University of Notre Dame Galvin Scholars Alumni Newsletter

Dear Galvin Alumni,

Welcome to our first-ever alumni newsletter. The Galvin Scholars graduated their first cohort in 2022 and have since graduated two more, and our 7th cohort just started in the fall of 2024. I hope that this newsletter will help you to stay connected to the program and that you can help keep us up to date on where you are now. One of the program's main goals was to help you succeed in STEM, and as the Director, I take that success to be not just what you did at Notre Dame, but where you are now.

The journey to where you are now might not be a linear path…so we want to see where you are no matter what curve, roadblock, rest area, or destination you may be at. Furthermore, sharing your journey may be helpful to current Galvin Scholars trying to navigate their next steps. In this newsletter, we will update you on some recent events for the program and also have a few places where you can stay connected or even give back to the program through mentoring.

After some time away from Notre Dame, we also want to hear your feedback. What did you find helpful? What support do you wish you had while you were here? Your insights are valuable to how we can continue to shape, grow, and improve the program.

We hope that wherever you are you are finding joy in what you do. We wish you all the best and can’t wait to hear back from you.

Please keep in touch, and Go Irish!

Best,

Prof. Young

Started in 2018, the Galvin Scholars program has graduated three cohorts of scholars for a total of about 155 alumni. We may be small, but we are mighty! As our program continues to grow, we hope to stay connected to see what amazing things you are up to. The Galvin Scholars network can also be a powerful resource for current students.

Please visit our website to explore a dedicated page for alumni, where you'll find a link to a short survey. Your input matters and will help us to continue to improve the program

We’re also excited to share plans for a mentor program connecting alumni with current students, including an alumni speaker panel (in-person or virtual).

Lastly, we are hoping to stay connected through our new LinkedIn account, give us a follow!

Let’s keep in touch and collaborate as we support future cohorts on their journey.

Director Kelley Young

Coordinator Erin Scott

Coordinator Jen Kuzdas

The program has been directed by Dr. Kelley Young since 2021. Diane Wright, the first program coordinator has recently moved on to the Neuroscience and Behavior program full-time. The Galvin Scholars program has been fortunate to add two new coordinators, Jen Kuzdas and Erin Scott to help things run smoothly. The faculty who teach our courses are always changing, but we are fortunate to have such dedicated faculty to work with. Please make sure to check out our website and to see our Galvin Scholars Faculty who keep our program small, interactive, and a safe space to bond and learn with other Scholars.

Each year we work to engage the Galvin Scholars in new ways. We have an active Student Leadership Committee that helps us to put on wonderful events. Please take a look at some of our highlights from last year.

Fall 2024 saw the program’s inaugural Welcome Event, and it was a success! We were able to meet the 7th Cohort, answer program questions, and play a fun ice-breaker.

In celebration of the new semester and to showcase the work of our amazing Scholars, we held the 4th annual fall poster session. Here Galvin Scholars showcase their summer research and internships. Faculty and other Galvin Scholars attend, asking great questions and learning more about how to find summer opportunities.

Our Student Leadership Committee has been instrumental in creating opportunities for fellow Scholars. Not only do they schedule study breaks with activities and snacks, they also handle larger programming like the Mentor-Mentee Meeting, a Speaker Panel, and of course, the end of the year formal, affectionately referred to as Gormal.

This is an event for all of our cohorts to come together, catch up, and relax. It's the last day of class before Reading Days each spring. The end of the 2023-2024 academic year was celebrated in front of Bond Hall with a food truck, games, and the most beautiful weather. The event saw a Tug of War battle for the ages between the College of Science and the College of Engineering…we are looking forward to the rematch this spring.

In spring 2024, the Galvin Scholars graduated the largest cohort to date. We were able to celebrate the incredible journey of our scholars with their families at Foley’s with a delicious brunch. Professors Young and Gezelter spoke at the event and handed out stoles and senior gifts. We also were able to sneak out to the stadium for a group photo with Dean Schnell.