Cathy Callender Balcar
Cathy Balcar is a 1970 graduate of the Institute of Notre Dame. Following high school, she attended college where she studied radio and TV, developing a lifelong love of acting. After her time on the radio, Cathy went on to work in the health care industry as a dental assistant. As a full time wife and mother, Cathy decided to make a career change and embarked on what would become a 30+ year career in real estate. Skilled at contract and legal negotiations, Cathy is highly regarded professional.
In addition to her real estate career, Cathy is a very active member of her community and always looking for ways in which she can give back. On a regular basis , Cathy is busy organizing clothing and food drives to support those that are less fortunate.
Carolyn Buck
Carolyn Buck, a native Baltimorean, has been a theater educator for over three decades. She holds a BA in Theater and English from Mount Holyoke College. She trained as a director and stage manager at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts. For 30 years she taught theater and English at the Institute of Notre Dame (IND), Baltimore’s historic high school for girls. As IND’s theater director, Carolyn directed over 40 productions. Among her favorites are Les Miserables, Hairspray, Crimes of the Heart, The Miracle Worker, Fiddler on the Roof, The Secret Garden, Pride and Prejudice, and Peter Pan. A local writer, Carolyn’s op ed articles have appeared in The Baltimore Sun. She has been a frequent member of the Broadway Teachers Workshops in NYC. Carolyn also participated in the University of Virginia Symposium on Shakespeare at Oxford University, UK in 2006.
Ray Feldmann
Ray Feldmann is a respected communications professional with more than 30 years’ experience in public affairs, media relations, crisis communication, issues management, media and social media strategy, government relations, and community outreach. A former print journalist, Ray later served as a media spokesperson for several Maryland government agencies including the departments of Environment and Transportation. As part of his 12-year state government career, Ray served as Press Secretary for two Maryland governors.
After leaving Maryland state government, for the next eight years Ray held increasingly responsible media relations and corporate communications positions with the Washington, DC Metro transit system. He oversaw all local, national, and international media responsibilities when terrorists attacked the Pentagon on 9/11/01.
Following eight years at Metro, Ray became a senior public relations manager at a private sector communications firm where he successfully managed accounts with state government clients involved in building the Intercounty Connector highway. Ray later served as the Senior Communications Director at Towson University, where he developed successful media relations strategies, advised senior leadership including the university president, served as editor of a daily online newsroom, and managed a team of 12 professionals and student interns. Ray also taught a public relations writing class.
Following five years at Towson University, Ray launched Feldmann Communications Strategies LLC in May 2018. His firm specializes in media and social media strategy, media relations, public affairs, positive story and Op-Ed placement, media training, and crisis communications. His current clients include Marian Preparatory Academy, the Town of Upper Marlboro, the Prince George’s County NAACP’s Strategic Housing Solutions, Annapolis Pride Inc., a family law attorney, two authors, an actor, a restaurant, and several women-owned businesses including a veterinary hospital.
Drena Fertetta
Drena was a member of the Institute of Notre Dame class of 1983. Following high school, she attended Towson State University. As an accomplished IT professional with nearly 2 decades of experience , Drena concluded her IT career as the Director of Information Technology for a leading manufacturer of electro-mechanical assemblies serving the military, defense , transportation and telecommunications sectors.
Earning a Master of Business Continuity (MBCP) as well as her Lean Six Sigma certification from Villanova University, Drena manages a Global Business Continuity & Resilience Program for an international telecommunications company. Responsible for the continuity of operations , including crisis management and employee well-being, the program ensures that core business systems remain operational in spite of disasters and incidents that occur throughout the world.
Ellen Garrity
Ellen Garrity is a 1983 IND graduate. She has over 25 years of experience in the global art market and has been Communications Director since 2004 at Sloans & Kenyon Auctioneers and Appraisers in Chevy Chase, MD. Currently responsible for marketing and communications, she has been an auctioneer since 2007. She has worked directly with curators and museum administrators from the Baltimore Museum of Art, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Hillwood Estate, Homewood Mansion, Blair House, Museum of the American Presidents, and numerous other museums, historical societies, and corporate collections (as well as the legendary Haussner’s Restaurant art collection).
Ellen received a B.A. from Trinity College, an M.A. in Art Business from the University of Manchester, and a foundation certificate in art law from the Institute of Art and Law.
Her observations on the art market have appeared in the Washington Post, Antiques and the Arts Weekly, Antique Trader, and Maine Antique Digest, and other publications, and her personal collection has been profiled in Bethesda Magazine, Antique Week, and Fox 5-DC’s Extreme Collector series.
Christine Goins
Christine (Melvin) Goins graduated from the Institute of Notre Dame in 2005 and went on to study Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware where she earned her bachelor’s degree in 2009. She began her career with a Baltimore engineering firm working on numerous noteworthy local projects including the I-95 Express Toll Lanes and the Red Line and Purple Line light rail systems. She and her husband, Greg, moved to North Carolina in 2016 where she currently manages a team of engineers and technicians who work on infrastructure projects throughout the eastern half of the state. She is a registered Professional Engineer in both Maryland and North Carolina, a Certified Construction Manager (CCM), and Co-Chair of the North Carolina American Council of Engineering Consultant’s (ACEC) Materials and Construction Subcommittee. In addition, she is the proud mother of two young daughters whom she hopes will grow to be strong, compassionate, independent women leaders.
Elizabeth Jackson
Lizzy Jackson Fleischmann graduated from the Institute of Notre of Dame in 2005 and has since graduated with a BS in Biology from Lynchburg College and an MS in Biology from Towson University. Lizzy has worked as an industry scientist, as well as a high school science teacher and curriculum writer for seven years. She currently works for the National Institute of Health as the director of a high school internship program and mentors post-baccalaureate and graduate students in STEM careers. Lizzy is proud to serve as a curriculum advisor for Marian Prep and is passionate about women’s education, especially in STEM fields.
Darby Jecelin
Darby Jecelin is a 1983 graduate of the Institute of Notre Dame . Being a firm believer in lifelong learning, she went on to earn her BS in Business Administration at Stevenson University. With more than 21 years of management and accounting experience in the banking industry, Darby has held the roles of Assistant Manager of Operations, International Wire Processor, Team Leader of Checking Operations, and a Staff Accountant, SECU of MD, Inc. In addition to her banking expertise, Darby has more than a decade of accounting experience in the private school sector serving as Director of Student Billing, The Institute of Notre Dame from 2008 – 2016 , Accounting Manager, The Harford Day School 2016 – 2017 and Controller of the Finance Office, Calvert Hall College High School . As MPA’s treasurer , Darby brings not only a wealth of industry knowledge to the organization but the spirit of tenacity, integrity and transparency in all that she does.
Caitlin Marks
Caitlin Melvin, PE graduated as a Theresian Scholar from the Institute of Notre Dame in 2009. During her time on Aisquith Street Caitlin was a player on the volleyball and golf teams, serving as team captain for both sports her senior year. Caitlin was the president of Hildie’s Helpers her junior year, and was the founder/president of the PAL Program her senior year. Caitlin attended college in Raleigh, NC at North Carolina State University and graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a minor in Business Administration. She currently is the Assistant Division Maintenance Engineer for the North Carolina Department of Transportation in Wilmington.
Mindy Propst
Mindy (Cox) Propst, IND Class of 1993. Mindy earned a BA in Psychology and a BA in Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University, and is currently an MBA candidate at the New York University Stern School of Business. Mindy has more than twenty years of non-profit leadership experience in the field of human services for people with developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs, dementia, and medically complex needs. In her various roles, she has provided programmatic and operational oversight including service provision, business development, quality assurance, finance, human resources, marketing & communications, technology, strategic planning, and project management. The education and environment of excellence and empowerment among mission-driven women experienced at IND laid an invaluable foundation. It is exciting to see Marian Preparatory Academy continue that tradition for future young women of the Baltimore area.
Terry Satterfield
Terry Satterfield is currently a Principal Consultant at Leadership & Professional Development Training where she designs courses and conducts training in Leadership and Professional Development. She is retired from the State of Maryland where she worked for 43 years, most recently as the Grants Planner and an Administrator in the Leadership Development Institute with the Maryland Police and Correctional Training Commissions. She serves on the Boards of Directors for the Maryland Criminal Justice Association, the Maryland Correctional Administrators Association and the International Association of Correctional. As a result of her expertise and dedication, Terry has received numerous service and Presidential awards from various Associations. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology & Sociology from Towson State College and a Masters of Science Degree in Guidance & Counseling from Johns Hopkins University.
Elizabeth Tisdale
Beth Tisdale, graduated from the Institute of Notre Dame and continued her education at Washington College earning a Bachelor of Arts in History. With an enthusiastic love for education, Beth went on to earn her Master of Arts in Teaching from Loyola University. An educator for the last 28 years, Beth has held several teaching positions including two decades at the Institute of Notre Dame where she chaired the Social Studies department and taught World History, United States History, AP US Government, and Contemporary History. Beth’s commitment to her students extends outside of the classroom as well and onto the lacrosse field . Since 2016 , Beth has been a dedicated teacher at Archbishop Curley High School.
Heather Vendetti
Heather Vendetti is a proud Baltimore native, mother of three and 1997 graduate of the Institute of Notre Dame. Heather earned her BS in English from Towson State University and her M.A.T from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. With more than a decade of experience in education, Heather also works as a freelance writer and visual artist. As a champion for women’s education and community service, Heather’s free time is often spent volunteering in the community and offering help to those in need.
Ayobami Yoyin
Marian Preparatory Academy 