Dash Holland ’17, ’21 M.Ed.

Upper Grade Teacher, Holy Family School

Major: Political Science and Economics

Preparing low-income students and families emotionally, spiritually, and socially for the future

William “Dash” Holland ’17, ’21 M.Ed. began his journey toward teaching in India. While training for his first job in consulting, he wondered if his chosen profession could become a career. Holland became curious about finding a more service-oriented path and started volunteering to teach Sunday school at his parish in Bangalore. Six months later, he moved to New Jersey, where he began his consulting job in earnest and realized he would have to make a change. After a year and a half, Holland returned to Notre Dame to pursue a Master of Education degree with the Alliance for Catholic Education. He now teaches at Holy Family School in Redwood City, California.

Holland teaches a community of first- and second-generation immigrants. Through his daily lessons in language arts, literature, vocabulary, social studies, religion, and technology, he strives to help his students understand the world around them, make a place in it, and imagine how they can be part of making it better.

Through his teaching role at Holy Family, Holland is also an integral part of the St. Francis Center. This community-based organization in the heart of the Fair Oaks Neighborhood partners with clients to provide affordable housing, food, clothing, and after school programming to build strong families and a strong neighborhood community.

Holland is a former Rambler of Siegfried Hall and served as a resident assistant during his time at Notre Dame.