“The liberal arts were a wonderful foundation from which to build. On my TV shows or films, it takes hundreds of people to complete a project, and everyone is different. I have to know how to communicate effectively with my team in a way that will get results. I learned that at Notre Dame, where I worked with people from all walks of life in study groups and in the classroom.”

“Some people think it’s such a difference, going from the theatre world to the legal world, but it’s really a seamless transition. Arguing in front of a jury or arguing in front of a judge, whether it’s a legal principle or a set of disputed facts, you have to have the power of language and understand the power of a strong narrative: What are the issues? What is the story? And how do you communicate that intellectually and with emotional content and a sense of history?”

“When you go to Notre Dame, you feel like you’re set up for success. What I found to be most important about Notre Dame was that you didn’t feel like you were on your own, fighting for your own direction. There were people rooting for you and helping you find your way.”

Richardson started as a production assistant at Fox Sports, where she helped produce Jimmy Kimmel’s segment. When Kimmel left to launch his own late-night talk show, he invited her to come with him. She eventually rose to become one of the show’s co-executive producers. Read her story.

 

“The FTT department, associate professor Christine Becker, and the College of Arts and Letters gave me literally every foot in the door. Every subsequent opportunity I’ve had can be traced directly back to Notre Dame.”

Hanney, a writer, lyricist, and composer for Netflix, works on family programming. Before joining Netflix, he wrote for the Disney XD show Gamer’s Guide to Pretty Much Everything and worked as a creative executive for DreamWorks Animation. He is also active in the L.A. musical theatre and improv scene, where his work often stars individuals with cognitive and physical disabilities. Read his story.