I’ve been with Mendoza’s admissions team for 16 years, although my role does not involve reading applications directly. Instead, I collaborate with a talented group of colleagues who manage the many moving parts required to keep our application process running smoothly. Together, we ensure the application is live online, that our recruiting team can read and evaluate materials effectively, and that accurate data is captured in Slate, the CRM utilized by Graduate Enrollment, and Banner, the University of Notre Dame’s student information system.

Last year, I began a two-year term serving on the Educational Assistance Committee for my sorority, Alpha Chi Omega. In this role, I help review scholarship applications submitted for funding consideration by the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation. The Foundation awards need-based scholarships each year to both collegiate and alumnae members to support undergraduate or graduate education. Awards typically range from $500 to $1,500, and for the 2024–2025 academic year, the Foundation distributed $73,000 in educational assistance grants.

Reading these applications — submitted by collegiate members from across the country — has been a fascinating experience. Learning about their study abroad plans, work experiences, and volunteer commitments has been inspiring. For those who enjoy a well-structured system, all of our application reviews are done in SmarterSelect, which I often compare to the Slate Reader, minus the rest of the CRM capabilities.

Volunteering with the Educational Assistance Committee has been a meaningful way for me to give back to Alpha Chi Omega. I joined the sorority in 1999 as a freshman at Central Michigan University and received my 25-year pin in March 2024! Many of my favorite college memories were shaped by the friendships I formed through Alpha Chi, and — fortunately — there’s limited photographic evidence of those moments from the late 90s and early 00s.

As I work through my 30 assigned scholarship applications, after a full day of supporting our admissions process, I’m reminded just how much dedication it takes to evaluate applicants thoughtfully. I have great respect for the admissions professionals in our building and beyond who do this work at such scale and with such care.

Heather DeCourval
Manager, Admissions Operations
Marketing & Graduate Enrollment

Headshot of Heather DeCourval from 2002.