Rosie McDowell

Rosie joined the stewardship team in 2019 after serving Notre Dame for twenty years in program design and student leadership development at the Center for Social Concerns. With her husband, Paul, who has retired from teaching French at the University, she twice co-directed the study abroad program in Angers, France. In her final role at the Center, she designed community-based learning course enhancements with partners in Notre Dame study abroad programs in Europe. In that context, Rosie supported the AnBryce Scholars’ first-year immersions in London and Ireland. In getting to know these scholars, she was reminded of the incredible difference that higher education access makes in the lives of students and their families from low SES backgrounds. With that in mind, the financial aid stewardship role was a perfect fit as it combines the opportunity to connect students with benefactors to convey the powerful impact of their generosity. Rosie partners closely with the Office of Financial Aid, the Notre Dame Scholars’ Program, and the Undergraduate Enrollment division to create stewardship for benefactors who fund need-based and merit scholarships or support pre-college programming and recruitment. Rosie is a South Bend native and Double Domer who earned her B.A. in French and economics and her master’s degree in Nonprofit Administration. Most of all, she is a very proud mom of Maggie ’16 and Paul Jr., who earned his degree from Ohio State. She recently completed a term as the Board President for Good Shepherd Montessori School in South Bend. In her free time, Rosie loves running, hiking, gardening, and cooking—especially French food.