Shared values, shared journey

The Kaufmanns’ story reads like a classic American tale. 

Matthew and Melissa were high school sweethearts in south Texas. He was the star quarterback on McAllen Mustangs football team and was recruited to play at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Melissa studied at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Despite the distance, the couple stayed together, married and had three children. He served as an officer in the Army and she cared for the couple’s three children. Like many military families, the couple moved around: West Point to Germany to Texas and now to South Bend, Indiana.

Matthew is pursuing an MBA at the University of Notre Dame as he prepares for his next position in the Army as an athletic admissions officer at West Point. Melissa is also a graduate business student, undertaking a Master of Science in Digital Marketing (MSDM) as she prepares to return to the workforce after working for years as a stay-at-home mom. The Kaufmanns chose to study at the Mendoza College of Business because of its ethical approach to business and the community’s strong family values.

“It’s like having a home away from home,” Melissa said. “We found the perfect house for our family, and our neighbors took us under their wings right away. When we’re driving around, our baby will even see the Golden Dome and scream, ‘Go Irish! Go Notre Dame!’ They love it here.” 

Notre Dame values and Army values

After graduating from West Point, Matthew Kaufmann went to Georgia for his Infantry Basic Officer Leader Training course. Then, he was deployed to Germany to be a platoon leader, and later to Fort Cavazos, Texas, to be a company commander. He also worked as an athletic intern at West Point after he’d finished his studies. When he had an opportunity to return to the Academy, he jumped at the chance. 

Matthew needed an MBA for the role, so he started exploring his options. He looked at programs in Texas and a few on the east coast. Then, a visit to South Bend for Veterans Weekend in 2023 cemented his decision.

“I’d never been to the Midwest before and I really wanted to go back to my home state,” he said. “But I fell in love with Notre Dame. Mendoza was completely different from other business schools. The Grow the Good in Business philosophy really aligns with Army values. Other schools were talking about how much money I could make, but Notre Dame wasn’t just talking about salary.”

When he takes on his new role at the U.S. Military Academy, Matthew plans to apply the ethical leadership and strategic frameworks he’s learning at Mendoza to shape the next generation of Army leaders. For now, Matthew is making the most of his time at Notre Dame. He is serving as the vice president of the Veterans Club, and he’s leveraging the University’s strong alumni network. He’s taking notes on aspects of Notre Dame culture he’d like to bring back to the U.S. Military Academy with him.

“At West Point, we pride ourselves on having a strong network, but it doesn’t compare to being Irish,” Matthew said. “It’s eye-opening how much a culture and a network can do for students. The way Notre Dame talks, the way that alumni give back, the way that faculty takes care of students — they’re so excited to hear about what’s going on. These are the kinds of changes I’d like to bring back to the Academy.” 

A next step in her career

Even before Melissa Kaufmann learned about Mendoza’s new MSDM program, she was thrilled to be moving to South Bend. A lifelong fan of the Fighting Irish, Kaufmann calls Notre Dame her dream school.

“Getting accepted to the MSDM program and studying with my husband while raising our kids has been a dream come true,” she said.

The 10-month program launched in 2025, and Melissa only learned about it after the family had arrived in South Bend.

“Matthew told me about a new program in digital marketing he thought I would do really great in,” she remembered. “It seemed like the best pivot in my career path. I’d been a stay-at-home mom for seven years, but our kids are starting to get older, so I decided to apply.”

The program sets Melissa up for the next step in her career. The MSDM is designed to equip students with the latest skills and insights essential to becoming a leader in digital marketing. It builds on her undergraduate degree in English literature to position her for the job she wants. When the family returns to West Point after graduation, Melissa hopes to find work in digital marketing at West Point’s Athletics Department. Melissa noted that all of the professors in the program have been excellent, but credits Kevin Hartman, associate teaching professor of marketing and Google’s former chief analytics strategist, with being “top notch.”

“He’s been very accommodating and helpful,” Melissa said. “Professor Hartman is giving us a good feel for the field and what we can do in digital marketing, and he’s made his connections available to us. It’s been a really nice experience.” 

The Fighting Irish fan experience is special

Balancing the academic demands of two intense graduate programs and the responsibilities of raising three children isn’t easy, but the Kaufmanns still manage to find the time to appreciate the things that make South Bend special. One of them, of course, is Fighting Irish football.  As a former Division 1 football player, Matthew has a special appreciation for the fan experience.

“It’s been a lot of fun for me to sit in the stands with my wife,” said the former Army Black Knight defensive back. “To watch football and celebrate the sport itself. And it’s really, really fun to watch Notre Dame beat up on Navy.”