Foundress Society

Notre Dame Preparatory School’s Foundress Society honors distinguished alumnae and other members of the NDP Community who embody the spirit of Notre Dame Prep and advance the mission of the School Sisters of Notre Dame.

Visitors to campus may view the Foundress Society display in the main foyer.  Foundress Society inductions take place every two to three years, but nominations are accepted on a rolling basis.  To nominate an individual, contact the NDP Development Office at 410-583-8797.

Inducted into the Foundress Society in 2005

• Sister Doris Ann Gentry, SSND:  S. Doris Ann was NDP headmistress from 1965-1968 before moving to Florida to head another school.
• Sister Mary Ellis Denny, SSND:  NDP headmistress from 1968-1979, S. Ellis instituted significant curricular changes at the school and established NDP’s sister-school relationship with Ignacio Ellacuria in El Salvador.
• Sister Helen Marie Duffy, SSND:  S. Helen Marie enjoyed a 60-year tenure here, the last 18 years as headmistress (1979-1997).  Her legacy includes instituting a Board of Trustees and proactive fundraising.
• Sister Christine Mulcahy, SSND:  During her tenure as headmistress, Sister Christine is credited with significant campus improvements, heightened fundraising, and instituting laptops into the curriculum.
• Dorothy M. Brown, Ph.D., ’50:  Dr. Brown is a long-time educator and former provost at Georgetown University.
• Margaret Bagli Otenasek ’51:  Otenasek’s outstanding philanthropy has afforded countless deserving students the chance to attend Notre Dame; her three daughters attended NDP.
• Claire T. Hartman ’71: A nationally recognized film producer and director who currently produces a local, social justice-oriented radio show, Hartman volunteers doing social justice work and philanthropy with organizations such as St. Ignatius Academy, Sisters Academy, and St. Elizabeth’s.
• Mia Sutphin ’92:  A young woman whose life was cut short by malaria while she was caring for AIDS babies as a nurse in Africa in 2002.