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Notre Dame celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with slate of events

2024-09-11T16:30:00-04:00

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), the University of Notre Dame will be highlighting the significant contributions that Latino and Hispanic students, faculty and staff have made to the University since its earliest days through two key initiatives: the launch of Somos ND and the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Institute for Latino 91��Ƶ.

“This is a special year for Notre Dame as we pay tribute to the deeply rooted history of Latinos and Hispanics at this institution and the ways in which those who came before us have contributed to the success and legacy you see today,” said Pedro Ribeiro, vice president for public affairs and communications. “At the same time, we are looking forward to our ongoing efforts to build a more global, Catholic and diverse Notre Dame — which doesn’t happen without strong engagement in the Latino and Hispanic communities, both internally and externally.”

Since the mid-1800s, students, faculty and staff of Latino and Hispanic descent have enriched the educational landscape and helped to foster a more inclusive and diverse learning and research environment. A new initiative, Somos ND (the Spanish translation of “We Are ND”) aims to increase the visibility of these achievements, enhance awareness of important cultural issues and strengthen the spirit of community and inclusion at Notre Dame.

In addition, the University is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Institute for Latino 91��Ƶ (ILS). Founded in 1999, the institute has played a vital role in fostering understanding of the U.S. Latino experience — offering a supplementary major and minor, preparing leaders, advancing research and building community. ILS builds upon the history of Latinos at Notre Dame and the outstanding intellectual legacy of Julian Samora, a former Notre Dame professor of sociology and pioneering Latino studies scholar, in strengthening Notre Dame’s academic mission.

A variety of events and opportunities will take place throughout Hispanic Heritage Month to showcase the culture and experiences of the Latino and Hispanic community and to engage with related scholarship and research.

Sunday, Sept. 15: “Puss in Boots” (2011)
1 p.m.
Browning Cinema, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
Sunday, Sept. 15: Mass in Spanish — Somos ND kickoff event
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Sunday, Sept. 15: Somos ND reception
4:30 p.m. (immediately following Spanish Mass)
Fieldhouse Mall (between Clarke Memorial Fountain and LaFortune Student Center)
Tuesday, Sept. 17: Panel Discussion — “Accelerating Implementation of the Colombian Final Accord’s Ethnic Approach: Strategies for Reinvigorating Inclusive Peacebuilding”
4-5:30 p.m.
Keough 91��Ƶ’s Washington, D.C., office
Friday, Sept. 20: MVP Fridays Lecture — Javier Zamora: “What can immigrant stories teach us?”
4-6 p.m.
Andrews Auditorium, Geddes Hall
Friday, Sept. 20: Notre Dame vs. Indiana University (volleyball) — Community Weekend; Hispanic Heritage Month/Somos ND game
6:30 p.m.
Purcell Pavilion, Joyce Center
Friday, Sept. 20: Notre Dame vs. Chicago State (men’s soccer) — Community Weekend; Somos ND game
7 p.m.
Alumni Stadium, Notre Dame
Saturday, Sept. 21: Notre Dame vs. Miami OH (football) — Community Weekend; Band of the Fighting Irish special halftime Somos ND recognition
3:30 p.m.
Notre Dame Stadium
Sunday, Sept. 22: “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” (2022)
1 p.m.
Browning Cinema, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center
Sunday, Sept. 22: Mass in Spanish
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Sunday, Sept. 22: Latino Student Ministry First Convivio
4:30-6:30 p.m.
Coleman-Morse Lounge
Thursday, Sept. 26: ILS 25th anniversary celebration kickoff
3-4 p.m.
Room 315, Bond Hall
Thursday, Sept. 26: Latino 91��Ƶ Lecture
4-5 p.m.
Room 104, Bond Hall
Thursday, Sept. 26: SomosND Fiesta
5-6:30 p.m.
Bond Hall Quad
Thursday, Sept. 26: Notre Dame vs. North Carolina State (women’s soccer) — Hispanic Heritage Month/Somos ND game
7 p.m.
Alumni Stadium, Notre Dame
Thursday, Sept. 26: Hispanic Alumni of Notre Dame panel
7-8:30 p.m.
Room 104, Bond Hall
Friday, Sept. 27: Mass — celebration of life for Nacho Lozano Jr., class of ’47
2:30 p.m.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Sunday, Sept. 29: Mass in Spanish
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Sunday, Oct. 6: Mass in Spanish
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Tuesday, Oct. 8: Notre Dame vs. Michigan (men’s soccer) — Hispanic Heritage Month/Somos ND game
7 p.m.
Alumni Stadium, Notre Dame
Wednesday, Oct. 9: Sandeen Memorial Poetry Reading by Cecilia Vicuña
7-8:30 p.m.
Auditorium, Hesburgh Center for International 91��Ƶ
Sunday, Oct. 13: Mass in Spanish
3:30-4:30 p.m.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart
Sunday, Oct. 13: Latino Student Ministry October Convivio
4:30-5:30 p.m.
Coleman-Morse Lounge
Sunday, Oct. 13: Latino Student Ministry Ofrenda-Making Party
5:30-7:30 p.m.
Coleman-Morse Lounge
Wednesday, Oct. 16: Letras Latinas 20th anniversary event — Poetry & Conversation featuring Richard Blanco and Rigoberto González
5-6:30 p.m.
Reyes Family Board room, McKenna Hall

Jeffrey F. Rhoads appointed vice president for research

2023-01-17T12:59:00-05:00

Jeffrey F. (Jeff) Rhoads, a leading mechanical engineering researcher and pioneer in engineering education, has been appointed vice president for research at the University of Notre Dame by Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., University president. His appointment, effective July 1, was based on the recommendation of John T. McGreevy, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost of the University, and an eight-person search committee.

Rhoads joins Notre Dame from Purdue University, where he currently serves as executive director of the Purdue Institute for National Security and as a professor in the 91��Ƶ of Mechanical Engineering. He previously served as the director of the Ray W. Herrick Laboratories, associate director of the Purdue Energetics Research Center and director of practice for the Mechanical Engineering Education Research Center at Purdue. He has attracted more than $75 million in sponsored research funding across his various academic roles — garnering extensive support from the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation and industry.

He is also the co-founder and chief operating officer of Next Offset Solutions Inc. and Level 6 Engineering LLC, startup companies that provide engineering and technical solutions for industry and the defense, energy and national security sectors.

“The research of our faculty has been a point of emphasis and an area of remarkable growth at Notre Dame, and we are delighted to welcome Jeff Rhoads to help lead us in the next stage,” Father Jenkins said. “Jeff is an accomplished researcher and administrator, and well-suited to continue the exciting trajectory of Notre Dame research.”

As vice president for research, Rhoads will assume oversight of Notre Dame’s research infrastructure of more than 30 core facilities along with support programs for all disciplines of research, scholarship and creative endeavor. The University is one of the fastest-growing research institutions in the nation, with research award funding for fiscal year 2022 reaching $244 million. He succeeds Robert J. Bernhard, who announced in September 2021 that he would step down from his role, a position he has held since 2007.

Rhoads will also hold an appointment as a full professor in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. His research interests include dynamics and vibration, energetic materials, additive manufacturing and micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems.

“Jeff is both a visionary and a problem-solver who strongly believes in the power of research to unlock new knowledge and develop compelling solutions to real-world challenges,” McGreevy said. “He has successfully led research programs in academia and the public sector, developing crucial partnerships along the way, and he is perfectly suited to guide this next phase of the University’s research enterprise.”

Recognized extensively for excellence in his discipline and teaching, Rhoads is the recipient of the inaugural American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ C. D. Mote Jr. Early Career Award, the National Science Foundation CAREER Award and the American Society for Engineering Education’s Ferdinand P. Beer and E. Russell Johnston Jr. Outstanding New Mechanics Educator Award, as well as the Charles B. Murphy Award, Purdue’s highest undergraduate teaching honor. He holds a number of patents and is the author of more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, including a widely used undergraduate textbook.

“The growth of Notre Dame’s research portfolio, both in scale and, more importantly, global impact, over the past decade has been tremendous,” Rhoads said. “This is a true testament to the faculty, staff and students of the University, its strong leadership and its clear sense of purpose. I am truly excited, and frankly humbled, by the opportunity to work with this strong internal team, as well as our government, corporate, academic and nonprofit partners, to build upon this firm foundation. We will think big, not shy away from global challenges, and work together, across the entire breadth of the University, to make a tangible and positive difference in society.”

Rhoads is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and a member of the American Society for Engineering Education and the National Defense Industrial Association. Rhoads earned a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree and a doctoral degree, each in mechanical engineering, from Michigan State University.

Contact: Joanne D. Fahey, director of research communications, fahey.17@nd.edu, 574-631-9762

Keona Lewis to join Notre Dame as assistant provost for academic diversity and inclusion

2023-01-05T11:29:00-05:00

Keona Lewis, associate director of research and evaluation for diversity, equity and inclusion at the Georgia Institute of Technology, has been named assistant provost for academic diversity and inclusion at the University of Notre Dame, effective Feb. 1.

As assistant provost, Lewis will oversee the vision, strategy and community-building programs for academic diversity and inclusion. The position reports to Maura Ryan, vice president and associate provost for faculty affairs. Lewis will also hold an appointment as assistant professor of the practice in Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns.

“Keona is known for building effective coalitions, aligning stakeholders to advance a common goal and maximizing the reach and impact of key programs,” John T. McGreevy, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost, said. “She will make a great addition to our office and the campus community as she helps ensure that the academic core is an environment where faculty and staff feel a strong sense of belonging and respect and where differences are celebrated.”

In her current role at Georgia Tech, Lewis has played a lead role in developing, supporting and evaluating programs for faculty, staff and students. She also has established an impressive record of leading training programs on a variety of topics, including assessing conscious and unconscious biases and microaggressions.

She was previously program review and research manager for diversity, equity and inclusion at Georgia Tech. Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Lewis taught in the anthropology and criminology departments at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia.

“I have pursued a career in diversity, equity and inclusion with the hopes of making a difference in the lives of those around me,” Lewis said. “Education is the great equalizer, however, all too often, access acts as a barrier to opportunity and growth. Throughout my professional career, I have had many opportunities to help level the playing field, and I am excited to continue this work at the University of Notre Dame.”

An eight-person search committee was convened to lead the assistant provost search. Its members reviewed a diverse and accomplished slate of candidates before recommending Lewis.

“Because of the committee’s passion and steadfastness, we are able to fill a crucial role in the Provost’s Office,” McGreevy said. “I am appreciative of their efforts and the leadership of Maura Ryan, who chaired the search committee and guided our diversity strategy as we sought someone to fill this role permanently.”

Lewis earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminology and her doctorate in applied anthropology from the University of South Florida in Tampa. With research interests that include higher education, the African Diaspora, ethnicity, gender and educational outcomes, she has previously taught courses in anthropology, U.S. cultural diversity and perspectives in criminal justice.

Lewis currently serves on the advisory boards of the Kendeda Building for Innovative and Sustainable Design at Georgia Tech and the Amana Academy Charter 91��Ƶ in the Atlanta metro region.

David Go appointed vice president and associate provost for academic strategy

2022-12-09T10:58:00-05:00

David Go, the Viola D. Hank Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and chair of the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Notre Dame, has been appointed vice president and associate provost for academic strategy, effective June 1.

In this newly created position, Go will take a leadership role in the University’s strategic framework process for the academic core, working closely with John McGreevy, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost, and serving as a member of the President’s Leadership Council and the Provost’s Advisory Committee. Go will also remain an active researcher following his appointment, dividing his time between the Office of the Provost and his research laboratory.

“David is one of our most accomplished scholar-teachers, with an extraordinary record of publication and continuous funding from multiple federal agencies and private industry since joining our faculty in 2008,” said McGreevy. “In addition, he is a skilled administrator who is deeply committed to strengthening our programs, preparing future generations of scholars and increasing representation in engineering and science.”

A prolific researcher and innovator, Go holds several patents and patent applications that have resulted in two licensed technologies. His research — which focuses on plasma science, heat transfer and fluid dynamics — has been supported by nearly every major federal agency, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health and NASA. He is widely published, and a second edition of his introductory textbook, “Ionization and Ion Transport: A primer for the study of non-equilibrium, low-temperature gas discharges and plasmas,” is scheduled to be released next year.

Go has trained and helped place more than a dozen doctoral students and worked with undergraduates on many research projects. His mentorship has extended beyond Notre Dame to include visiting professors, high school researchers and undergraduates at Morehouse College, Saint Mary’s College, the University of Texas at El Paso and Xavier University of Louisiana.

A native of South Bend, Indiana, and an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame, Go joined the University as an instructor of aerospace and mechanical engineering and has steadily advanced in the Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, where he is a concurrent professor. Prior to being named the Viola D. Hank Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, he served as the Rooney Family Collegiate Professor of Engineering and, before that, the Rooney Family Associate Professor of Engineering.

Go received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Notre Dame in 2001. He then worked as an engineer at General Electric Aircraft Engines before earning a master’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Cincinnati in 2004 and a doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University in 2008. He is an active member of several professional associations advancing engineering and science knowledge — serving as an American Society of Mechanical Engineers fellow, a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and immediate past president of the Electrostatics Society of America. He is also a fellow of the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Leaders Network and a member of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites board of directors.

At Notre Dame, Go is a faculty affiliate with iNDustry Labs, a member of the IDEA Center Faculty Advisory Board and a mentor in the Building Bridges program of Multicultural Student Programs and Services.

Joanna McNulty named associate vice president for academic finance and administration

2022-11-21T13:59:00-05:00

Joanna McNulty has been named associate vice president for academic finance and administration at the University of Notre Dame, effective Dec. 5.

Upon assuming the newly created role, McNulty will join the leadership team of John McGreevy, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost, and provide strategic leadership for academic budgeting, finance and planning while serving as the provost’s primary adviser on the financial plan for Notre Dame’s academic core.

She will manage a team of professionals in developing the annual academic budget, conducting multi-year financial planning and analysis and overseeing faculty payroll. Her responsibilities will include working closely with the deans, associate provosts and academic business offices and serving as principal liaison to the Finance Division, in particular the Office of Budget and Planning and the Office of the Controller.

“Joanna is an accomplished financial leader who has creatively and effectively stewarded funding for some of the University’s most urgent priorities,” McGreevy said. “She is deeply invested in the programs and people of the University, and is a strategic partner in identifying ways to elicit the best from both. I am excited to welcome her to the Provost’s Office.”

McNulty has worked at Notre Dame for 20 years, taking on roles of increasing scope and responsibility. She joined Notre Dame in 2002 as program coordinator for the Notre Dame Center for Aquatic Conservation, predecessor to the Notre Dame Environmental Change Initiative. Following the program’s evolution, she served as business and program manager for the initiative, where she helped ECI researchers secure and manage more than $27 million in extramural funding. She also participated in the research and co-authored several publications.

From there, she joined Notre Dame Research (NDR) as director of finance and administration prior to being promoted to senior director of planning and business operations. In this capacity, she managed a $60 million financial portfolio, providing financial analysis and integrating short- and long-range resource planning while also leading NDR’s human resources function. Several of her contributions at NDR will have long-term impact for the division, such as overhauling the budgeting process for all annual requests, initiating an organizational effectiveness program designed to attract and retain high-performing staff, and founding and co-chairing its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

McNulty graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in biology and completed a secondary teacher certification program at Indiana University in 1993. She was a member of the second cohort of the John Affleck-Graves High-Performance Leadership Program at Notre Dame.

Thomas Fuja to serve as interim vice president and associate provost for graduate studies and interim dean of the Graduate 91��Ƶ

2022-05-19T13:00:00-04:00

Thomas Fuja, professor of electrical engineering and faculty director of iNDustry Labs at the University of Notre Dame, has been appointed interim vice president and associate provost for graduate studies and the interim dean of the Graduate 91��Ƶ, effective June 1.

A member of the Notre Dame faculty since 1998, Fuja conducts research addressing the reliable transmission of information over inherently unreliable and/or constrained communication channels, especially in the context of wireless systems. As faculty director of iNDustry Labs, he plays a vital role in Notre Dame’s collaboration with local industry partners as they seek to thrive in the digital age of manufacturing.

Fuja’s leadership experience also includes a two-year assignment as interim dean of the College of Engineering and 12 years as chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering.

“Tom has a proven record of success as an instructor, researcher and administrator,” said Christine Maziar, interim provost at Notre Dame. “He is uniquely suited to guide the Graduate 91��Ƶ during this transitional period, and his appointment was enthusiastically endorsed by University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., and Provost-elect John McGreevy. My sincere thanks to Tom for, once again, answering the call to serve the University in such a capacity.”

“I’m thrilled to have this chance to work with the great team in the Graduate 91��Ƶ,” Fuja said. “As a former director of graduate studies and someone who has witnessed firsthand the tremendous growth in research and graduate education at Notre Dame over the last 20 years, I feel privileged to be given the opportunity to help advance such a critical part of the University’s mission.”

Prior to joining Notre Dame, Fuja was on the faculty of the University of Maryland in College Park, and he served as program director for communications research at the U.S. National Science Foundation. He is past president of the Information Theory Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and a former member of its board of governors. Fuja earned two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Michigan as well as a master’s degree and doctorate from Cornell University.

“Having worked with Tom so closely over the years in his roles as department chair and interim dean of the College of Engineering, I know how deeply committed he is to graduate education. He will be an outstanding interim dean,” said Laura Carlson, vice president, associate provost and outgoing dean of the Graduate 91��Ƶ, who will depart the University at the end of May.

The search for Carlson’s successor will follow the process outlined in the University’s Academic Articles.

Established in 1918, the Notre Dame Graduate 91��Ƶ has four divisions — engineering, humanities, science and social sciences — as well as programs in the Keough 91��Ƶ of Global Affairs, totaling more than 30 departments and programs that offer master’s or doctoral degrees. There are over 2,500 graduate students, from all 50 states and more than 100 nations, and more than 200 postdoctoral fellows at Notre Dame.

Originally published by Cidni Sanders at provost.nd.edu on May 19.

Vice President, Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate 91��Ƶ Laura Carlson named University of Delaware provost

2022-05-04T11:00:00-04:00

Laura Carlson, vice president, associate provost and dean of the Graduate 91��Ƶ at the University of Notre Dame, has been named the 12th provost at the University of Delaware, effective June 8.

“It has been a pleasure to work closely with Laura as she has served the University,” said Christine Maziar, interim provost. “She is a highly respected educator and researcher, and she has done an outstanding job leading the Notre Dame Graduate 91��Ƶ. Her contributions through the height of the pandemic had a significant impact on the continued success of our graduate programs and the emotional health and well-being of our campus community. We are tremendously proud of all that she has accomplished at Notre Dame and excited for the new opportunities that await her at the University of Delaware.”

“Laura is a cherished colleague whose service to Notre Dame has been exemplary,” said University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. “She leaves with our esteem and gratitude, and we wish her the very best at the University of Delaware.”

A professor of psychology, Carlson was appointed head administrator of Notre Dame’s Graduate 91��Ƶ in 2013. As dean, she led the establishment of the Office of Grants and Fellowships, which assists graduate students in securing $4 million to $6 million annually in nationally competitive awards to support their scholarly endeavors. She also partnered with the Division of Student Affairs to launch the offices of Graduate Career Services and Graduate Student Life to strengthen graduate students’ academic experience and holistic development.

In addition, Carlson played a key role in increasing the Graduate 91��Ƶ’s diversity pipeline and cultural competencies through training for students, faculty and staff; fellowships and exchange programs for underrepresented scholars; and the Summer Research Opportunities Program for first-generation, low-resource and underrepresented undergraduates.

Within the Provost’s Office, Carlson has been instrumental in providing development opportunities for faculty to enhance their classroom effectiveness, career progression and leadership skills — including the ND LEAD program, which has prepared nearly 100 faculty members for future administrative roles in their departments and across the University. Carlson also helped establish Notre Dame’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs in 2017 to support military-connected students at the University.

“Notre Dame has transformed me — as a scholar, as a teacher, as a leader, as a person. I am forever indebted to the countless colleagues who have offered counsel, support and friendship over the years. I will leave a piece of my heart at Notre Dame and, in its space, will carry a piece of it with me forevermore,” Carlson said. “While this departure means distance from one family, the spirit and welcome that I have experienced at Delaware make me confident that (my husband) Rob and I are joining another family. There is exciting and innovative work to do at Delaware, and I am eager to join President (Dennis) Assanis, his leadership team and the deans, the faculty, the students and staff as well as the broader Delaware community to advance institutional strategic initiatives that prioritize academic excellence, access and equity.”

Prior to her appointment as vice president, associate provost and dean of the Graduate 91��Ƶ, Carlson served as associate dean of professional development at the Graduate 91��Ƶ, associate chair of the Department of Psychology and director of graduate studies for the Department of Psychology.

Carlson joined Notre Dame in 1994 as an assistant professor of psychology after earning her doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She received a master’s degree from Michigan State University and a bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College.

Maziar will announce an interim dean of the Graduate 91��Ƶ in the near future, following consultation with Father Jenkins and John McGreevy, the newly elected Charles and Jill Fischer Provost of the University, whose appointment is effective July 1. The subsequent search for a new dean will follow the process outlined in the University’s Academic Articles.

Bryan Ritchie to step down as vice president and associate provost for innovation

2021-10-13T14:00:00-04:00

Bryan Ritchie, vice president and the Cathy and John Martin Associate Provost for Innovation at the University of Notre Dame, has announced that he will step down from his position, effective Dec. 31, to take on a new role outside of the University.

Ritchie leads Notre Dame’s IDEA Center, the collaborative innovation hub dedicated to expanding the technological and societal impact of the University’s innovations. Standing for innovation, discovery and enterprise acceleration, the IDEA Center provides services and expertise for idea development, commercialization, business formation, prototyping, entrepreneurial education and student entrepreneurial efforts.

The IDEA Center has approximately 30 team members who work with Notre Dame students, faculty and staff to bring their ideas to life. The team also connects manufacturers and other businesses with some of the University’s brightest minds to pursue research that advances product development and helps bring new or improved solutions to the marketplace.

“The team at the IDEA Center is exemplary, and I count it an honor to have worked with them over these past four and a half years,” said Ritchie. “As its inaugural director, it has also been a tremendous honor to have helped Notre Dame build and shape the IDEA Center. I look forward to what the IDEA Center will accomplish in the future.”

The University is developing a leadership transition plan to sustain the center’s current projects and advance those in the pipeline without interruption.

“Bryan was perfectly suited to come to Notre Dame as the IDEA Center launched. His vision, passion and vast experience have been central to its maturation from a nascent center to an established and respected business incubator,” said Marie Lynn Miranda, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost. “He has developed a strong team of leaders within the IDEA Center, collaborations across the University and community partnerships that will provide vital support as we manage this transition.”

Ritchie joined Notre Dame in 2016 to lead the IDEA Center, bringing with him an impressive leadership resume across academia, the software industry and management consulting. Before coming to the University, he was president and chief executive officer of GrowthSPORT, a startup private equity investment company. Prior to that, he served as a professor of political economy at Michigan State University for 11 years and associate vice president for research commercialization at the University of Utah for five.

Don Bishop, associate vice president for undergraduate enrollment, to retire in June 2022

2021-09-17T15:00:00-04:00

Don Bishop, associate vice president for undergraduate enrollment at the University of Notre Dame, has announced that he will retire on June 30. The search for his successor will begin in the coming weeks.

As associate vice president for undergraduate enrollment, Bishop leads Notre Dame’s Enrollment Division. Its mission is to build and deepen relationships with students through thoughtful and intentional interactions that lead to enrolling scholars who value a Catholic-centered education. The division houses several units that serve students from the beginning of their college search to their final year on campus — including the Offices of Pre-College Programs, Undergraduate Admissions, Financial Aid and Student Accounts.

Bishop was appointed to his current position in 2010. Since that time, the Enrollment Division has seen a substantial increase in the number of applicants to the University, including a significant increase in the nation’s most academically talented high school students. Bishop led the implementation of an admissions selection model that reduces the reliance on test scores in favor of intellectual depth and motivation, creativity, entrepreneurial attributes, leadership, character and mission alignment.

Under Bishop’s leadership, the University’s first-year class enrolled more U.S. students of color, international students, first-generation students and students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds than ever before. At the same time, he has maintained an unwavering focus on ensuring the University stays true to its Catholic character, with 80 percent of first-year students reporting that they identify as Catholic and more than 80 percent of students participating in service or service learning before they graduate.

“In charting the vision and strategy for the Enrollment Division, Don has been a wonderful ambassador for the University of Notre Dame,” said Marie Lynn Miranda, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost. “He has worked tirelessly to ensure that we attract and enroll students who will take full advantage of the programs, services and partnerships a Notre Dame education affords, while also contributing to our campus community, and ultimately to society as a whole.”

Notre Dame is one of fewer than 60 schools in the nation that meet 100 percent of a student’s financial need. Bishop has been a central figure in ensuring that Notre Dame delivers on this commitment, overseeing an 87 percent increase in the University’s need-based budget during the past 11 years — from $98 million to $183 million. More than two out of three undergraduates have received some form of financial aid for the 2021-22 academic year, with incoming first-year students receiving a median need-based scholarship of $50,000.

A founding member of the Enrollment Planning Network, Bishop started his career in Notre Dame’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions. During his first stint at the University, he launched the University’s first comprehensive marketing research activity for admissions and financial aid. He also redesigned the admissions selection system.

He rejoined the University of Notre Dame in 2010 after serving as the associate vice president for enrollment management at Creighton University, helping it reach historic highs in first-year enrollment while doubling the number of students from underrepresented groups. Prior to that, Bishop oversaw enrollment management at the Cornell University 91��Ƶ of Hotel Administration, the world’s leading school in the field, and Ohio Wesleyan University.

“I have always taken pride that I was the first undergraduate ever hired directly upon graduation to be an admissions officer for Notre Dame,” said Bishop. “The University has grown in so many dynamic ways over the past 45 years. The enrollment team is a dedicated and talented group, and I am grateful for their continuing dedication. I have also deeply appreciated and benefited from the encouragement and support I receive from the leadership of the University and Trustees. There is so much more Notre Dame can do in both admissions and financial aid, and it is going to be exciting to watch our University advance into its next level of prominence and wisdom.”

Miranda has engaged a top national search firm to help support the search strategy and process. Next steps also include engaging key stakeholders for their input regarding the associate vice president role, the division and the University’s needs in this important area going forward.

Bernhard to step down as VP for research in June 2022

2021-09-07T11:55:00-04:00

Robert J. Bernhard, vice president for research at the University of Notre Dame, has announced that he will not seek reappointment when his term ends June 30. A search committee is being convened to identify a successor.

Elected to the role in May 2007 after joining Notre Dame from Purdue University, Bernhard will have completed three five-year terms when he steps down next year. His charge when assuming the newly created post was to help bring to life the vision of University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., for Notre Dame to be one of the pre-eminent research institutions in the world while remaining true to its Catholic identity.

“An accomplished researcher himself, Bob helped elevate the University’s research programs by nearly tripling our research expenditures and creating an infrastructure that provides the facilities, services and resources our faculty need to bring their most creative ideas to fruition and, in so doing, be a force for good in the world,” said Marie Lynn Miranda, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost. “It is our good fortune that we have one more academic year to benefit from his leadership, as well as his support, as we begin a deliberate search process ahead of next year’s transition.”

A search for a new vice president for research will commence in the coming weeks, and the committee leading these efforts will include faculty as well as a representative of the University’s graduate and professional students. Committee members will recruit, screen and interview a diverse pool of candidates before making a recommendation to Father Jenkins.

Under Bernhard’s leadership, the University has become one of the fastest-growing research institutions in the nation, with research award funding for fiscal year 2021 topping $222 million. Notre Dame Research supports and encourages innovation in more than 40 core facilities and resources as well as in a number of key areas of research, scholarship and creative endeavor. Beyond the strong faculty engagement in these programs, participation is also central to undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral education at Notre Dame. More than one-third of all undergraduate students participate in original research across all seven colleges and schools.

“It has been a blessing to have the opportunity to serve in this role for 15 years. It is the job I was born to do,” Bernhard said. “I came to Notre Dame at a window in time that fit my background and experience. I have been fortunate to work with outstanding leaders, enthusiastic, talented and receptive faculty, and staff in Notre Dame Research who are second to none.”

A full professor in Notre Dame’s Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, Bernhard is one of the nation’s leading experts on noise control and a frequent consultant to industry and government. He holds two patents and is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. In addition, Bernhard is the president of the International Institute of Noise Control Engineering, is a fellow of the Acoustical Society of America and was named a distinguished noise control engineer by the Institute of Noise Control Engineering USA in 2003. He has served on the board of directors for Cummins Inc. since 2008.

Contact: Joanne D. Fahey, director of research communications, fahey.17@nd.edu, 574-631-9762

Suzanne Shanahan appointed executive director of Center for Social Concerns at Notre Dame

2021-07-30T12:00:00-04:00

Suzanne Shanahan, director of the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University, has been appointed the Leo and Arlene Hawk Executive Director of the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame, effective Oct. 1.

As the Nannerl O. Keohane Director of the Kenan Institute for Ethics, one of the country’s leading ethics centers, Shanahan currently leads the effort to help students and faculty understand the moral challenges of our time and create scholarly frameworks, policies and practices to address them. During her time as director, the institute experienced significant increases in research grants, programming grants and philanthropy, as well as robust alumni participation in learning opportunities, advisory board participation and annual giving.

“Suzanne’s rich experience integrating research, education and community engagement into interdisciplinary projects and programs ideally positions her to take the helm of the Center for Social Concerns,” Marie Lynn Miranda, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost at Notre Dame, said. “I am excited about her commitment and creativity related to harnessing student energy and insights, leveraging faculty expertise to drive meaningful research, and creating lasting impact from the South Bend-Elkhart region to our global gateways.”

Shanahan’s additional leadership roles at Duke include managing the research service-learning initiative DukeEngage, one of the largest fully funded civic engagement programs in the United States, and directing the Kenan Refugee Project, a six-country, community-based project on forced migration. She also serves as chair of Duke’s Ethics Education Council, a position she has held since 2016.

An associate research professor of sociology and a faculty affiliate in Middle Eastern studies at Duke, Shanahan previously was co-director and associate director of the Kenan Institute and an assistant professor of sociology. In addition, she ran the DukeEngage Dublin program for 11 years. Her research focuses on the dignity and moral boundaries of refugees — in the Middle East, East Africa and the United States — and on restorative narratives of child sex trafficking survivors.

By enacting human dignity, pursuing the common good and standing in solidarity with the marginalized, Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns advances pedagogies of engagement, leverages personal transformation for social change and transforms principles of Catholic social teaching into 21st-century leadership.

Established in 1983 following a merger of the Office of Volunteer Services and the Center for Experiential Learning, the center has grown to include a team of 35, with more than 1,000 students participating in its credit-bearing courses and two academic minors every year. Undergraduate and graduate students also engage in diverse lectures, workshops and trainings on topics ranging from active citizenship to labor rights and restorative justice as well as service learning, community-based research and other community-engaged courses in the local South Bend-Elkhart area, as well as through Notre Dame’s global gateways.

Shanahan is an award-winning educator who has participated in and led the creative development of a range of innovative, student-centered, high-impact interventions both inside and outside the curriculum at Duke. She received her bachelor’s degree in international studies from Johns Hopkins University and her master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from Stanford University.

“It is my honor to join the Center for Social Concerns and the University of Notre Dame in working to create a more just, courageous and hopeful world,” Shanahan said. “The center represents a very special opportunity to work fully within the Catholic social tradition in a university community that fully embraces and celebrates that tradition. I am excited to collaborate with students, faculty, staff and community partners to build on the center’s vibrant history and decades-long pursuit of human flourishing. It will be a distinctive privilege to work together to chart a path forward that celebrates and amplifies this tradition, this work and these commitments.”

Miranda expressed appreciation to the search committee for its efforts in identifying a candidate and to William Purcell, who has served as the center’s acting executive director since November 2019.

“I deeply appreciate the members of the search committee and their commitment to finding an exceptionally strong and deeply mission-aligned person to lead the center in this next chapter of service and learning,” she said. "I also want to thank Bill for his generous service as acting executive director of the center over the last year and a half. His wisdom and deep commitment to the mission of the center helped it flourish even as it faced the complex challenges of community-engaged learning during a global pandemic.”

1968 Olympian and humanitarian to kick off Staff Diversity Speaker Series

2018-03-22T16:00:00-04:00

The image of track-and-field athlete John Carlos’ silent protest at the 1968 Olympics still speaks volumes five decades later.

Carlos, who won bronze in the 200-meter sprint, stood on the Olympic podium that night in Mexico City, Mexico, with purpose in his heart. As the U.S. national anthem played, he bowed his head and thrust a gloved fist into the air.

Carlos will talk about life before and after his iconic protest during the inaugural Staff Diversity Speaker Series, presented by the Office of Human Resources and Eric Love, staff director of diversity and inclusion. All Notre Dame non-exempt and exempt staff are invited to attend.

The April 5 speaker series will feature two sessions at Washington Hall, one in the morning from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. and another in the afternoon from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Love is expanding his staff programming efforts, which already include a Diversity Discussions series and the University-wide We Are All ND diversity training workshops.

“This new series is an opportunity for non-exempt and exempt staff to hear first-hand how we, as individuals, can bring awareness to issues of diversity, inclusion and inequity and respectfully challenge our communities, states, nations and the world to treat all people – despite their ethnicity, culture, gender, sexual orientation, religion or other aspect of their being – with dignity and respect,” Love said.

Carlos and teammate Tommie Smith carefully planned their protest back in 1968. Smith, the gold-medal winner in the event, is also captured in the famous photo with his head down and fist raised. They wore black gloves as a show of black unity and strength. They went without shoes and wore black socks to call attention to black poverty. And, in memory of black lynching victims in the United States, Carlos wore beads while Smith donned a scarf.

Both men, along with Australian sprinter Peter Norman who won silver, also wore badges on their jackets supporting the Olympic Project for Human Rights.

The backlash to their protest was swift. The crowd booed Carlos and Smith, who had to leave the stadium immediately afterward. They were banned from the Olympic Village and suspended from the U.S. team. And once they returned home, things didn’t get any better.

Norman, too, faced scrutiny in Australia for wearing the human rights badge, a move that effectively ended his track-and-field career.

“These men knew the risks to what they were doing, but they felt that it was too important to not take a stand,” said Love. “Over time, their brave act has come to be appreciated for advancing racial equality, but at the time it was detrimental to their professional and personal lives.”

A second installment of the Staff Diversity Speaker Series is being planned for the fall. For more information or to suggest ideas for future presenters at the Staff Diversity Speaker Series, contact Love at elove1@nd.edu.

While in South Bend, Carlos will also speak to students at an event sponsored by the Wabruda student club and participate in a meet and greet at the Notre Dame Center for Arts & Culture
.

Originally published by Cidni Sanders at diversity.nd.edu on March 22, 2018.

NDSP to accept food donations as payment for parking fines

2017-11-10T15:00:00-05:00

Notre Dame Security Police’s Parking Services is offering a payment option that allows you to help the community, while also going easier on your wallet.

The Food for Fines program accepts non-perishable food that has not yet reached its expiration date as payment for parking tickets. The program runs from Nov. 13 to Dec. 8. Each donated canned good or food item will be worth $2 in fine payments. Up to 30 food items can be donated per person, for a maximum fine value of $60.

Food for Fines is open to faculty, staff and students as well as visitors to campus who may have received a citation.

“The inspiration for the Food for Fines program came from our staff in Parking Services. They recognized an opportunity to help the Notre Dame community and our local community at the same time,” said Kyle Johnson, NDSP director of finance and administration.

NDSP Chief Keri Kei Shibata said, “I’m very proud of our staff for their persistence to see this program become a reality and I’m excited to see the program’s impact.”

Donated food will go to People Gotta Eat, a partnership of food pantries in St. Joseph County that works though the United Way of St. Joseph County to share resources, raise funds and promote awareness. Area food pantry needs include soup, chili, stew, macaroni and cheese, Hamburger Helper, oatmeal, nutritional drinks, boxed potatoes, cereal, pasta, spaghetti sauce, bread, canned fruits and canned vegetables.

Beginning Monday, Nov. 13, donations can be turned in at Parking Services, located at 119 Hammes Mowbray Hall, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Parking Services asks that faculty, staff and students bring their University ID card with them when dropping off food along with their paper citation or license plate number so that citation totals can be amended to reflect the food donation.

While the Food for Fines program is primarily targeted to those who have received parking or traffic tickets, anyone who wishes to donate items during the collection period may do so.

Contact: Parking Services, 574-631-5053, ndsp@nd.edu

Opening of the Academic Year Mass in Celebration of Notre Dame's 175th Anniversary

2017-08-17T13:15:00-04:00

The outdoor Mass will begin at 11:30 a.m. in front of Bond Hall. There will be a picnic on South Quad at 12:30 p.m., where live music and other activities are planned. Additional information can be found here. All are welcome.

The University community will be joined at Mass by Notre Dame Trail pilgrims who walked all or part of the 300 miles that Rev. Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C., and his fellow religious trekked in 1842 from Vincennes, Indiana, to found the University of Notre Dame. Faculty, staff and students are welcome you to join the pilgrims for the final three miles of the Trail to campus that morning. Find more information and register for the Trail at trail.nd.edu.

Fall Town Hall topics include internationalization, diversity and inclusion

2016-11-21T11:00:00-05:00

Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., University president

More than 1,600 employees attended the University’s fall Town Hall meetings in early October. Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., and Executive Vice President John Affleck-Graves provided updates on a number of University initiatives and programs, including internationalization, diversity and inclusion, campus safety and benefits.

“If I look back on the last decade, one of the most significant developments at the University has been the internationalization of the University, our network of connections around the world. As you can see, we really are global,” Father Jenkins said, referencing a map of 16 non-U.S. locations that included global gateways, centers and offices.

“Our gateways are our most extensive presence in an area. They usually involve a physical presence — a building, classroom space and library space. It’s a place where we send students and where we have conferences,” said Father Jenkins. “Centers are focused on a particular area, usually a historic connection. Offices are places where we’re just starting; we have people on the ground and we’re working toward building a greater presence.”

Michael Pippenger, Notre Dame’s new vice president and associate provost for internationalization, will work to further the University’s global culture, programs, reach and reputation through expanded international research, collaborative projects and strategic relationships with global partners.

Father Jenkins also spoke of the University’s ongoing efforts regarding diversity and inclusion, such as new employee resource groups and training opportunities for senior leaders, managers and employees.

In addition, the Office of Human Resources, the director of staff diversity and inclusion, and Campus Dining are partnering to hold a diversity discussion series where staff can share experiences and learn from each other. An upcoming session in November will focus on minimizing microagressions, and in December the series will explore the historical significance of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Visit hr.nd.edu for more information.

Town Hall attendees were reminded that ensuring a safe and secure campus is everyone’s responsibility. Safety hazards, suspicious or dangerous activities and crimes in progress should be immediately reported to the Notre Dame Security Police by calling 911 from a campus phone or 574-631-5555 from mobile phones. Safety concerns can also be shared at reportthreats@nd.edu.

Work environment concerns can be shared with Human Resources at 574-631-5900 and askhr@nd.edu; the Office of Institutional Equity at 574-631-0444 and equity@nd.edu; or the Integrity Line at 800-688-9918 and www.compliance-helpline.com/NotreDame.jsp.

Executive Vice President Affleck-Graves highlighted recent changes the federal government made to the overtime exemption regulations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. As of Dec. 1, approximately 500 Notre Dame employees, including faculty, staff and postdocs who are currently exempt will become non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay.

“I want to emphasize that this is a good thing. This is all about protecting employees across the country, and we wanted to make this change as fair as we could to our employees,” said Affleck-Graves. He noted that the University will protect a number of benefits for affected employees, including 403(b) Plan participation, vacation accrual and long-term disability. Those with questions about the FLSA changes should speak with their business manager, HR consultant or the Office of Human Resources.

For more content from the fall Town Hall meetings, view the video at evp.nd.edu/town-hall/.

Employee-led groups assist University in recruitment, retention

2016-11-21T11:00:00-05:00

Sandra Garcia, Nina Holdread, Diana Placzkowski, Cindy Sachire and Ann Hastings, THRIVE! officers

Eric Love is encouraging the campus community to take advantage of some new resources to aid in the recruitment and retention of diverse employees.

Employee resource groups (ERGs) are voluntary, employee-led groups created by a shared characteristic, interest or life experience.

Three groups currently exist at Notre Dame: the Black Faculty and Staff Association, THRIVE! Women’s Leadership and Young Leaders of Notre Dame. A fourth group focusing on the Hispanic community just completed its charter and will soon begin accepting members. And work is under way to establish an international group as well as an LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning) group.

Love, director of staff diversity in the Office of Human Resources, says Notre Dame’s employee resource groups are a valuable tool not only for traditionally underrepresented populations, but also for the University as a whole. “Many people think of ERGs only in terms of the social networking and community building they provide for their members,” Love says. “In fact, many organizations across the country are also realizing benefits from the groups’ contributions to professional development and volunteerism efforts, applicant sourcing, employee satisfaction and customer insights.”

Part of the mission of Young Leaders of Notre Dame, launched in 2015, is to provide educational initiatives that ensure the continued growth and strength of the University community. The group’s events and opportunities — such as facilitating mentoring relationships and its Learning from Leaders initiative — are focused on meeting the needs of those employees younger than 45.

The Black Faculty and Staff Association, which began meeting in 2002, recently assisted the Center for Stem Research in its recruitment efforts. Prior to bringing in an African-American postdoctoral candidate for an interview, the center reached out to Love for assistance in highlighting local and culturally relevant religious institutions, community organizations and businesses. Love promptly contacted the Black Faculty and Staff Association, which provided valuable information to help the candidate learn more about what it would be like to live in the region.

Membership in the employee resource groups is primarily targeted to staff, but faculty members are welcomed to join as well. In addition, there are no requirements that one must be female to join THRIVE! Women’s Leadership, a millennial or Gen-Xer to join Young Leaders of Notre Dame, or of African descent to join the Black Faculty and Staff Association.

“The great thing about these groups is that they are inclusive. Each will open its doors for anyone who is passionate about the issues impacting the target audience of the group,” says Love. “I hope to see membership increase in our existing employee resource groups and for interest to grow in starting new groups to address any unmet needs on campus,” he says.

The Office of Human Resources provides seed funding for the employee resource groups, which can use the money to bring in speakers, cater meetings or host other events. And an HR liaison is provided for each ERG to assist the group with its charter, policies, budget or other need.

For more information about the Black Faculty and Staff Association, contact Brenda Hunt, president, at bhunt4@nd.edu; THRIVE! Women’s Leadership, contact thrive@nd.edu; for Young Leaders of Notre Dame, contact youngleaders@nd.edu. To inquire about starting an employee resource group, contact Eric Love at elove1@nd.edu.

The new East Quad

2016-10-21T14:20:00-04:00

McCourtney Hall

McCourtney Hall is a big building that is expected to make a big impact on Notre Dame’s future.

Construction on the building began in the summer of 2014 and ended shortly before the start of the 2016-2017 school year. At 220,000 square feet, the facility is the first dedicated research building to be constructed in a planned larger East Campus Research Complex. The research quad will create, for the first time at Notre Dame, a space for highly collaborative, state-of-the-art research that crosses the Colleges of Science and Engineering.

“McCourtney Hall creates a great opportunity for the research programs in science and engineering at the molecular scale at Notre Dame,” says Robert Bernhard, vice president for research. “The building is designed as a collaborative and adaptive space to encourage cross-disciplinary research interaction along the entire continuum of basic and applied research. We look forward to the exciting new research that will result from the collaborations that McCourtney Hall will enable. We expect the building to be a game-changer for science and engineering research at Notre Dame and a popular gathering place for collaborative research discussions for students and faculty.”

McCourtney interior

McCourtney Hall will support research space needs within the molecular sciences, including chemical and biomolecular engineering and chemistry and biochemistry.

Mary Galvin, the William K. Warren Foundation Dean of the College of Science says, “McCourtney Hall is strengthening our collaborative research capabilities in many areas including materials, the environment and health. This new space is fueling a growth in research that will help Notre Dame make an impact in the world.”

Within the three-story building, there are two wings, a central core for faculty offices and conference rooms, and some 100,000 square feet of open laboratory and team spaces. The open floor plan, lounge area and research neighborhoods of McCourtney Hall have the potential to turn chance encounters into significant advances in research.

McCloskey Dean of Engineering Peter Kilpatrick says he’s heard nothing but positive comments from the faculty and students about the facility’s design. “They love everything about it — the open labs, the interaction space, the functionality of the building. The common areas are very conducive to conversation,” he says.

“It’s very difficult for a single investigator to make a breakthrough,” says Kilpatrick. “The constant battle you fight is getting hunkered down into silos. You need a team working on a common project. You need diversity of thought at all levels. This model will be very important for the future of Notre Dame.”

McCourtney Hall was underwritten by a $35 million gift from alumnus Ted H. McCourtney and his wife, Tracy. Alumnus Thomas J. Crotty Jr. and his wife, Shari, also made a $10 million gift to the research facility.

A dedication for the building is scheduled for Oct. 28.

What is the job of a rector? “In Student Affairs parlance, I’d be ‘the pastor of a hall,’” says Sr. Mary Donnelly, O.P., rector of Flaherty Hall.

In reality, Donnelly acknowledges, she wears many hats.

“My role is to be with the team and for the women,” she says. “Maybe there’s a clogged toilet, or someone’s mom died, or we talk about the choices they made over the weekend. I have the privilege and honor of being invited into their lives and help them navigate life and grow more fully into the person God created them to be.”

Donnelly’s colleague and rector of the neighboring Dunne Hall for men agrees that there are many facets to their roles.

“I’m a listening ear when they going through hard times, a cheerleader when they’re doing great. I enforce the rules and help them succeed,” says Rev. Matt Kuczora, C.S.C. “I tell parents our jobs in their children’s lives are very similar — except I don’t have to pay tuition.”

For the 2016-2017 school year, there’s another hat that both Donnelly and Kuczora are wearing as they help their residents adjust to life in brand-new halls that are also on a new side of campus.

Dunne Hall interior

Dunne Hall for men and Flaherty Hall for women opened in August, the first new residence halls built since Ryan Hall in 2009.

They’re located in the northeast quadrant of the campus, near the new McCourtney research facility and the Hesburgh Library. Dunne Hall is just north of Flaherty Hall. Construction on the buildings began in the spring of 2015. The halls provide accommodations for 226 women in Flaherty Hall and 221 men in Dunne Hall.

For many of the women of Flaherty Hall, moving into their new home was bittersweet, as it meant saying goodbye to their former community of Pangborn Hall.

“The transition went much smoother than I thought it would,” Sr. Donnelly says. “Once they got here, the beauty of this place helped mitigate some of their anxiety. We don’t want to forget Pangborn, but we also don’t want to make this Pangborn 2.0. This is an opportunity to create something new. It’s a big challenge and a big opportunity.”

Although not mirror images of each other, both Dunne Hall and Flaherty Hall have the same footprint, approximately 71,000 square feet. Student rooms include singles, doubles, quads and, in Dunne Hall, six-person rooms. Half of each first floor will be devoted to community spaces, centered around a two-story floor lounge, reading room, study areas and chapel. Additional spaces include pass-through floor lounges on the second, third and fourth floors, designed to encourage gathering in community.

Flaherty Hall

Flaherty Hall features full kitchens adjoined to the lounge on every floor, and Dunne Hall will has one full kitchen and three kitchenettes adjoined to the floor lounges. Both halls feature a fitness room, laundry, vending and storage areas as well as an outdoor patio and landscaping.

“In most halls, the upperclassmen know each other, but not here,” says Kuczora. “So we’ve asked them to wear name tags and leave their doors open. They’re using the lounge on the first floor to meet each other and hang out. Different groups are playing ping pong all the time. We’ve also been doing cookouts. And guys are already out there throwing the Frisbee, playing soccer or reading on the lawn.”

Jimmy and Susan Dunne of New York City and Jay and Mary Flaherty of Los Angeles each made $20 million gifts to the University of Notre Dame for the construction of two new residence halls.

Both halls were dedicated Oct. 14.

‘Preparation is everything in landscape construction’

Summers are generally a busy time for Landscape Services, the department that maintains most of the University’s 1,2500 acres of land.

It’s not unusual for the team’s 32 full-time employees to be joined by as many as 20 seasonal workers and outside contractors to help with tasks like mowing the grass, pruning trees and shrubs, applying mulch to flower beds, renovating turf and picking up litter. This past summer, however, was a whole lot busier.

In addition to those routine tasks, the department was also responsible for landscape construction in the new East Quad. That meant laying 13 acres of sod as well as planting 375 trees and about 3,500 shrubs and flowers.

“We source as much as we can from local nurseries in Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Hard-to-find material comes from the Pacific Northwest,” says Pat McCauslin, superintendent, Landscape Services. “We started storing plants and material in a holding area in early April. It took about 30 semis to hold it all.”

The landscape architects and groundskeepers on McCauslin’s staff work closely with Facilities Design & Operations team members to bring the architectural renderings for the East Quad’s green spaces to life.

“It’s a well thought-out process, a combination of several teams committed to teamwork. It’s a very good working relationship,” says McCauslin.

In mid-June, the work began. Sod was brought in, irrigation lines were laid, and a wide selection of trees, shrubs and flowers were planted in the quad. The diversity of plant life makes the landscape design more appealing to the eye and helps protect the plant material from large-scale destruction due to disease.

Tim Dyczko, assistant superintendent, Landscape Services, credits how well the grass and plants are thriving in the new environment to a “monumental change” that Doug Marsh, University architect, instituted with this project.

“Preparation is everything in landscape construction,” says Dyczko. “Facilities Design & Operations screened all the topsoil we used in the quad. That got rid of rocks, garbage, asphalt, rebar and other debris. You can see how well the turf is doing because of it. Good, clean, well-drained material boosts the plant life.”

McCauslin agrees: “Everything is green, lush and thriving because the plants adhere well through the soil.”

The final product of the East Quad landscape design ended up being very close to the original vision.

“We might have fewer trees in one area so that they have room to grow and fill in as they mature. We just want to make sure that we do is in the best interests of the University, not just in terms of what it looks like today but what it’s going to look like 20 years from now,” says Dyczko.

Summer repair and maintenance projects underway on campus

2016-05-24T15:40:00-04:00

LaFortune Student Center entrance

The end of the academic year has ushered in several construction and renewal projects across the University.

From roof repairs to basement waterproofing and new construction to renovations, more than a dozen new work zones will pop up across campus. Most of the projects are scheduled to be complete by the start of the fall 2016 semester, according to Doug Schlagel, director of construction and quality assurance in Planning, Design and Construction Department.

“While there is lots of exciting growth and construction activity surrounding our major projects like the two new residence halls or the Campus Crossroads Project, it is also important to the University that we take the time to care for our existing buildings to ensure their longevity for generations of Notre Dame students to come,” said Schlagel.

Schlagel identified six key projects that will impact access to certain campus buildings, walkways and roads:

• LaFortune Student Center west entry reconstruction
• Hesburgh Library east entrance closure
• Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering basement waterproofing
• Main Building stair rail  replacement
• Notre Dame Stadium B Parking Lot reconstruction
• Walsh Hall selective renovation

At LaFortune, the west entry porch will be reconstructed, including the entrances to the lower and first-floor levels. The south and east entrances on the lower level will remain open, and the first floor will still be accessible from the north, south and east. Signs will be posted around and throughout the building to help guide people as they enter or exit the student center.

The Hesburgh Library’s east entrance will be closed due to construction associated with the concourse renovation. Au Bon Pain will remain open throughout the concourse renovation, but the Carey Auditorium will be closed. Visitors to the library and Au Bon Pain customers should use the north, south and west entrances. Sidewalks around the library will remain open during the project.

The stair handrail system in the southeast stairway of the Main Building will be replaced. The work will be conducted during night shifts to avoid disruptions to building offices during the day, and the southeast stairway, which is not a required means of egress, will be closed. A staging area will be established in the northeast entrance vestibule on the first floor. The northeast entrance, where the mailboxes are located, will be closed during the project; however, all other entrances to the building will remain open. The mailboxes will be temporarily relocated to the northwest vestibule.

The installation of a basement waterproofing system in Fitzpatrick Hall of Engineering will result in the temporary closure of walkways around the building. The project will be completed in two stages to maintain pedestrian pathways between Fitzpatrick Hall, the Snite Museum, DeBartolo Hall and the South Quad at all times. Phase 1 of the project will close the south walkways leading up to the building. In late June, the worksite will shift to the east side of the building for Phase 2. Signs will be posted to help pedestrians navigate the construction zones.

The parking lots south of Notre Dame Stadium will be reconstructed in phases during the next two years, and a geothermal well field will be installed under the north section of the lots. The work is being done in phases in order to lessen the loss of parking to campus. The parking lot located between Holy Cross Drive and the Notre Dame Sculpture Park will be reconstructed from mid-May through early July. The parking lot immediately east of Legends will be closed beginning in mid-May for geothermal well field installation and will reopen in mid-August. From early July through mid-August, a portion of the parking lot just north of Holy Cross Drive will also be closed for geothermal well field installation.

Walsh Hall will undergo extensive yearlong renovations, including window replacement and interior reconstruction. Fencing will be in place intermittently throughout the renovation project when work impacts pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

The reduced campus population in the months between Commencement and the start of the fall semester makes it easier for workers to schedule and complete a variety of needed maintenance, repair and expansion activities each year. “We appreciate the patience of the students, faculty and staff who will be studying and working here this summer. We realize that even small projects can cause significant disruptions to campus life, so we have worked hard to minimize the impact of these repairs to the Notre Dame community,” Schlagel said.

Other new projects expected to be completed by late August include roof maintenance at Corby Hall, the Early Childhood Development Center and Warren Golf Course Clubhouse; masonry maintenance and repairs at Ryan Hall; and interior renovations at Knott Hall.

For more news and information regarding all construction activity on campus, please visit construction.nd.edu and look for weekly updates in TheWeek@ND email newsletter.

Grammy Award-winning singer Michelle Williams shares message of empowerment

2016-04-21T18:05:00-04:00

Michelle Williams speaks at a Notre Dame Lunch and Learn

Michelle Williams, award-winning singer, actress and entrepreneur, has been underestimated before. But she has never let that stop her from believing in and achieving her dreams.

On Wednesday (April 20), Williams — widely known as being one-third of Destiny’s Child, one of the most successful female musical groups of all time — was the keynote speaker at a Lunch and Learn hosted by the University of Notre Dame’s Office of Institutional Equity in partnership with the University’s Building Leadership Excellence professional development program.

Referencing the event’s theme, “Women of Color Leading in Excellence and Working toward a More Equitable Society,” Williams encouraged traditionally underrepresented groups to be empowered to speak up for themselves when given the opportunity and to avoid apologizing for who they are.

“I’ve been in some rooms and meetings where I didn’t have a voice at the table because of my inexperience or newness. But, of course, when I proved myself, my experience and value afforded me a voice at the table,” she said. “Use your voice when given the opportunity. Women of color, I never want us to sit at the table with negative energy or disposition saying, ‘Well, I’m a woman, so …’ Be confident.”

In Williams’ own life, she said that speaking up led to a chance invitation to audition for a background singing job with R&B singer Monica. That job eventually led to Williams meeting Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland, the other two members of Destiny’s Child, who were the opening act for one of Monica’s concerts. Williams also revealed that she wishes she had advocated more strongly for herself with music executives to be known professionally by her birth name, Tenetria, rather than her middle name of Michelle.

“Trust your instincts. Trust them,” she told the group. “For me, I would know after I didn’t trust my instincts that my instinct was correct, but I was too fearful to use it.”

Since Destiny’s Child has disbanded, Williams has gone on to have a successful solo career as a gospel artist. She has expanded her portfolio to theater, becoming the first African American to play the role of Roxie Hart in the hit musical “Chicago” and starring as Shug Avery in the touring company of the musical “The Color Purple,” and taking the lead role in Aida three separate times. Williams is also a minority owner in the WNBA team the Chicago Sky and launched her Believe bedding collection on EVINE in 2015.

Notre Dame Executive Vice President John Affleck-Graves encouraged those in attendance to heed Williams’ advice and to believe in their ability to contribute something positive. “There are times in all of our lives when we don’t feel that we have confidence. If that happens to you, don’t feel strange. You’re not unique in that,” he said. “But do speak up because we need your voice. You make us better when you speak up.”

Karrah Miller, director of the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX coordinator, said she was excited to see such a wide cross-section of campus stakeholders in attendance at the event and committed to helping the University work toward a more equitable environment.

“There’s a difference in having a seat at the table and having a voice at the table,” Miller said. ‘What we’re striving for here at the University of Notre Dame is that everyone’s voice is valued — whether you work in building services or you’re a vice president, you work with our students or you flip burgers. It doesn’t matter what part of campus you come from, what walk of life you come from, you are valued here.”

For more about the Office of Institutional Equity, visit “equity.nd.edu”http://equity.nd.edu.