NDB Celebrates Women Leaders on International Women's Day

Notre Dame Belmont (NDB) opened its doors in 1851 with a vision to educate young women at a time when such opportunities were often only available to boys and men. Today, NDB celebrates 100+ years of empowering women through education on International Women's Day — a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. 

From doctors to teachers to artists, NDB alumnae are incredible leaders who make positive impacts in their communities. Hear what they have to say about the power of an all-girls education from NDB:

“Built on the tenets of integrity, compassion and perseverance, my Notre Dame Belmont education as a tuition assistance recipient allowed me to confidently pursue a meaningful career in optometry. Today, I am able to impact hundreds of patients by providing sight-saving medical care.”

-Jacqueline Evans '05, Doctor of Optometry

 

“Notre Dame Belmont instilled in me a strong sense of resilience and confidence which have been pivotal in navigating the male-dominated sports and media industry. The all-girls environment encouraged me to voice my opinions and assert myself without hesitation—a trait that has been instrumental in my role as a leader in a high-stakes, fast-paced field. The school’s emphasis on comprehensive education and leadership also prepared me to tackle challenges head-on and fostered a can-do attitude that has guided my career trajectory.”

- Anica Chavez ‘07, Senior Director and Executive Producer, San Francisco Giants

“By graduation, I emerged a confident and curious person with less concern of rules and regulations—not because I didn’t believe in them—but because it had become clear to me over the preceding four years, that I could question them. That I should question them and everything around me. In that way, Notre Dame was not an echo chamber of doctrine and tradition, but an air cannon of hope and joy, unleashing young women like me into the world to discover and do great and interesting things. If not for Notre Dame, I most certainly would not be where I am today.” -

-Naomi Sablan Scott '90, Film Producer, Gettin' Rad Productions

“NDB’s academic environment helped my self-confidence. I felt like I was allowed and encouraged to be myself and grow into myself. I had an eclectic group of friends who have all gone on to contribute to the world in a variety of ways. The structure of Notre Dame academics and sports programs prepared me to be self-directed and to rise to challenges. My general take-away from Catholic-based education is to live a life of service and compassion.”

-Felicity Hartnett '02, Police Officer

 

Happy International Women's Day!