A former Kellogg International Scholar and International Development Studies minor who advocates for health care equity among underserved communities is among the Notre Dame Alumni Association’s second annual Domer Dozen.

Alexandria Kristensen-Cabrera ’16, a science-business major, studied community-based breastfeeding support in the Dominican Republic through her affiliation with Kellogg. She received an Experiencing the World Fellowship and a Kellogg/Kroc Undergraduate Research Grant to fund her work.

“From the time Alexandria began working with the Kellogg Institute as a sophomore, she was dedicated to improving maternal health through her research with her ISP advisor, Faculty Fellow Vania Smith Oka, as well as through her independent research and summer fellowships,” said Kellogg Associate Director Holly Rivers, who noted that Kristensen-Cabrera based her IDS capstone on her work in the Dominican Republic. “It’s no surprise that she has earned this honor and we could not be more proud of her."

Kristensen-Cabrera is now an MD/PhD student at the University of Minnesota who focuses on reducing disparities in maternal and infant birth outcomes.

The Domer Dozen honors 12 graduates ages 32 and younger for significant contributions in their fields, as well as in service to others.

The Domer Dozen program is the signature initiative of YoungND, the Alumni Association’s newest affinity group. The 2020 honorees include alumni who have excelled in health care, childhood education, international aid, faith, cultural advocacy, gender equity and space exploration, among other areas. They were chosen by a selection committee consisting of the YoungND board, University officials and Alumni Association staff, who reviewed more than 140 nominations this past fall and evaluated them based on a weighted ranking system and the nominee’s dedication to at least one of the four core pillars of the association’s mission — faith, service, learning and work.

“I never cease to be amazed by the extraordinary impact our young alumni have in their communities and respective industries,” said Dolly Duffy, executive director of the Alumni Association and associate vice president for University relations. “Our newest Domer Dozen honorees continue to prove this point. Their accomplishments as innovators, faith leaders, educators, advocates, engineers and diplomats are truly remarkable, and I know this is just the beginning of their positive influence on the world.”

The other 2020 Domer Dozen honorees are:

  • Sara Abdel-Rahim ’17: Breaking barriers for refugee and asylum-seeking chefs
  • Nate Alexander ’17: Saving time and expanding the reach of life-saving organ transplants
  • Jessica Binzoni ’15 J.D.: Empowering displaced people in the Middle East
  • Glynnis Garry, M.D. ’11: Revolutionizing the treatment of heart disease
  • Katarina Goitz ’16, ’18 M.A.: An inspiration to a deeper connection with faith
  • Maria Hinson Tobin ’14 M.S.: Combating gender inequity in global agriculture
  • Terrell Hunt ’19 MBA: Serving the country in pursuit of a better world
  • Ashley Kalinauskas ’13 M.S.: Innovating to help pets with cancer
  • Bill Kennedy ’17: Enabling humanity’s search for truth through space exploration
  • Kara Strass ’11: Revitalizing Myaamia language, culture and traditions
  • Jasmin (Simmons) Tow ’11: Providing innovative educational solutions in low-income schools

The Domer Dozen honorees gathered virtually for an awards show celebration on Tuesday. For more information on this year’s honorees, visit domerdozen.nd.edu and follow YoungND on Instagram.

This story first appeared on news.nd.edu