Suzy Kickham ‘22
Aspiring Leaders Cohort ‘23
My journey at the University of Notre Dame began in May 2020, upon becoming a member of the Alliance for Catholic Education’s Teaching Fellows Program. Having spent much of my undergraduate career interested in education as a catalyst for social change, the ACE program felt like a natural fit for me. Even though my ACE experience started over Zoom, I quickly learned how special of a community it was. My professors, peers, and even the course content all contributed to my feeling like a competent, dynamic educator. Although teaching offered more challenges than I could have imagined, I received constant guidance and spirited motivation throughout my two years in ACE.
Since graduating with my Master’s of Education in 2022, I continued my teaching career in Washington DC, and now in New York City. Over the years, I’ve had many opportunities to reconnect with the Notre Dame community, but the most special has been through the Hesburgh Women of Impact Aspiring Leaders Program. I didn’t realize how I fit into the broader ND community until developing relationships with other alumni who were motivated by values similar to my own. As a member of the Aspiring Leaders Committee now, I hope to bring this same sense of belonging and fellowship to other young alumni. I truly believe that our interconnectedness will allow us to be even stronger forces of good for the world.
