We are delighted to feature Mike and Lisa Callagy for this month’s alumni spotlight. Mike and Lisa were born and raised in the Bay Area: Mike grew up right here in the Belmont, and Lisa in Menlo Park.  They attended private Catholic High Schools, Serra and Notre Dame Belmont respectively, before starting undergraduate school at then-College of Notre Dame (CND) in the early-80s. Mike and Lisa also earned their master’s degrees at NDNU as well. 

We hope you enjoy reading this article as much as we did talking with this remarkable couple!

Tell us more about why you chose then-CND. 

Mike: I grew up here in Belmont, about four or five blocks from CND. In high school, I wasn’t very academically focused, but I was very much into basketball. I knew I wanted to stay in this area and play hoops. CND was the perfect place for me, and I’m so glad I chose it. I went to Catholic school my whole life, so it was a natural transition for me. It was the absolute best decision I ever made because I truly found my academic footing there.  I had countless professors that inspired, guided, and believed in me. 

Lisa’s story is much more interesting than mine. She finished high school at 16 and started taking classes at Foothill College. A year later, she was a sophomore at CND at the ripe old age of 17. Lisa was very connected to CND before ever attending. She went to the high school right next door, her mother often taught classes at the University, and her stepfather was the Chief Financial Officer at the time. It was just the right place for both of us. 

How did you two meet?  

Lisa: We met in our sophomore year in college. A friend and I attended a CPR class that Mike was teaching and later that week, I had a dream that Mike and I got married! Mike and I went our separate ways for little bit since we were in different undergraduate programs, him in History and me in Business Administration. Our first date was several months later, at a movie theater in Foster City.  In fact, it’s just three blocks away from where we live today. We saw a movie that was required for a course I was taking. While we didn’t share many classes together, we made it work. 

What was student-life like when you were students in the 80s? What are some of your favorite memories?  

Mike: Student-life was so much fun. We had an absolute blast. We made great friends with whom we travelled, and what’s even better is that we still are in contact today. And the Sisters! They were just unbelievable.  Despite being in her later years, Sr. Rosemary Julie used to swim in the pool every single day. Sr. Hutchinson and Sr. Roseanne were also incredible. They all had a great sense of humor.  Honestly, it was just such an ideal atmosphere. I also had the added perk of having my siblings, two sisters and brother, attend with me, so that was amazing. For Lisa, having her mother and stepfather at the school was a special experience. 

When we think back on our time, we are just so grateful.  From our classmates to the amazing professors, it was life changing. Personally, I credit CND for everything.  I especially think of Dr. Celotti for believing in me and my scholastic abilities. He really pushed me to be who I am today and inspired me to major in history in preparation for eventually going to law school. He would always say, “With your memory, you would be such a good lawyer!” His belief in me was the beginning of my academic career and would be the catalyst to my long career of helping others.  

Speaking of career, after college, what did you do? What was your career trajectory? 

Lisa: I graduated from CND’s business school and immediately went into human resources management at Franklin Templeton. A few years later, I went back to school at CND to get my MBA while working full-time. When we started having children – four in 3 ½ years! – I left my job but kept very busy raising the kids and serving as Mike’s paralegal while he was starting his law practice. When our children were old enough, I went back to work at Serra High School for 13 years, first as an Executive Assistant to the President and then in the Fundraising Department which I really enjoyed. It was especially heartening to help raise funds for students to attend Serra on scholarship and provide them with a top-notch high school experience they might not have otherwise had. I am still in Catholic education, working now at St. Matthews in San Mateo as an Office Manager. It’s very satisfying work.  

As for Mike, after college, he went into law enforcement, first joining the San Mateo Police Department and then starting law school at night at Santa Clara University, while also working full-time. He served as a full-time police officer in undercover narcotics, and practically a full-time lawyer in civil litigation on his off days! Somehow, he managed to carve out time to return to NDNU to earn a master’s degree in public administration and pursued a master’s in homeland defense and security from the Naval Postgraduate School. At 36, he was a captain in the San Mateo Police Department and then became the Deputy Police Chief until his retirement.  He went to the County of San Mateo after that, where the then-County Manager quickly tapped him to be the Deputy County Manager. He has served as the County Executive Manager for the last several years. It’s been a whirlwind, and we’ve both enjoyed every minute of it!  

NDNU is known for its embrace of social justice concerns and other ethical issues. How did your experiences at the university shape your moral compass and/or make you a better person/parent/professional? 

Mike: CND was all about social justice when we went there, and it’s still that way today. I don’t think that will ever change. It’s in the DNA of the school and the Sisters. I had a class with Dr. Don Stannard-Friel that would take us up to the Tenderloin area.  We critically thought about and discussed social justice in a new way. It was eye opening for me. In the 80s, it was all about protecting society. It was all very black and white.  Dr. Stannard-Friel asked us to really think about the root of crime.  He questioned us and explored the ideas of rehabilitation. He expressed to us the need to forgive and understand in order to make for a better system. Ultimately, this would lead to the work that I did professionally. In my early days as a lawyer, I often represented people in jail and did a lot of pro bono work.  The University taught me the importance of giving back to society and being intimately involved. 

As for Lisa, her whole life has been about helping others. She has the biggest heart of any person I know. She pursued human resources as an occupation because she is so open-minded and enjoys working with people. Her career in human resources gave people opportunities at work and provided them with jobs that would benefit them and launch their careers. Although she took a step back from that when we had kids, even her work since, especially as a fundraiser at Serra, has been all about giving students a chance to attend a school they would’ve otherwise not been able to.  

In terms of parenting, Lisa and I have instilled these same values into our children.  Three out of our four kids are currently public servants. The last one’s still in law school and hasn’t yet decided his focus. Throughout their lives, the kids have been involved with all sorts of community service, from cleaning streets to volunteering for events and everything in between. We’ve impressed upon them the necessity of giving back. Lisa and I have this tradition of going to St. Anthony’s Church every Christmas Eve to donate money. When the kids were born, we started to bring them along.  As children, they would collect cans all year round and trade them in for money so they could contribute as well. To this day, we still go to the city together as a family every year. There’s no doubt in our minds that they will continue this tradition for years to come.  

Are there any Hallmarks that resonate with you or sum up your feelings/values towards NDNU and/or your current work? 

Lisa: We both gravitate toward the second Hallmark, “We honor the dignity and sacredness of each person” – now especially more than ever. That goes to the heart of everything we stand for and the work we do. This comes from our Catholic upbringing, our education and the love and support of our families.  

Mike’s job as County Executive Manager is to oversee the community’s safety net for those who cannot provide for themselves and work toward ending homelessness in San Mateo County. In fact, he developed an acronym for his team – CARE – which stands for Create a Remarkable Experience. This starts by addressing the whole person and their needs.  

Since I work in Catholic education, many of the Hallmarks resonate with the work that I do. To keep children going in the right direction, you must have compassion and understanding. And this starts at the individual level. What we learned at CND/NDNU is applicable in every aspect of our lives.  

Is there anything else you’d like to add? 

Mike: We have such great memories of our time at CND/NDNU and we’ve remained intimately involved with the University. In fact, I was a trustee there not too long ago, and we also have a scholarship in our names. We attend as many events as our schedule allows, and we even bring our kids to the school and do a little walk down Memory Lane.   

We feel now the same as we’ve always felt for the school; we are immensely thankful and appreciative of everything that CND has done for our lives. And we cherish the friends and memories that we’ve made during our time there. I would encourage everyone to take a moment, reflect on their experiences, and reconnect with the University. Our story is just one of the many thousands that CND/NDNU has produced.  Speaking for myself, not only did I get a great education at CND, but I also got the most amazing partner, wife and mother to my children, for which I will be eternally grateful.