Success Stories

Step into dynamic discussions with Notre Dame’s Hispanic alumni navigating complex professional transitions during Hispanic Heritage Month. Gain career clarity, cultivate lifelong mentorship, and immerse yourself in authentic conversations about balancing cultural heritage with executive ambition. Harness this global network to elevate your trajectory and guide your next bold step.

Experience the Event

Presented by Hispanic Alumni of Notre Dame

To explore more from the series Caminos: Stories of Hispanic Alumni, please click here.

Sandra Garcia ’09 joined the Notre Dame family in 2005 as a student. She earned her Bachelor’s in 2009, double majoring in Accounting and Psychology. She went on to graduate summa cum laude from Purdue Global University in March 2023, earning her MBA. Sandra’s family is from Mexico, who migrated to Chicago a few months before she was born.

Upon graduation, Sandra developed a strong operational background while serving as the District Manager for Aldi, Inc. for seven years. She oversaw five privately held stores in Indiana, located in South Bend, Mishawaka, Plymouth, LaPorte, and Warsaw, IN. Sandra was responsible for all aspects of the operations, including facilities, personnel, and financial management. Among other achievements, she held the highest productivity district with the lowest employee turnover and fastest sales growth.

Sandra then joined the Notre Dame Human Resources Department in June of 2015 as a Human Resources Consultant, providing guidance and support to managers and employees of designated departments with special emphasis on issues related to performance management and employee relations. HR Consultants understand operational facets of the departments, colleges, and institutes they support, including strategic goals and the human resources aspects related to those goals to deliver the most effective solutions possible. In July 2021, she transitioned to a new role on campus as Director of Retail Dining within Campus Dining, where she oversaw about 16 food establishments. She had the honor of opening several new operations, including Chick-fil-A while also laying the groundwork for introducing delivery robots on campus.

Sandra’s entrepreneurial spirit helped her family to open and operate Los Aces Mexican Restaurant in South Bend starting in 2016. Eventually, the brand was sold but she stayed as a Managing Consultant until June 2021, successfully helping them navigate the pandemic. Sandra has served on the Board of Directors of La Casa De Amistad for about four years now. She also serves as alumni representation on the Board of Directors for Chicago Scholars. Both organizations conduct mission-driven work to help underrepresented communities. Her passion for mission-driven organizations led her to accept an invitation to switch jobs and lead people and culture at Boys & Girls Clubs of the Northern Indiana Corridor since December 2022.

Meet the Speaker: Blanca Janet Ibarra, '06

Blanca Ibarra ’06 was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas to Mexican immigrant parents. She is a first-generation college graduate. She earned a degree in Spanish with minors in Anthropology and Latin American Studies from the University of Notre Dame. She went on to complete her master’s degree in School Counseling from Texas Wesleyan University. Currently, she is a dedicated bilingual counselor with the Fort Worth Independent School District.

While at Notre Dame, Blanca found her voice through enriching courses and a variety of student groups. Her work-study program at La Casa de Amistad awakened an interest in working with youth. She held leadership roles in M.E.Ch.A, Coro Primavera, and La Alianza. She participated in various seminars organized by the Center for Social Concerns and the Institute for Latino Studies such as the Mexico Seminar, Urban Plunge, Border Issues, Suenos Sin Fronteras, and the Hispanic Leadership Intern Project.

She has served as a mentor and volunteer with the Latinas in Progress program for the past five years. The LIP program accepts one hundred Latina high school seniors per school year. LIP plans college visits and workshops for the participants and their parents throughout their senior year to assist these families in the transition to college. Her involvement in LIP highlights her passion for mentorship and community engagement.

Blanca is a seasoned advocate for mental health and education with over eighteen years of experience in serving Spanish-speaking communities. Her journey is a testament to her resilience, dedication, and passion for making a positive impact on the lives of others.

Meet the Speaker: Kelly Rivera Salazar, '00

Kelly Salazar ’00 holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Sociology from the University of Notre Dame, where she made the Dean’s Honor List and led the cheerleading team as captain. She later earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Baylor Law School in Waco, Texas in 2003, where she also made the Dean’s Honor List and was a member of the ATLA Mock Trial Team and the Harvey M. Richey Moot Court Society.

Ms. Salazar has been licensed by the State of Texas since 2003 and presently serves as president of the Hidalgo County Bar Association and president-elect of the Edinburg Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the City of Edinburg Landfill Advisory Board of Directors. She was elected and served as Hidalgo County Democratic Party Chair from 2012 to 2014.

Prior to joining Linebarger in 2012, Ms. Salazar was a sole practitioner, focusing on the areas of criminal, family, and personal injury law. As a capital partner at Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP, Ms. Salazar’s legal practice focuses on the collection of government receivables for counties, cities, and school districts.

Meet the Speaker: Gregor Arimany ‘04

Currently serving as the Head of Corporate Development for the Americas at Nord Anglia Education—the world’s leading premium international schools organization—Gregor Arimany ‘04 has played a pivotal role in expanding the company’s global footprint. Before transitioning to finance, Gregor built a solid foundation in civil and structural engineering at AECOM, a Fortune 500 company. He holds a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Outside of his professional achievements, Gregor is a passionate musician who enjoys playing piano and drums. He resides in Miami with his wife and two young daughters, where he balances a fulfilling career with a vibrant family life. He currently serves as the Alumni Relations Director of the Board of the Hispanic Alumni of Notre Dame.

Meet the Moderator: Dr. Carlos Gomez-Meade ‘01

Carlos Gomez-Meade ‘01 is originally from Brownsville, Texas. After graduating with his bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame he returned to Texas for his medical degree. After medical school, he completed two residencies and a fellowship in Florida and now practices as a skin cancer and reconstructive surgeon and specializes in cutaneous oncology at his private practice in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he lives with his wife and four children. Carlos was elected to the Board of Hispanic Alumni of Notre Dame in 2023, and currently serves as chair.

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