The Voice

It's no wonder why religion teacher Mrs. Maley is smiling... that's her grandson Eamon... and Mr. Maley, too! Dedicated to Catholic education for 25+ years, Mrs. Maley says, "A strong woman knows herself and keeps her values and faith in the forefront." Her advice to her teenage self would be "to live each day like it is your last. Be confident, trust your gut, and it is never too late to make a change."

Notre Dame wouldn't be the same without Mrs. Maruca greeting faculty, students, and visitors. She is on the front lines each day and still manages to give everyone a smile! Mrs. Maruca says the advice she would give to her teenage self is: "Be kind to yourself.  Follow your dreams.  You can listen to other people's opinions but follow what you know in your heart.  Know that you are enough."

As the youngest American woman to win the US Open since 1999, Coco Gauff has won seven WTA Tour singles titles, including her major win at the 2023 US Open. Her hard work and humble attitude towards athletics have inspired other young athletes and cemented her as one of the most loved young, professional athletes. 

Whether you're a teacher who needs a substitute or a senior who needs transcripts, you know the value Mrs. Chiarello brings to the College and School Counseling office! Mrs. Chiarello says that being a woman is showing kindness, understanding, and compassion to others. If she could go back and give her teenage self any advice it would be: "Believe in yourself! Count your blessings daily. Don't sweat over the small things. Laugh more and live each day to the fullest because life flashes by in the blink of an eye."

Michelle Obama is an American lawyer and writer, as well as the first African-American  First Lady of the United States. She has become a role model for women around the globe and an advocate for healthy families, service members and their families, higher education, and the education of international adolescent girls. 

At the age of 15 in 2018, Greta Thunberg began skipping school to protest for climate change. Her strong resolve for climate activism has followed her into young adulthood, as she has continued to speak out for climate action and encouraged youth to rise up for change. 

An advocate for Native American Rights, Suzan Shown Harjo has developed laws, led campaigns for the rights of Native Americans, and helped Indigenous People recover over one million acres of land. In 2014, President Barack Obama awarded Harjo the Presidential Medal of Honor.

On a daily basis, Ms. Sudziarski, Director of Technology troubleshoots tech issues for the ND community - and we are a big one! In terms of what it's like being a female in the 21st century, Ms. Sudz says, "It's being strong enough to be better than what is presumed... it is carrying all the struggles and pain endured by women who came before me and making them proud...it is working twice as hard in the workplace to be seen, heard, and respected...it is being blessed that our bodies can deliver new life into this world...it is loving deeply and giving all you have to God, family, and friends." 

Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman, accompanied Lewis & Clark on the Corps of Discovery when she was 16. Her service as a translator and knowledge of the terrain was most helpful to the expedition. Her calming presence was crucial to the team as well as the Native Americans they encountered.  She faced the long journey all while caring for a son, whom she bore two months before departing. 

Math teacher, Mrs. Verdi says, "Being a woman means being strong, confident, and assertive, yet kind at the same time, and staying true to your convictions while striving for the best in light of adversity. Women are great multitaskers. From having careers to raising and nurturing children, women are the backbones of families and communities."

Mrs. Wise has not only dedicated 25 years to ND, working everywhere from the finance department to the discipline office, but she also has three grown children who are ND alumni. When she was young she couldn't wait to get into the workforce, but looking back she says she would advise her younger self to take a different path. "I would slow down. Take my time. Go to college! Although I've enjoyed my professional career, I wish I had started my adventure with college," said Mrs. Wise.

Social Studies teacher, Ms. Ashe loves history and has inspired many students to love the subject as well. She teaches United States History, AP European History, and an elective on genocide, for which she wrote the curriculum. Ms. Ashe says if she could go back and talk to her teenage self she would say, "Trust in who you are and what you want. It's ok to pursue the goals that you want and will make you happy, and not the things that other people think you should do."

For the last 10 years, Mary Barra has been the CEO of General Motors and is the first female CEO of a "Big Three" automaker. Under her leadership, the company has undergone positive cultural changes and increased profits.

Soccer forward, Alex Morgan played in four FIFA Women's World Cup tournaments as a valued member of the US National Team. She welcomed her first child, a daughter named Charlie, in May of 2020 and returned to the field for the USWNT in November of 2020, just five months after giving birth.

English teacher, Mrs. Stewart says she would advise her teenage self to "be authentic because if you are true to your values, morals, and principles you can achieve greatness.  Allow Jesus to have a relationship with you and take the time to discover the person he has created you to be."

From acting and co-writing independent films, the American writer, actress, and director, has expanded her career in successfully directing major studio films. This past year, she became the first female director to hit $1 billion at the box office for her summer blockbuster "Barbie". 

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was an American activist in the civil rights movement best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. After Parks died at age 92 on October 24, 2005, she received a final tribute when her body was brought to the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol. More than 30,000 people filed past her coffin to pay their respects.

American writer and activist, Elizabeth Cady Stanton led the women's rights and suffrage movements. Her philosophy and leadership led the struggle for women to gain the same rights afforded to men well into the 20th century. 

Most well-known for her unique and pioneering autobiographical writing style, Maya Angelou was a world-famous author as well as a poet, dancer, singer, activist, and scholar. She was the first African-American director in Hollywood. A civil rights activist, she worked for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as well. 

The social reformer and women's rights activist played a crucial role in the women's suffrage movement of the late 19th-century. She fought for women's rights, the right for women to vote, and petitioned for the abolition of slavery. Thanks to her impact, her name remains synonymous with the women's suffrage movement even today. 

Known for conducting pioneering research on radioactivity, Marie Skłodowska Curie was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, the first person to win a Nobel Prize twice, and the only person to win a Nobel Prize in two scientific fields. Her passion for science and research continues to define scientific discovery today.

The longest-serving First Lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt took a leading role as a political figure, diplomat, and activist. As a leading designer for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Roosevelt continues to be admired for her strong outspokenness for change and civil rights. 

As a poet and an activist focusing her work on the issues of oppression, feminism, and race - Amanda Gorman was the first person to be named National Youth Poet Laureate. From speaking at the inauguration of Joe Biden, to publishing books, Gorman is one of the strong and passionate minds defining a generation of artists and activists. 

As the wife of the second president of the United States, Abigail Adams was a crucial female figure during the era of the Founding Fathers. Serving as a vital confidant and advisor to her husband, along with opposing slavery and supporting women's rights and education - a true mother of America. 

As a British writer and philosopher who advocated for women's rights, Mary Wollstonecraft is regarded as one of the early feminist philosophers, shaping her views of gender equality through her writing. Her daughter, Mary Shelley, went on to be an accomplished writer in her own right - authoring Frankenstein, arguably considered the earliest work of science-fiction.