This summer, I spent five weeks at the University of Notre Dame taking intensive coursework toward a Master’s in Educational Leadership for Catholic school leaders. Alongside 43 inspiring educators from across the U.S. and Ireland, I gained valuable insights into school culture, instructional leadership, executive management, and spiritual formation.

I am deeply grateful for our stellar professors and cohort. As I continue as Associate Director of Campus Ministry and take on a new role as Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation, I look forward to putting these lessons into action to foster excellence in faith, leadership, and academics.

One of my summer highlights was unexpectedly running into former DSHA students on campus, including Anna Pienkos '25, a Saint Mary's College student who was volunteering as a camp counselor, and Candy Garcia-Molohua '26, who was engaged in a pre-college leadership program and begins at Notre Dame this fall. Encountering them around campus and in the dining hall brought a wonderful piece of "home" to my time there and reminded me why I am working so hard on this degree!