Scott Howland

The renowned Japanese writer (and my favorite author), Haruki Murakami, said, “Life is not like water. Things in life don’t necessarily flow over the shortest possible route.” It is an important lesson at any stage of life, but especially when we are young. My path to Notre Dame certainly didn’t take the shortest possible route. I studied psychology as an undergraduate at Holy Cross College, then went on to the University of Dayton, where I earned a master’s degree in theology and worked toward a doctoral degree in the same field. After finishing my doctoral coursework, however, I realized that studying theology might not be the professional path for me.

Now, I work here at Notre Dame in the College of Arts and Letters, where I serve as the Data and Operations Specialist for the Beyond the Dome Career Development Program. My role, perhaps surprisingly to many who knew me in the past, centers on data analysis and reporting, strategic planning, and financial administration. I have learned in this role that I love numbers, spreadsheets, and solving human-centered problems with quantitative data. It took me close to a decade after finishing college to discover these passions, but without that journey, I wouldn’t have ended up where I am today.

I live in South Bend with my wife, Kassie, and my two children, Isla and Oliver. In my free time, I love to read, garden, hike, cook, and spend time with my family.