Ella McDermott '29

Biography

Ella McDermott '29 is an Economics major with minors in Real Estate and Accounting. Originally from North Palm Beach, Florida, she became interested in the intersection of real estate, finance, and the ways capital can create meaningful impact. In 2026, she interned at Merton Capital Partners, a philanthropic private equity firm, where she researched and developed a KPI framework for Moonshot 2.0, the firm's workforce housing initiative in West Palm Beach. The experience sparked her interest in understanding how investment decisions can both be financially sound and socially meaningful.

In summer 2026, Ella also studied real estate development, hospitality, and entertainment investment through Notre Dame's summer study abroad program in Thailand, and spent time at the London School of Economics studying finance and its application to real estate and investment markets. At Notre Dame, she is a member of the Real Estate Club, where she built a financial model and presented an investment pitch for a Chicago-based property in a case competition. She is also involved in the Student International Business Council, ND Women in Finance, and Notre Dame Dance Company. Off campus, she volunteers weekly as a tutor with Mercy Works in South Bend.

Through these experiences, Ella has become especially interested in how businesses, markets, and real estate are financed, and hopes to pursue a career in investment banking or real estate private equity. She is grateful for the way the Sheedy Program has let her pursue this interest alongside the broader, interdisciplinary education.