Maura Naehr is a Philadelphia native and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, class of 2020. Naehr graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Minors in Constitutional Studies and Theology. She was also a member of the Tocqueville Fellowship from her sophomore year on.
A fifth generation Notre Dame student, Naehr always wanted to come to South Bend for school. Upon arrival, Naehr had her heart set on a liberal arts major. “I knew growing up I wanted to do something related to politics, the law, and history…I just always had a love for that. Especially being from Philadelphia, where a lot of the pivotal moments early on in our country happened,” she said. Although she was initially looking to pursue this through the Program of Liberal Studies, Naehr eventually decided to major in Political Science, due to her positive interactions with the faculty.
Having always held an interest in constitutional study, Naehr soon began attending events hosted by the Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government. Through these events, she learned about the Tocqueville Fellowship, of which was a member during her sophomore, junior, and senior years. Reflecting on her time in the Fellowship, Naehr recalled that her favorite aspect was the colloquium program, which entails weekend discussion and meals led by CCCG scholars and guests. Naehr enjoyed this in particular because it gave her the opportunity to meaningfully engage with other students and professors on difficult issues. Naehr also recalled that she particularly enjoyed the chance to meet with the Archbishop Emeritus of Philadelphia, Charles J. Chaput, who she introduced when he came to campus.
After graduating from Notre Dame, Naehr went on to attend law school at George Washington University. She recently graduated with a focus in government procurement, or the rules and regulations that accompany government contracts. Currently, she is clerking for a judge on the US Court of Federal Claims, an Article 1 court that hears monetary claims against the United States.
After the close of her clerkship, Naehr intends to enter private practice, where she will handle white collar cases and government investigations with a focus on government contracts.
Naehr credits the Tocqueville Fellowship for giving her a strong “baseline knowledge about our Constitution and the way our government works,” which she said helped her “tenfold” during law school and as an attorney. During her time working in Washington, DC, Naehr has also come to appreciate the strong network of former fellows and professors who have been involved with the Fellowship.
This article was contributed by Luca Fanucchi, a CCCG Writing Fellow.