From the Soccer Field to the Finance Floor
ROSE STACKHOUSE
BS in Business Administration
Current Role: Senior Financial Analyst, Ulta Beauty
Rose Stackhouse came to Saint Mary’s from St. Charles, Illinois—just outside Chicago—after being recruited to play soccer. She arrived curious (and a little hesitant about a small all-women’s college), and left with something bigger: a tight-knit community, confidence in her voice, and a career she loves.
Today, Rose lives in Chicago and works at Ulta Beauty, where she supports financial planning and analysis for the company’s supply chain and distribution network. In this Q&A, she reflects on sisterhood, choosing balance, and how Saint Mary’s helped her stand in her power.
What first drew you to Saint Mary’s, and when did you know it was the right fit?
I was looking at other schools, and then I ended up getting recruited to play soccer at Saint Mary’s. My brother went to Notre Dame, but I didn’t really know much about either school at first.
I came from a really large co-ed high school, so I was understandably hesitant about a small all-women’s college. But once I visited and met students, I felt genuinely welcomed by everyone. I also loved learning about the relationship Saint Mary’s has with Notre Dame—and how you can leverage opportunities at both.
It felt like exactly what I was looking for: I could play a sport, be part of a tight-knit community, and still have access to a bigger campus experience right across the street if I wanted it.
You were recruited to play soccer. How did athletics shape your experience—without becoming your whole identity?
I was recruited at some Division I schools, but I didn’t want a program to own my life. I wanted to explore different career paths and be involved in other things, too.
Choosing Division III was the right fit. I got to make an impact on the team, but also join student government, study abroad, and really be part of the full campus community.
Tell us about your academic journey. Did you know what you wanted to do when you started?
I knew I wanted to study business, and I originally leaned toward marketing. I loved my marketing classes, but I also appreciated that Saint Mary’s has you take a range of business courses. It helps you figure out what you’re truly drawn to.
What really helped me decide were the projects—because they felt real. In Marketing, you’d do things like rebrand a company. In Investments, you’re working with a $100,000 portfolio and planning over a multi-year horizon. It puts you in the shoes of the job, not just the classroom.
How did internships and real-world experience shape your path?
My experience was a little unique because it was during COVID, but I still had three internships: one in financial advising, one in accounting, and one in marketing at a startup.
Even though they were different, each one helped me learn what I liked—and what I didn’t. That process mattered.
What do you do at Ulta Beauty?
I started at Ulta right after graduation on the Financial Planning & Analysis team. In my current role, I help support Ulta Beauty’s supply chain and distribution center network through financial modeling and forecasting—predicting things like labor costs and project expenses.
And I’ve had three promotions in three and a half years. That really speaks to the preparation I received at Saint Mary’s—the confidence and resourcefulness they helped me build, which my company really values.
What did Saint Mary’s do that prepared you for your career—beyond the technical skills?
It taught me how to gather information, synthesize it quickly, and communicate it—written and verbal. In the world we’re moving toward, it’s not just about memorizing facts; it’s about knowing how to find what you need, make sense of it, and present it well.
A lot of classes were open-note or open-book, and people assume that makes things easy—but it doesn’t unless you know how to organize information and connect the dots. That’s a real professional skill, and Saint Mary’s nailed it.
Also, the professors want you to be confident. You learn how to be confident. At a huge school, you can feel more like a number than a person. Saint Mary’s makes sure you know who you are, and that’s important.
What advice would you give to prospective students—and their parents—considering Saint Mary’s?
A lot of people assume small school means smaller opportunities, but it’s really the opposite.
At Saint Mary’s, you’re encouraged to get involved—and it’s actually possible to do a lot. I was on the soccer team, student government, and studied abroad. Friends of mine did things like work on the Notre Dame football team, become tour guides, join ROTC, row at Notre Dame… you don’t realize it in the moment, but all of it is building skills—leadership, confidence, collaboration.
If you’re passionate and you show up, you can take on real responsibility. That’s the value of a place like Saint Mary’s.
QUICK TAKES
Favorite dining hall meal: Saturday morning brunch / breakfast
Favorite tradition: The Class rings
Favorite spots on campus: The Weeping Willow, the soccer field, and Le Mans Hall—so much character