The Beehive recently caught up with Nikki McNamara ’21, Molloy’s most recent salutatorian. Nikki shared an update about her experience this semester at the University of Notre Dame.
“Beyond academics, there is a strong sense of community, and the campus fosters a collaborative environment among students. As a Catholic university, the accessibility to Mass and other aspects of faith have made my first semester a more well-rounded experience,” said Nikki.
Nikki is currently in the first year of Notre Dame’s engineering program. “Although it’s early, at the moment I intend to major in chemical engineering with a minor in bioengineering,” explained Nikki. “I’ve always enjoyed chemistry and the more molecular aspects of biology, and I’m hoping to find a career that deals with pharmaceuticals and/or immunology.”
Outside the classroom, Nikki has joined a handful of clubs, including the Society of Women Engineers, Notre Dame New York, kiND Club, and the Notre Dame Chapter of WishMakers (Make a Wish). “Women Engineers is great for networking, and my major discernment. NDNY helps to connect me with other students from New York, while kiND Club allows me to engage in small random acts of kindness around campus. These are all great opportunities to break up my workload, meet new people, and explore my passions,” said Nikki. She also runs regularly and participated in the Domer Run 5K. A softball player at Molloy, Nikki hopes to play softball at Notre Dame in the spring or next fall.
Nikki says her overall experience at Notre Dame has been reassuring. “I know now that I made the right decision back in April.”