Why Notre Dame students call her Dr. Mom
Notre Dame has long been known for its support of students from diverse backgrounds, from immigrant communities in the early 20th century to veterans on the G.I. Bill. Now, the University is continuing to expand the ways that it ensures the success and flourishing of all Notre Dame students, including first-generation, low socioeconomic status, or differently prepared learners.
In this episode of For Good, Maria McKenna, Director of the Transformational Leaders Program (TLP) and the AnBryce Scholars Initiative, discusses how Notre Dame helps students reach their full potential by meeting each student where they are, accompanying them throughout their formative journey, and educating the whole person—in mind, body, and spirit.
Experience the Episode
Monday, February 3, 2025 12:00 pm
Notre Dame has long been known for its support of students from diverse backgrounds, from immigrant communities in the early 20th century to veterans on the G.I. Bill. Now, the University is continuing to expand the ways that it ensures the success and flourishing of all Notre Dame students, including first-generation, low socioeconomic status, or differently prepared learners.
In this episode of For Good, Maria McKenna, Director of the Transformational Leaders Program (TLP) and the AnBryce Scholars Initiative, discusses how Notre Dame helps students reach their full potential by meeting each student where they are, accompanying them throughout their formative journey, and educating the whole person—in mind, body, and spirit.
This episode was originally released on July 18, 2024. To explore more, please visit their website.
Meet the Faculty: Maria McKenna '97
Maria McKenna ’97, Ph.D. is a joint faculty member of the Education, Schooling, and Society program and the Department of Africana Studies and an Institute for Educational Initiatives fellow. A professor of the practice, her research and teaching focus on the social contexts of American education, educational equity, youth empowerment, and peace education.
McKenna’s research can be found in a variety of peer-reviewed journals. Her most recent collaborative work, The Handbook of Montessori Education (2023), is the first-ever compendium of Montessori education. In her current role at the university, she oversees all of Notre Dame’s scholarly programming for first-generation and historically underserved students from a variety of backgrounds.
McKenna has been honored with the university’s Reinhold Niebuhr Award for social justice, the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C. Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the Ganey Collaborative Community-Based Research Grant, and the NAACP Faculty Award. In her spare time, McKenna supports Good Shepherd Montessori School and the Robinson Community Learning Center. She and her husband, Mark, have four children.
McKenna received her B.A. from Notre Dame, an MS Ed. degree from Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University.