ND Dining is far more than just a job and Tora Farris, Office Manager for South Dining Hall, is the perfect example of this! Tora has worked at Notre Dame for three years, and she is definitely no stranger to campus. “Notre Dame has always been a part of my life,” Tora tells us, “I grew up a couple blocks away from here … I could hear the whole game from my house.” With deep roots connecting her to ND, Tora decided to begin working for the dining halls in 2023. We sat down with Tora to learn what drew her back to ND, and more importantly, why she stays.
“Working for Notre Dame is different from working for any other company,” Tora explains. Offering both an encouraging faith environment, and a plethora of supportive resources, Notre Dame has helped support Tora as more than just an employee, but as a family member. Tora is a mom of three kids, her youngest born at the end of last semester and affectionately referred to as the “South Dining Hall baby” by her coworkers. When she began her job, she told us the dining hall staff welcomed her with open arms. “Everyone looks out for each other,” she says, even outside of work. Some of the meals she has begun cooking at home are shared recipes from the chefs, like the dining hall staple Beef and Broccoli. The community at ND Dining makes work like a second home for Tora, and coworkers like family. Although, when it comes to family, cooking advice is not always a two-way street. Tora has been begging for Tomales to be added to the menu, and we are all eagerly waiting to see if she’lll win that battle!
In her role as Office Manager, Tora’s primary responsibility is to ensure that the dining hall is running smoothly. It’s no surprise that at such a popular spot on campus “every day is different.” But what isn’t different is the smile on Tora’s face each day. Outside of general operations, Tora’s role centers around the dining hall staff. When asked to summarize her role in the dining hall community, Tora shared “in my position, I get to help people a lot and I really enjoy that.” Sometimes help includes support and mentorship among the staff, but other times it’s connecting them with important resources offered by Notre Dame such as nutritionist services, access to Duncan Student Center, and faith counseling. Tora herself is pursuing her associates degree through the Learning at Work program! The program provides resources for employees without a post-secondary education to obtain their associates degree! Our chat with Tora made it clear just how impactful the dining hall work is, not only to her and the employees but also to Our Lady’s students.
Tora carries forward the legacy of welcoming others at the dining hall, especially for those who are feeling “out of place.” Whether students are from another country, away from home for the first time, or simply overwhelmed, Tora welcomes them to the dinner table. “Being able to connect with them has been a blessing,” she tells us, and she devotes herself to “making sure they have a good space” to enjoy a meal and unload.
When asked to pick a theme song to describe her time at South Dining Hall, Tora picked “God’s Plan” by Drake. Her choice encompasses the faith presence on campus that Tora has enjoyed, especially the Basilica that quickly became her favorite place on campus. However, it also reminds her that “everything’s within God’s plan.” During their time on campus, Tora encourages students to remember this lesson and keep the big picture in mind, focusing on the future, not just the stress or anxiety they may feel in the present. Everything happens within God’s plan!
Walking into the dining hall, we all feel a certain sense of comfort. It's not just the homey feel of the wooden tables and chairs in South, or the meals that taste homecooked, but it’s the people like Tora who carry their love of family into everything they do. Thank you Tora, for making us all feel like family!
Originally published by at dining.nd.edu on October 05, 2026.