some men. The most successful countries in the world are run by women.
The ND students I’ve encountered are so confident and well spoken. I didn’t have those skills at their age. Many of the women I attended college with were there to look for husbands. We couldn’t even have credit cards in our names. Today there are so many opportunities, and the school does a great job exposing students to them. Strong, capable women can do well!
Carolyn Wahlig Szostek ’65
