In Conversation with Mary Ellen Horwath and Kris Zavoli, Class of 1968

We recently sat down with Mary Ellen Horwath and Kris Zavoli to talk about their experiences at Notre Dame de Namur University, then-College of Notre Dame (CND). As members of the last all-women graduating class, they share their stories and reflect on their own journeys during a time of great global and societal change.  We hope you enjoy their recollections as much as we did.

Please share with us a little bit about your background.

Mary Ellen: I’m an only child, born to traditional Democrat-leaning, Irish-Catholic parents in Boston. I grew up the typical baby boomer; my father was in the service during World War II, he worked at IBM. He was stationed out West during the war, and saw the future as being out there, so after the war, our family relocated to southern California. It was a great place to grow up. After college, I couldn’t leave this area.  There’s just so much to offer here.  I worked for Stanford in Fundraising and Events for over 20 years.  Now, I’m retired, but I still teach one class at Stanford, English as a Second Language, and I get a great deal of joy out of that.

Kris: I’m the second oldest of seven children, and my father was a Sergeant in the Air Force which meant that my family moved around a great deal.  I attended 10 different elementary schools growing up.  You either loved it or you hated it. For me, I enjoyed it very much. I loved traveling around, meeting new people, and seeing different places. It was truly wonderful to explore the world. When I thought about my future, I realized most women became teachers, nurses or secretaries.   I didn’t like hospitals so I chose “teacher.”  Thankfully I learned to type in high school and helped pay for college working as a Kelly Girl! I’ve supported the educational system for decades. Most notably, I worked for the College Board for 28 years, implementing AP courses in low-income areas. Like Mary Ellen, I’m also retired, AND I teach a weekly English as a Second Language class for adult learners. Diversity and accessibility have always been priorities in my life and I’m happy that I’m still able to work with a wide range of individuals.

What was it about the NDNU (then-CND) that attracted you as a student? Why did you choose it over the other universities/colleges in the area?

Mary Ellen: I spent my whole young life in southern California.  My parents strongly encouraged me to leave the area and expand my horizons.  Having previously spent time in the Bay Area, my parents and I thought it was a good choice for college. I applied to all the Catholic schools in the area: Santa Clara, USF, Holy Names, and of course, CND.  Interestingly enough, my family has long ties to the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN).  In fact, one of my family members went to Emmanuel College in Boston, which was an all-girls Catholic university run by the SNDdeN. I chose CND, in part because I was nervous to attend school with men, but also because of my familial connection with the Sisters.  It didn’t hurt that I was also awarded scholarship money and had opportunities for work-study at CND.

Kris: This is an easy one for me! I was attending an all-girls Catholic high school in Sacramento when I met Sr. Helen Ceclia, a SNDdeN.  She urged me, and many of the other girls, to attend college.  One day, Sr. Helen Cecelia drove a bunch of us over to CND, walked us straight into the Admissions Department and helped us fill out all the forms.  She even explained the whole financial aid process to us. CND was the only place I applied to.  I fell in love with the campus – its beauty and the close-knit community.  Luckily, I was able to secure a full scholarship, and thanks to my father, even more grant money for boarding and books from the Air Force.  I also had a work-study position at CND that helped cover the rest of my expenses.

What was student-life like when you were classmates in the mid-60s? What are some of your favorite memories?

Mary Ellen: It was definitely a different point in time. We had a strict dress code then – skirts and dresses for classes, with nylons and heels. If you wore pants, you could only wear them on the weekends to go off-campus, and you had to cover them with a trench coat. On Sundays, we trooped over to the Chapel for mass decked out in heels, hats and gloves. I have wonderful memories of formal dances at Ralston Hall, introducing our dates to the nuns who formed a receiving line at the top of the stairwell.

By 1967, the Vietnam War had escalated, and as the song goes, the times were a-changin’. Sr. Evelyn Jegen, SNDdeN joined us that year as a visiting Sister from Ohio and shook up the campus with her inquisitive and forward-thinking views. I was her research assistant as she was pursuing a Ph.D., and we took many trips to the Stanford library together. One of her accomplishments was creating an interdisciplinary group of faculty, Sisters and students to discuss books and current events, which I greatly enjoyed.

Kris: I loved my time at CND/NDNU. The richest part of the experience was getting to know my classmates; there were women from 27 states and 30 countries, and we all took a real interest in one another’s lives. One of the highlights was being elected student body president in 1967.  Thanks to the exceptional elected student council members, we all learned how to work as an effective team.

I also loved the dances with men from neighboring schools and became a real pro at beating the college’s midnight curfew! I often went to the smoker to play bridge and met the most interesting people there. However, my favorite memory was going to watch plays put on by the magnificent Fine Arts Department. I never missed a play and volunteered to help “put on the show!” 

Were there any particular classes or professors that really influenced you?

Mary Ellen: Sr. Joan Marie and Sr. Evelyn Jegen were two Sisters who really inspired me. Sr. Joan, then head of the History Department, changed my life by impressing upon us the mindset that women could think, compete and express their opinions.

The highlight of my four years, and one that left a lasting impression on me, was when Sr. Evelyn encouraged the administration to close campus for a day-long discussion on the Vietnam War. They invited many notable people including former military, current government officials from San Mateo, and Dr. Robert McAfee Brown, a civil rights leader and then-teacher at Stanford. We discussed, confronted and shared opinions. By giving us space to openly examine this controversial topic, the administration showed they were willing to go the distance and put themselves on the line.

Kris:  Shirley Morrison and Mary Ellen Boyling, both English teachers, were my favorite instructors. Shirley’s ability to draw students out without lecturing was outstanding. She used a discussion format which truly gave us agency to dive deep into topics and books. Ms. Boyling introduced me to poetry and the beauty of writing and working with the magnificent Mr. Bob Titlow in the drama department taught me to love plays.

In those days, students were required to take 12 units of theology and another 12 units of philosophy which I absolutely loved. One of the classes that made a lasting impression on me was The Religious Experience of Man, which explored atheism, among other theologies. We were really encouraged to think and question.

What are some ways that CND/NDNU prepared you for life?

Mary Ellen: Overall, I have to say that we were encouraged to explore and question throughout our years at CND, and my eyes were opened to the world. There was such a special sense of togetherness and commonality since we were the daughters of parents who lived through the Depression and whose fathers were World War II veterans.

A very memorable and equally important experience was learning how to comport oneself in private and public settings, a skill that has served me well in working with major donors at Stanford. The Sisters taught us how to set a formal table, how to entertain and how to present ourselves as Notre Dame women. Thanks to my days at CND, I am equally comfortable speaking to people from all walks of life, including dignitaries and former Presidents.

Kris: Being student body president at that particular time of great cultural and geo-political change was pivotal. I developed leadership skills and got to know a lot of student leaders from different colleges in California, many of whom had diverse and divergent views of the war in Vietnam. These early experiences helped shape my priorities of promoting diversity and accessibility.

Aside from that, I have had many opportunities to use my major in French, especially in connecting with my family’s history.  In 2008, a researcher called me out of the blue and asked if my father was shot down in 1943 in France. I was shocked, but I thought, I better listen to what he has to say.  One thing led to another, and there I was, a few months later, at the annual reunion for airmen shot down in World War II, surrounded by former escapees and those that helped them evade the Germans. It was truly an amazing experience to be a part of such a special group and to meet people that aided my father on his journey to safety.

How have you stayed engaged with NDNU?

Mary Ellen: Kris and I have both remained very close with our Class of ‘68.  In fact, we just celebrated our 55th reunion.  We did a zoom online and, for the dozen or so that live around here, we gathered in-person for a wonderful luncheon.  It’s truly amazing to see what these special women have done throughout their lives.

In the past, I’ve assisted NDNU with strategic planning and sharing best practices with the University’s Advancement team.  Currently, I’m pleased to be on the Alumni Advisory Council with my dear friend, Kris, and several other alums. We gather quarterly to discuss future ideas and events that promote alumni engagement.

Kris: After graduation, Bob Titlow, then Director of Admissions, hired me to recruit students for CND. The greatest benefit was free tuition for my credential in elementary and secondary school and Master’s of Teaching English.  I liked being in Admissions a great deal. I could recruit students the same way Sr. Helen Cecelia did.  I went on to become the Director of Admissions and stayed for 15 years.

Over the years, I have supported NDNU with donations, and in 2004 I funded an endowed scholarship for first generation students which has now been transferred to graduate programs.   In more recent times, I’ve served on the Board of Trustees and been named Trustee Emerita. I still attend Board meetings to keep up to date with recent happenings.  As Mary Ellen mentioned, we’re also invested in re-engaging alumni and community members. While a lot has changed since Mary Ellen and I attended, I’m excited about the future and grateful to be a part of the process.

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.

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