Mobile ACE Community

Mobile is a small metropolitan area nestled against the beaches of the self-proclaimed “Redneck Riviera”. It combines French Quarter flair – complete with the original Mardi Gras – with one of the largest Catholic populations in the Deep South. In addition to a great music and food scene, Mobile is also noted for being a magnet for minor league sports. Its many area colleges also provide opportunities to interact with young people.

Mobile is a fun city with lots of young people, thanks in part to the three universities located in this city. Although it would seem to be a part of the Deep South, Mobile also has strong Gulf Coast influences coming from Louisiana. As the city that originated Mardi Gras, Mobile puts on a party that lasts over a month to prepare for the sacrifices of Lent.

The Mobile ACE community consists of four first-year teachers and three second-year teachers serving four schools in the Archdiocese of Mobile: Little Flower School, St. Pius X School, Most Pure Heart of Mary School, and McGill-Toolen Catholic High School.

Current ACE Teachers

Nikki Herman
Xavier University, B.S. Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology
Little Flower, MS Science and Religion

Jared McBrady
University of Notre Dame, 2010, Political Science
Little Flower School, Middle School Social Studies and Religion

Kelly McNichols
University of Dayton, B.S. Education Program and Mathematics
St. Pius, Middle School Math

Isaac Reichman
University of Notre Dame, B.A. History and Mathematics with a minor in Catholic Social Tradition
McGill-Toolen High School, History

Colleen Meaney
University of Pennsylvania, 2009, English
Little Flower School, Middle School Language Arts

Dan Faas
Michigan State University, 2010, Journalism
Most Pure Heart of Mary School, Middle School Language Arts and Religion (6-8)

Alec Torigian
St. John's University, B.A. Mathematics and Peace Studies with a minor in Theology
Most Pure Heart of Mary, MS Math and Science (6-8)

School served in Mobile

McGill-Toolen Catholic High School
Most Pure Heart of Mary School
St. Pius X School
Little Flower School
St. Mary School

What is unique about the Mobile community?

Besides being the BPIA, ACE Mobile lives in a former convent with plenty of extra beds for anyone who may want to stop by and check it out for themselves.l

What do ACErs like most about Mobile?

Mobile is a very friendly and easygoing city that is within driving distance of many other ACE communities, insuring that friendships made over the ACE Summer can be maintained during the school year. We also receive great support from the Mobile community through our schools, the Mobile ACE Advocates, Notre Dame Club of Mobile, Little Flower Parish and many other friends.

One of the best things about Mobile is that there is always plenty to do. There are bars downtown that often have live music. There is a lot of “tourist” stuff to do: Bellingrath Botanical Gardens, the USS Alabama, etc. In addition, although Mardi Gras is certainly excessive, it is a fun time to be in the city.