FROM PONTIAC TO WILLIAMSBURG: ALUM NATALIE BURG EMBRACES THE GLOBAL AT WILLIAM & MARY

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June 11, 2025

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Notre Dame Prep alum is charting an inspiring journey of academic excellence and global engagement through a prestigious scholars program at the College of William & Mary.

Selected as one of only 20 students in the American Statecraft cohort of the Global Scholars Program (GSP) at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., Notre Dame Prep 2023 graduate Natalie Burg is spending a year immersed in an ambitious academic campaign focused on U.S. foreign policy, global diplomacy and hands-on research. 

A surprise email was the start of it all.

"When I saw the ‘Congratulations’ email, I was in shock," Burg said. “It was incredibly competitive this year. Being part of this program is beyond what I could have imagined.”

The GSP is a year-long, credit-bearing program offered through William & Mary’s Global Research Institute. It pairs students with D.C.-based mentors, offers specialized coursework and provides global experiences, including a winter trip to India where students will meet Indian government officials. 

“India’s democracy will act as a mirror to ours,” Burg adds. “I’ve never been to Asia, so I’m beyond excited for this experience.”

Her coursework at W&M is equally immersive. This fall, she’ll study Exercise of Power under Professor Stephen Hanson, who will in part analyze the legacy of current W&M Chancellor Robert Gates, a former secretary of defense under presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, and a former CIA agent who spent 26 years at the agency. 

“We might even tour the CIA or Department of Defense,” Burg added hopefully.

Outside of her GSP work, Burg will serve as a residential teaching assistant for the National Institute of American History and Democracy, helping pre-college students explore Virginia’s historical sites while she builds her own foundational academic skills.

A passion for government rooted in NDP

At William & Mary, Burg is majoring in government with a minor in philosophy. But her interest in how people shape political systems was sparked at NDP and sharpened through some pretty impactful college courses and a couple of inspiring professors. 

“Professor Paul Manna became a mentor — he’s from Michigan like me — and our conversations after the 2024 election made me feel seen and supported,” she said.

She also credits Hanson, calling him “the smartest person I’ve ever met,” for helping her develop a nuanced understanding of comparative politics. 

“He taught me to put on different lenses when analyzing global systems," she said. "That mindset has changed how I approach just about everything.”

A Swift-led community

In addition to her academic work, Burg co-founded William & Mary's official Taylor Swift Club — a fun and inclusive space for fellow “Swifties.” “Taylor’s music was the soundtrack of my coming of age,” Burg said. “It only made sense to turn that passion into something bigger.”

After discovering there was no existing fan club during freshman orientation, Burg and fellow student Addy Al-Saigh teamed up to launch one. They wrote a constitution, secured funding and quickly grew a strong following. The club since has hosted tote-bag painting nights, friendship bracelet-making events, trivia contests and concert watch parties. 

“We wanted a space where students could connect through a shared love of Taylor’s music — and it’s been incredible to see how many people show up.”

The club even caught national media attention, with Al-Saigh featured in British news outlet The Guardian discussing Taylormania on college campuses. “Our club is joyful, creative and welcoming — it’s exactly what I hoped it would be,” Burg said.

NDP’s lasting influence

Reflecting on her time at NDP, Burg is quick to praise the school’s faculty. “The teachers at NDP are incredible. Mrs. [Katrina] Sagert and Mrs. [Melissa] Archer made me the writer I am today, and I still update Mrs. [Sydney] Newby on my college journey.”

She also remembers never being told “no” when she pursued unique learning interests — like, for example, an essay on the hidden meanings in Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” she recalled. 

Whether singing in choir, performing in theater or leading Model UN, Burg said NDP’s supportive environment laid the groundwork for her current success at W&M. 

“NDP taught me that being an upright citizen isn’t just a value — it’s a lifestyle," she said. "It’s simple things like holding doors open, it's offering help to others who need it and representing yourself and your school with pride.”

Eyes on the future

While law school remains on her radar — sparked in part by her childhood fascination with music copyright law — Burg is also seriously considering a career in foreign service. 

That's because a serendipitous encounter with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Ambassador Melanie Higgins, a fellow Kappa Delta sister, opened her eyes and some new doors. 

“She gave me her business card and we later had a Zoom call," she said. "Talking to someone who’s represented the U.S. abroad really moved me. I realized that diplomacy could be a way to make a difference.”

Burg says, however, the best advice she’s received so far in her still-young life is simple: say yes to opportunity. “At college, I learned that the worst someone can say is no. That mindset helped me connect with deans, ambassadors and mentors. And I owe a lot of that confidence to my time at NDP.”

With curiosity as her compass, a love of learning in her toolkit, and Taylor Swift’s lyrics echoing in the background, Natalie Burg is ready to take on the world — one bold opportunity at a time.

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndpma.org.