Mary Frances Devlin
Graduation Year: 2016; 2020
Rover Roles: Writer, Religion Editor, Editor-in-Chief
Favorite Article: No Man Can Serve Two Masters (2021)
Current Job: Government Affairs Associate at the American Principles Project; Contributing Editor & Fellow at The American Spectator
Editor’s Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Irish Rover: How did you first get involved with the Rover?
Mary Frances Devlin: I first got involved with the Rover after seeing the newsstand in CoMo during my freshman year. I was so excited to find out about the conservative student newspaper and read articles written by people who cared about the things I was interested in—religion, politics, and keeping Notre Dame honest. When a friend connected me with one of the section editors the following year, I started writing and never looked back.
What was your favorite Rover article to write and why?
“No Man Can Serve Two Masters” is my favorite article from my time with the Rover. I wrote about Notre Dame’s dissonant approach to LGBTQ issues on campus and argued that the university would need to eventually decide whether they wanted to adhere to secular progressive morality or follow the Catholic Church’s teaching.
This article caused a stir on campus and drew national media attention. The ensuing reaction showed me that there was a real fight to be had, and I realized that I wanted to be in it.
You’ve done a lot of work in the conservative political space, including journalism. How did Notre Dame shape your decisions about your career?
I was scheduled to study abroad during the spring of 2021 and had planned my PLS class schedule accordingly, so I found myself with an empty semester when study abroad was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. I signed up for a slate of Constitutional Studies classes and immersed myself in political theory.
I was really energized by these courses—especially Professor Phillip Muñoz’s course in constitutional law and Professor Patrick Deneen’s class on liberalism and conservatism—and I continued to learn about the conservative movement through coursework and summer fellowships.
Despite my interest in politics, I didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to do following graduation for most of my time at Notre Dame. I considered law school, teaching, or going to grad school, but I always imagined myself writing on the side of whatever job I took. When I eventually realized that my desire to write was the most consistent part of my postgrad dreams, I decided to take the leap and pursue it.
Since then, I’ve written for a number of national publications, ghostwritten for prominent conservative political figures, conducted policy research, and immersed myself in pro-family policy advocacy. Throughout my professional work, writing has been both a central part of my daily work and something that I’ve continued on the side in a freelance capacity.
More than anything, I think my formation at Notre Dame gave me a disposition of openness to whatever opportunities God puts in front of me and confidence that I will succeed if I use my gifts to serve others. I’ve never had long-term career goals, and I couldn’t have imagined being where I am today even just three years ago, but I’ve focused on taking the next right step and continuing to grow.
More specifically, how did your time with the Rover prepare you for your career?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the Rover. My time at the Rover gave me the experience I needed to write professionally immediately after college. Like any creative endeavor, writing is a craft that takes time and experience. The Rover gave me early opportunities to start practicing that craft and to build the confidence to ask the questions that other people weren’t asking.
I have also benefited from the generosity of Rover alums who have been willing to pay it forward to more recent graduates. I’m grateful that the paper has such a great alumni network!
What do you think makes the Rover unique, at Notre Dame and on U.S. college campuses?
On Notre Dame‘s campus, the Rover is unique in that it is a completely independent publication. This financial independence allows the paper to be truly mission-oriented and, at times, critical of the university without fear of reprisal.
I’ve always been struck by the breadth of the Rover’s audience. Most campus papers have a purely local appeal, but the Rover is read by a wide swathe of students, faculty and staff, alumni, and professionals across the conservative movement. From magazine editors in New York to a former U.S. attorney general, the Rover is seen by many as a bellwether for what young conservatives are thinking and facing on campus.
How do you think conservative professionals view Notre Dame? Are they concerned about her Catholic character?
I think most people in the world of conservative politics view Notre Dame as a Catholic institution whose Catholic identity is continually under fire. They are generally worried that Notre Dame is going to be the next domino to fall and go the way of Georgetown or Boston College.
More personally, how has your own view of Notre Dame changed since graduation?
My perspective on Notre Dame has remained more or less the same since I graduated. I have loved ND my whole life, but I also see the ways in which the institution falls short or could improve—particularly in the realm of Catholic identity.
If anything, my perspective on academia has changed. The academic environment is all you know until graduation, but living in the real world casts its faults into sharp perspective. I’ve gained a deeper appreciation for the professors who truly love and serve their students, but I’ve become even more frustrated with faculty who are unable to see beyond the ivory tower or would rather pontificate than engage with reality.
Do you have any advice for our readers?
Call your mom and dad! Nothing is more important than family, and making your relationship with your parents a central part of postgrad life is a great way to prioritize family amid lots of change. Whether you’re moving near or far from home after graduation, staying close with family is a gift you’ll benefit from in countless ways throughout the years.
Haley Garecht is a senior studying political science, Irish studies, and constitutional studies. After observing a month-long mourning period for the Phillies, she is finally ready to believe in Philly sports again. For Eagles updates, email her at hgarecht@nd.edu.
Photo Credit: Hudson Institute
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