NDNU PPOHA Grant: Educate, Empower, Engage (E3@NDNU)

Your Journey Starts Here

About the PPOHA Grant at NDNU

Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) has developed the PPOHA project E3@NDNU (Educate, Empower, and Engage) to improve services to post-baccalaureate students. NDNU is addressing the Absolute Priority for this competition as published in the Notice Inviting Applications (NIA). The NIA calls for projects that expand courses and institutional resources to increase the number of Hispanic and other underrepresented graduate and professional students that can be served. Further, the NIA calls for demonstrating how academic offerings will be expanded to prepare graduate students for the workforce, either

Grant-Funded Initiatives

NDNU will undertake three project activities:

1. Providing Wrap-Around Support Services to Graduate Students

NDNU will develop services that provide social, emotional, and academic support; career assistance; and financial help.
These services will supplement academic programming by providing counseling, mentoring, career fairs, and financial support to assist students in staying enrolled and completing their degrees.

2. Improving Professional Development Opportunities

NDNU will develop an ongoing professional development program for full- and part-time instructors.
This will be an online and on-demand series of workshops focused on culturally responsive teaching for diverse student populations.

These activities are designed to maximize student impact, improve overall graduate enrollment, increase Hispanic student participation, boost completion rates, and enhance student engagement.

Meeting the Invitational Priority

The invitational priority for PPOHA is to train and employ more Hispanic individuals in teaching positions. NDNU meets this priority by:

Offering services in the School of Education to help students stay enrolled and complete a degree.
Providing writing support and mentoring to graduate students.
Developing the new Master of Arts Program and Graduate Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership, which will supplement future educators who are Hispanic or who will teach in diverse schools.

NDNU’s Commitment to Graduate Education

Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is an accredited (by the WASC Senior College and University Commission), private, Catholic, co-educational master’s degree-granting university. Located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Silicon Valley, NDNU offers programs that broaden perspectives and prepare students for leadership roles.

Since its founding in 1851, NDNU has delivered high-quality education to the Peninsula community. The third-oldest university in California, NDNU was the first in California authorized to offer bachelor’s degrees to women.

In the 2021-2022 academic year, NDNU enrolled 203 graduate students, with 29% identifying as Hispanic. The university serves a majority-minority student population, with 58% of students identifying as an ethnic minority.

NDNU Graduate Programs Supported by PPOHA

School of Business and Management

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Master of Science in Technology Management (starting Fall 2022)
• MBA in Management Science (STEM-designated) (starting Fall 2022)

School of Education

• Master of Arts in Education
• Master of Arts in School Administration (with embedded Preliminary Administrative Services Credential)
• Master of Arts in Special Education
• Single Subject Credential
• Multiple Subject Credential
• Education Specialist Credential

School of Psychology

• Master of Arts in Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice Leadership (starting Fall 2024)
School of Psychology
• Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (Marriage and Family Therapy/Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor)

E3@NDNU: A Plan for Growth and Student Success

To improve graduate education, NDNU has identified four significant challenges and developed a five-year plan to address them:

Challenges Identified:

Graduate enrollment has decreased in recent years.
- Between Fall 2020 (585 students) and Fall 2021 (203 students), enrollment dropped significantly due to COVID-19.
- Hispanic student enrollment decreased by 26 students
Hispanic students are not completing graduate programs at the same rate as other ethnicities.
- Hispanic students’ three-year graduation rates are 7% lower than their peers.
Part-time graduate students face barriers to completion.
- Over 70% of NDNU graduate students are enrolled part-time, leading to lower completion rates.
Most NDNU faculty members are part-time, lacking access to professional development.

Goals and Objectives by 2027:

Double overall graduate enrollment (203 → 406 students).
Double Hispanic graduate enrollment (60 → 120 students).
Increase Hispanic graduate completion rates (from 59% to 66%).
Improve part-time student completion rates (from 77.5% to 85%).
Increase three-year graduate degree completion rates (from 66% to 76%).

Institutionalizing the PPOHA Grant Initiatives

NDNU is committed to sustaining the E3@NDNU initiatives beyond the five-year grant period.

Long-term support will include hiring a psychologist, maintaining tutoring programs, sustaining the lending library, and continuing financial literacy programs.
NDNU’s Advancement Office will work to secure additional scholarships for graduate students.

Contact us to Learn More

For more information about the PPOHA Grant at NDNU, please contact:

Project Director: Luis Reynoso
Email: LReynoso@ndnu.edu
Phone: 650-508-3618

Activity Manager: Amanda Thompson
Email: AThompson@ndnu.edu
Phone: 650-508-3493

Through E3@NDNU, NDNU is dedicated to Educating, Empowering, and Engaging post-baccalaureate students, ensuring that Hispanic and underrepresented graduate students have the support, resources, and opportunities to thrive in their academic and professional careers.

Notre Dame de Namur University is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, NDNU will make employment decisions irrespective of the staff member’s race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (a cancer-related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law. When necessary, the NDNU will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities if they are otherwise qualified to perform all essential functions safely and do it without undue hardship to the NDNU. Inquiries regarding the College’s equal opportunity policies should be directed to the Human Resources Department via email at hr@ndnu.edu. NDNU admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

Mark Dee

Magellan Solutions USA launched under the visionary leadership of Mark A. K. Dee, Chief Executive Officer – a consultant and service provider for healthcare administrative support, IT development, energy, call center, and business process outsourcing. Mark has served in various multi-level management positions in his 21 years of service in the United States Air Force (USAF). He performed as Immunology and Microbiology department manager, Medical Laboratory Assistant Director, Facility and Security Manager, and finally retiring in the military in 2008 as Superintendent/Assistant Chief of Operations of 330 personnel Medical Group. Mark has experiences in the services industries since he retired, including running a restaurant chain as the CEO. He has also developed other businesses in the Martials Arts studio and 3d-printing industries. He has a BS in Health Sciences and Hospital Administration, Board Certified in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Graduated in the Senior Executive Leadership School from the USAF, Master’s in Business Administration, and a Master’s of Science in Systems Management at Notre Dame De Namur University.

Chosen Cheng

Chosen Cheng is owner of CMC Group, a privately held engineering and marketing consultancy for small business startup ventures. He currently works with project teams developing patented award-winning solar roofing systems and patent pending drone-based augmented reality geological and thermal mapping solutions. He was formerly a Silicon Valley marketing and innovative corporate training manager. As an avocation and a way to “pay it forward” he enjoys teaching and career coaching college and graduate MBA students many of whom are pioneering first generation college students from underserved communities. He and his wife, a Notre Dame alum, celebrated their wedding reception at the Ralston Mansion in the 70’s and have two stupendously successful, married adult children who between them have four stupendously adorable grandchildren.

Arthur Chait

Entrepreneur, Executive, Engineer, Investor, Professor, Mentor. Founder & CEO EoPlex Inc. ($31 million VC funded startup acquired by ASTI Singapore). President Stanford Research Institute (SRI) Consulting Division (800 staff worldwide). SVP Flextronics (responsible for $8 Billion in global accounts). President Zitel Software. Principal Booz Allen. R&D Director Halliburton. Adjunct Professor Menlo College, Visiting Professor Universidad Francisco Marroquin (Guatemala), Mentor Draper University, Judge Startup Chile. BS Engineering Rutgers, MBA Strategy University Pittsburgh.

Kelly Cansler

Kelly completed both her BS (Finance/Economics) and MBA from NDNU. She utilized her business education to launch an insurance agency in 2008 with Farmers Insurance. It’s grown into multi-million-dollar agency, organically and through acquisition. She has been recognized by Farmers Insurance being ranked within the top 10% of agents nationwide, but also as a speaker, trainer, and mentor within the Farmers Insurance Community. Kelly is extremely connected with local businessowners through several networking channels.

Cliff Burnette

Cliff is the senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Rambus, a global chip and IP provider that advances data center connectivity and solves the bottleneck between memory and processing. Cliff has over 20 years of experience leading global human resources operations for publicly traded companies with expertise in employee relations, organizational development, and compensation strategy. Prior to Rambus, Cliff worked for several other high-tech companies in the semiconductor and medical device space and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing from Texas State University and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Organization Development from the University of Texas at Austin.

Memo Morantes

Memo Morantes has been a San Mateo County resident for more than 45 years. He has been a three-term San Mateo County Board of Education incumbent, a Redwood City/San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce board member, a Sequoia Hospital Foundation member, a co-chair of the Latino Leadership Council of San Mateo, and a civic/community activist.

Sheryl Young

Sheryl serves as a director for Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, which provides $10M each year for innovative teachers and social entrepreneurs throughout the Bay Area. Prior Sheryl served as CEO of Community Gatepath and AbilityPath.org. She has over 30 years of managerial experience in operations, finance, and marketing. Young is a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders, earned an M.A. of Public Health from UC Berkeley, an M.A. in Special Education from Ball State University and a B.A. in Political Science from Purdue University.

Brian Schumacker

Brian manages South San Francisco-San Bruno’s wastewater treatment plant and with a dedicated staff of over 40 professionals who safeguard community health and protect the fragile San Francisco Bay ecosystem. Brian holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration, both from Notre Dame de Namur University. Brian has also earned the highest levels of professional certifications in wastewater treatment.

Mario Rendon

Mario Rendon serves as District Director for State Assemblymember Kevin Mullin. He develops the communications, public relations and constituent service strategy for the office and supervises a small team that represents Mr. Mullin in the 22nd Assembly District within San Mateo County. He has over twenty year’s experience working with elected officials at the local, state and federal level developing public policy.

Jerry Hill

Jerry’s public service started with his local neighborhood association that progressed to the California State Assembly and Senate where he authored legislation resulting in laws on issues related to consumer protection, utility safety, coastal protection, public health, education and the environment. Jerry was born and raised in San Francisco, receiving his BA from the University of California, Berkeley and a Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University.

Magda Gonzalez

Magda was most recently the City Manager for the City of Half Moon Bay, California. Prior she was the City Manager of East Palo Alto, California and Assistant City Manager, Redwood City. Magda was President of Cal-ICMA, representing the Local Government Hispanic Network and serves on the Board of Directors for the San Mateo Credit Union and the Latino Leadership Council of San Mateo County. Magda is also a member of ICMA and the State Bar of California and received several awards and recognitions, including Career Excellence Award (WLG) and the Ethical Hero Award from Cal-ICMA.

Jeremy Dennis

Jeremy currently serves as Portola Valley Town Manager. Previously, he’s worked for elected officials at all governance levels, including twice as District Director for local assemblymembers. He worked as the Palo Alto Long Range Planning Director, and for San Mateo County in management roles. Jeremy has a Masters in Urban Planning from the London School of Economics, and graduated from UC Davis studying US History/Political Science.

Kate Comfort-Harr

Kate is Executive Director of HIP Housing, a nonprofit specializing in creative affordable housing solutions throughout San Mateo County. Kate is a frequent speaker on a wide array of affordable housing topics and is passionate about the cultivation of collaborations between the private, public and social sectors. She serves on the Board of Directors for the San Mateo Credit Union and was awarded the Chamber San Mateo County’s 2020 Business Woman of the Year Award.

Jeff Cox

Program Director for Master of Public Administration

Jerome Nadel

Jerome Nadel is Internationally experienced design-led marketing executive (CMO and GM) with a track record of improved market position, revenue growth, and M&A. He is an advance degreed psychologist and user experience product/service design expert, board member and advisor. Jerome recently retired from Rambus as where he was CMO and GM of the security software division that he led the sale to Visa. He has had a variety of chief marketing officer and chief user experience officer roles at companies including Human Factors International, SLP InfoWare, Gemplus, and Sagem. He started his career in the IBM Human Factors Labs. He is also an avid cyclist with National and multiple California State Champion titles.