Our Team

MIKE BROWN
Entrepreneur, Publisher, Author, Host

Mike Brown

Mike Brown is the Founder and CEO of SOULSTIR LLC, a social enterprise focused on enriching lives by creating soul-stirring experiences that inspire empowerment and action. 

Mike also served as a Regional Director for Athletics Advancement in University Relations at the University of Notre Dame. Prior to Notre Dame, Mike had a career spanning nearly two decades with FIS, a Fortune 500 financial technology and services company, where he held roles as a web developer and sales executive.

He has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Notre Dame, where he majored in Business Technology, and a Master of Science in Management degree from Cardinal Stritch University.

As a Notre Dame student, he served as the iconic Notre Dame Leprechaun mascot and was the first Black student to portray the role.

When not watching or attending ND sporting events he enjoys writing, running, and connecting with family and friends.

Originally from Milwaukee, he now lives in the South Bend area with his wife and daughter.

Soulstir initiatives:

  • Author of Little Netta’s Gift (2021)
  • Co-author of The Leprechaun's Game Day at Notre Dame (2022)
  • Host of Reflections and Encouragement with Mike Brown 
  • Publisher of People First: Reflections on Leadership (2023)

    CARA KRENN
    Author, Editor

    Cara Krenn is an award-winning children’s magazine writer and long-time editor. Her stories, poems, and non-fiction appear in Highlights High Five, Highlights Hello, Ladybug, Babybug, The School Magazine Australia, and others. She was named the 2021 SCBWI Magazine Merit Poetry Honor winner. She serves as an editor and consultant to a variety of publishers, companies, and individual authors and was the former editorial manager of the Kneerim & Williams Literary Agency in Boston.

    As a Notre Dame student (class of ’04), she was a four-year cheerleading team member and varsity captain and a Keough Institute intern at The National Gallery of Ireland. She lives in San Diego with her husband and their twin daughters and son. She drives to a lot of soccer practices.

     Soulstir initiatives:

    • Co-author of The Leprechaun's Game Day at Notre Dame (2022)
    • Editor of Little Netta’s Gift (2021)
    • Editor of People First: Reflections on Leadership (2023)

    SELIM NURUDEEN
    Entrepreneur, Illustrator, Graphic Designer

    Selim Nurudeen

    Selim Nurudeen is the CEO and Founder of SinVista Creations. He is passionate about using design to bring brands to life. He loves combining graphic and web design with brand identity in order to take client’s businesses to a whole new level.

    Selim is also a two-time Olympian in the 110m Hurdles, 2008 Beijing and 2012 London. He is a diehard Notre Dame ’05 alumnus.

    Soulstir initiatives:

    • Illustrator of Little Netta’s Gift

    MARYN ARREGUÍN
    Illustrator

    Maryn Arreguín is an illustrator with nearly two decades of experience in the kids’ publishing and product design space. She has worked with top brands such as Disney, Pixar, Nickelodeon, Sesame, and Notre Dame. She focuses her creative energy on designing picture books, middle grade books, illustration, branding, product development, and paper engineering. She currently works as an art director for Sourcebooks.

    A walk-on to the Notre Dame Women’s Varsity Soccer team, she followed in her dad’s footsteps of chasing dreams under the Golden Dome. She spent her time off the field drawing for both the student-published Scholastic magazine and The Observer newspaper. She lives and daydreams with her husband and son in Chicago.

     

    Soulstir initiatives:

    • Illustrator and Art Director of The Leprechaun's Game Day at Notre Dame (2022)
    • Cover and interior design for People First: Reflections on Leadership (2023)

    CHRISTINE VANDERBEEK
    Graphic Designer and Art Director

    Christine Vanderbeek

    Christine Vanderbeek is a senior graphic designer and art director. Before making the switch to the non-profit sector, she spent close to a decade working as a designer under art director extraordinaire Rita Marshall at The Creative Company, an independent children's book publishing company. Christine currently works remotely in Alaska's Copper River Valley. She holds a degree in graphic design from the University of Notre Dame and studied architecture at the Catholic University of America.

    Soulstir initiatives:

    • Art Director of Little Netta’s Gift

    ELDER CHARLES L. WALTON

    Elder Charles L. Walton

    For more than 40 years Elder Charles L. Walton has dedicated his life to helping youth and families in our communities. He utilizes his skills, knowledge and resources for the betterment of the world through his actions as an Elder, consultant, community leader and activist, music producer, composer, musician, television producer and servant to those in need. 

     Soulstir initiatives:

    • Story Consultant of Little Netta’s Gift