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University of Notre Dame and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile dual PhD program welcomes all disciplines

2025-02-04T13:37:00-05:00

Michael Hildreth, Notre Dame’s associate provost and vice president for graduate studies and dean of the Graduate 91��Ƶ, joined Dr. Ignacio Sánchez, president of UC Chile, for the signing ceremony.

Building on a long history of partnership, the University of Notre Dame and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile) — widely recognized as one of the top universities in Latin America — have announced the expansion of their dual Ph.D. program. Previously available to engineering students, the program now welcomes candidates from all academic disciplines, reflecting the universities’ shared vision for international collaboration and promoting academic innovation. This marks the first university-wide dual Ph.D. agreement for both institutions.

The signing ceremony took place at UC Chile's campus in Santiago, Chile, with representatives from both institutions in attendance. Michael Hildreth, Notre Dame’s associate provost and vice president for graduate studies and dean of the Graduate 91��Ƶ, and Jonathan Noble, Notre Dame’s senior assistant provost for internationalization, joined Dr. Ignacio Sánchez, president of UC Chile. Representatives from Notre Dame Santiago, Notre Dame’s office located on UC Chile’s campus, were also present. The event marked a significant step forward in the growing partnership between the two universities.

“Graduate student exchanges are the foundation of strong research partnerships with institutions like UC Chile,” said Hildreth. “By enabling students to spend time in different academic environments, we deepen collaborations and contribute to groundbreaking research that strengthens both institutions while addressing global challenges. The breadth of this new agreement will allow faculty and students from all disciplines to share the process of discovery.”

UC Chile and Notre Dame representatives discuss the dual Ph.D. agreement.

The dual Ph.D. program allows students to spend time learning in two leading academic institutions, benefiting from diverse research opportunities, faculty mentorship and access to advanced resources. Participants spend at least one year at each institution, culminating in two doctoral degrees — one from Notre Dame and one from UC Chile — for a single body of work. This program is unique in that it encompasses all doctoral programs, offering significant opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.

Sánchez noted the importance of this expansion and said, “This agreement allows us to deepen collaboration in both training and research — not only in engineering, but also in humanities, social sciences, literature, theology and philosophy. We are very happy with this partnership and committed to making it thrive by engaging the best professors and Ph.D. students from both institutions.”

Faculty involvement is a cornerstone of the initiative, as the expanded program opens new pathways for academic exchange beyond student mobility. The agreement lays the foundation for a broader faculty exchange program across disciplines, allowing scholars from both institutions to collaborate more deeply. The initiative strengthens institutional ties and enhances the depth of interdisciplinary research across both universities.

The Notre Dame delegation’s visit also included strategic meetings with UC Chile’s academic leadership, deans and department chairs to explore further opportunities for collaboration and integration across disciplines. This visit and associated initiatives align with Notre Dame's strategic framework, which prioritizes deepening academic impact through global partnerships, interdisciplinary collaboration and furthering global research initiatives.

“The partnership between Notre Dame and UC Chile aligns with Notre Dame’s strategic priorities of advancing global engagement and strengthening the Catholic mission by partnering with premiere global institutions,” said Juan Esteban Montes, director of Notre Dame Santiago. “This dual Ph.D. program builds a bridge for collaborative research that equips scholars to address critical global challenges with academic excellence and ethical leadership.”

By cultivating these relationships, Notre Dame aims to create a network of enduring academic collaborations that benefit both institutions and address pressing global challenges. These discussions reinforced the commitment to not only enhancing student opportunities but also advancing significant research partnerships at the faculty level.

For more information about this initiative, please contact Notre Dame Santiago Program Manager Felipe Gomez Carol. To learn more about Notre Dame’s work in Santiago, please visit Notre Dame Santiago’s website.

From left to right: Juan Esteban Montes, director of Notre Dame Santiago, Jonathan Noble, senior assistant provost for internationalization for Notre Dame, Michael Hildreth, associate provost and vice president for graduate studies and dean of the Graduate 91��Ƶ at Notre Dame, Claudia Correa Hérnandez, associate director of Student Life & Administration at Notre Dame, and Felipe Gomez, program manager of Notre Dame Santiago.

Originally published by Joanna Byrne at santiago.nd.edu on Feb. 4.

Contact: Tracy DeStazio, associate director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu

Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., formally admitted as Honorary Fellow of St Edmund’s College, Cambridge

2024-06-04T10:06:13-04:00

Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., the University of Notre Dame’s 17th president, has been formally admitted as an Honorary Fellow of St Edmund’s College at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. The prestigious recognition, part of a special ceremony on May 24, was one of Father Jenkins’ final formal engagements as he steps down after 19 years of distinguished service as president to return to teaching and ministry at Notre Dame.

Honorary Fellows at St Edmund’s College are elected by the college’s governing body. Acknowledged for his significant contributions to higher education, as well as for his leading role in the development of a collaboration between the two institutions that features research, scholarship and outreach opportunities for faculty, scholars, students and administrators of both schools, Father Jenkins joins a distinguished group of fellows celebrated for their service, leadership and contributions to the college’s vision and values.

Catherine Arnold, OBE, master of St Edmund’s College, emphasized the special character of the college, stating, “St Edmund’s College is a truly global college within the University of Cambridge. With over 75 nationalities represented each year, there are few places in which so much can be learnt about so many from so few.

“St Edmund’s vision is to ‘empower global talent to shape the future’ helping to form thinkers and leaders who have the ability to create positive and shared futures for people and planet. To do this we have always welcomed talented individuals from outside the university and the U.K. into our community as Honorary Fellows.”

On Father Jenkins’ election, Arnold said, “Under Father Jenkins’ leadership — among many other things — the partnership between Notre Dame and this college has blossomed.”

"I am delighted to join St Edmund’s College, Cambridge as an Honorary Fellow,” said Father Jenkins. “The partnership between St Edmund’s and Notre Dame has been a remarkable journey of academic collaboration and cultural exchange. It is a testament to our shared commitment to creating positive change in the world. I look forward to seeing this partnership continue to flourish and contribute to the betterment of both our institutions and the broader global community."

The Honorary Fellowship also acknowledges Father Jenkins’ devotion to fostering the University’s unique place in academia, the Church, the United States and the world. During his tenure as president, he emphasized Notre Dame’s mission, rooted in the tradition of the Congregation of Holy Cross, to educate the whole person — mind, body and spirit — to do good in the world.

Additionally, Father Jenkins has been recognized for his leadership in promoting civil discourse, serving on the board of directors for the Commission on Presidential Debates since 2011. A philosopher trained in theology, Father Jenkins has been a member of Notre Dame’s Department of Philosophy since 1990 and holds degrees from Notre Dame, Oxford University and the Jesuit 91��Ƶ of Theology.

Vittorio Montemaggi named academic director of London Global Gateway

2023-06-30T10:34:00-04:00

Vittorio Montemaggi

The University of Notre Dame (USA) in England (UNDE) announces the appointment of Vittorio Montemaggi as its new academic director. In this role, Montemaggi will provide academic leadership for UNDE’s teaching, research and scholarship in conjunction with Notre Dame International’s London Global Gateway.

As the academic director, Montemaggi will assume responsibility for the oversight and development of UNDE’s undergraduate programs. He will also foster collaborations related to research, graduate students, visiting faculty and visiting scholars. His extensive experience and expertise will contribute to UNDE’s collective endeavors and strategic priorities of the University of Notre Dame.

“I am both delighted and humbled by this new opportunity to serve UNDE and Notre Dame. Building on UNDE's current excellence and successes, there is extraordinary potential for it to contribute even more significantly to furthering the strategic priorities of Notre Dame,” Montemaggi said. “I am greatly looking forward to working with colleagues and with students to contribute to this important work.”

Montemaggi’s appointment represents a significant step in strengthening the partnership among UNDE, Notre Dame and St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge. While taking on his new role, Montemaggi will continue his position as the director of the Von Hügel Institute, an esteemed interdisciplinary research institution exploring religion, ethics and societal issues, based at St. Edmund’s College. This dual responsibility will enhance the existing collaboration between the two institutions, providing students and faculty with valuable interdisciplinary opportunities.

Notably, Montemaggi’s connection with Notre Dame and UNDE predates his appointment as the UNDE academic director. He previously taught religion and literature at Notre Dame in the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures and was a concurrent professor in the Department of Theology. He currently teaches within and helps lead UNDE’s flagship undergraduate research program, the Kennedy Scholars Seminar, giving him firsthand experience and understanding of the unique academic environment at the campus.

“As an outstanding teacher, a creative collaborator, innovative researcher and accomplished administrator, Vittorio brings a set of strengths that make him uniquely qualified to continue to advance the educational excellence of UNDE’s programs in London,” said Michael Pippenger, a director of UNDE and Notre Dame’s vice president and associate provost for internationalization. “We could not be more delighted to welcome him in this new leadership capacity.”

Rev. James M. Lies, C.S.C.

Rev. James M. Lies, C.S.C., the outgoing academic director, will transition to a new role at Notre Dame’s Nanovic Institute. Father Lies’ contributions to the London Global Gateway have been transformative and his dedication to fostering intellectual growth and cultural understanding has been greatly appreciated.

The appointment of Montemaggi comes at an exciting time for UNDE’s programs in London and the London Global Gateway as they continue to expand academic offerings, research initiatives and cultural engagement. Montemaggi’s leadership will contribute to the growth and success of the institutions, further solidifying its reputation as a center for transformative education in the heart of London.

Learn more about the London Global Gateway.

The University of Notre Dame (USA) in England is hosting the services of the London Global Gateway.

Contact: Tracy DeStazio, assistant director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu

Originally published by Joanna Byrne at london.nd.edu on June 28.

Notre Dame London Global Gateway, campus partners launch program on Hitchcock’s adaptations of London-based novels

2020-08-25T13:30:00-04:00

The Notre Dame London Global Gateway, along with partners from across the University of Notre Dame campus, has launched the London Book Club, an interactive, educational enrichment program featuring Notre Dame’s expert faculty. Throughout the year, relevant themes will be selected, and participants will be invited to join four weekly meetings to discuss books, excerpts, films and other materials.

London’s first program, “Hitchcock in London,” is led by Susan Ohmer, the William T. and Helen Kuhn Carey Associate Professor of Modern Communication in the Department of Film, Television and Theatre.

"Alfred Hitchcock's films are well known for their creative use of locations, and the films we will watch illustrate how he explored the artistic possibilities of London,” said Ohmer. “Hitchcock was born in London, and this series gives us a chance to see how his career developed in the city. The series will also enable us to look closely at the imaginative ways that directors and screenwriters work with literary sources to adapt them for the screen.”

“Hitchcock in London” includes excerpts of books the iconic director adapted for film, film viewings, explainer videos from Ohmer, a LinkedIn discussion group and weekly interactive Zoom sessions. The program is free and open to all, and it is hosted exclusively on ThinkND, Notre Dame’s open, online learning community brought to you by the Alumni Association.

In addition to offering the opportunity to learn from and interact with Notre Dame’s expert faculty, the program allows participants to engage more deeply with United Kingdom culture through the London Global Gateway and offers unique insight into the University’s presence abroad.

“So many of our alumni studied abroad — for a semester or for a full year, in Tokyo, Sydney, London or dozens of other locations — as a way to experience new cultures, new people and new mindsets,” said Dolly Duffy, executive director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association. “Whether you studied abroad, traveled overseas or want to use literature and film as your guide around the world, we hope the London Book Club will provide our alumni, parents and friends with the opportunity to expand their knowledge and appreciation for different cultures.”

“Exploring London, a city that is both global and European, through film and novels enriches our understanding of this important place and its culture,” said Clemens Sedmak, interim director of the Nanovic Institute and professor of social ethics. “In this moment when travel to London is complicated, the Nanovic Institute enthusiastically joins this collaboration to share the insights of Professor Ohmer, who consistently enhances our appreciation with her keen insight and whose experience in London will enrich our understanding of the city and these works.”

The first week of “Hitchcock in London” is an introduction to Marie Belloc Lowndes’ “The Lodger,” which Hitchcock adapted for his film of the same name, with the initial Zoom discussion on Sept. 9 (Wednesday). The remaining weeks take a closer look at Hitchcock’s “The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog,” “Secret Agent” by Joseph Conrad, and Hitchcock’s adaptation of this, titled “Sabotage.” While the book club is presented as a four-week experience, participants are invited to join for any session.

“I am delighted that the London Global Gateway is collaborating with ThinkND on this wonderful Hitchcock in London project with our friend and colleague Professor Susan Ohmer,” said Josh Copeland, executive director of the London Global Gateway. “This is a great opportunity for alums and friends to join together in thinking about London and its place in the history of literature and film. I look forward to learning alongside the rest of the ThinkND community as Professor Ohmer leads us along this journey through Hitchcock's London.”

Partners for the London Book Club include the College of Arts and Letters, ND International, the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center, the Nanovic Institute, ND Learning and the Notre Dame Alumni Association.

Originally published by Joanna Byrne at london.nd.edu on Aug. 19.

Rev. James M. Lies, C.S.C., meets Pope Francis during a conference at the Vatican

2019-06-18T11:30:00-04:00

Rev. James M. Lies, C.S.C., director for Catholic initiatives and outreach for the University of Notre Dame’s London Global Gateway, met Pope Francis on June 8 during a conference hosted by Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation at the Vatican.

The conference, titled “The Catholic Social Teaching from Inception to the Digital Age: How to Live Laudato Si’,” brought together entrepreneurs, third-sector operators and national and international institutions engaged in the application of integral ecology.

The keynote address was given by Pope Francis, in which he echoed the theme of the conference and "the call to a conversion of minds and hearts so that the development of an integral ecology can become ever more a priority internationally, nationally and, indeed, individually.”

The Holy Father acknowledged an increasing awareness of the need to care for our common home and the need for conversion. He called for a renewed ethical vision, one that places people at the center, desiring to leave no one on the margins of life.

“A vision which unites rather than divides, includes rather than excludes,” Pope Francis said. “It is a vision transformed by taking into account the ultimate purpose and goal of our work, efforts, lives and earthly sojourn.”

Of the encounter with Pope Francis, Father Lies reflected, “It was one of the more remarkable experiences of my life. I was all the more delighted to have met him while visiting the Vatican for a conference on Laudato Si’, a document of considerable importance to the Church and the world today.”

The conference’s papal audience followed a Holy Mass in the Bernini altar of the chair in St. Peter’s Basilica and was celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson.

Pope Francis’ address capped three days of discussion on issues surrounding climate change and sustainable development. The summit also included Masses in Rome’s churches, a concert in the basilica of Santi Cosma e Damiano, and a reception at the Magistral Villa of the Order of Malta.

The conference followed a consultation in February, co-organized and hosted by the Notre Dame London Global Gateway and Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice Foundation, which examined the ethics of finance and technology.

Serving as a focal point for Notre Dame’s cultural and academic endeavors in England, the London Global Gateway is home to numerous study abroad programs, including the London Law Program. Catholic initiatives are a key part of the outreach and engagement program at the Gateway, enhancing the Catholic mission of Notre Dame around the world in order to advance the University’s objective to be a global source for good.

“There’s increasing excitement here about the role that Notre Dame can play in convening and participating in such conversation in the U.K. and throughout Europe,” said Father Lies.

Originally published by Joanna Byrne at london.nd.edu on June 18.

Lost voices of slaves, sung and spoken, to be featured during London panel

2019-02-05T16:00:00-05:00

On Feb. 14 (Thursday), Sophie White, associate professor of American studies at the University of Notre Dame, together with a group of musicians, activists and academics, including the composer Odaline de la Martinez, will participate in a panel discussion at the London Global Gateway titled “Voices of the Enslaved: Tales of Love and Longing."

This gathering coincides with the world premiere of de la Martinez’s new opera, “Imoinda: A Story of Love and Slavery,” at the London Festival of American Music — a complex love story set against the backdrop of enslavement in the Americas. Drawing inspiration from “Oroonoko,” a 17th-century novel by Aphra Behn, "Imoinda" is the first modern opera to address slavery and the beginnings of Afro-Caribbean culture.

The panel will explore voices past and present, looking at the realities of Aphra Behn’s novel and how her characters’ stories were recorded, before considering how to perceive these chapters of history, how to represent them today and how to anticipate future depictions.

Sophie White

White’s forthcoming book, “Bound Bodies, Free Voices: Slave Testimony in French Louisiana,” uncovers the voices of enslaved Africans in colonial America through an exceptional set of source material: the court cases in which they testified.

White’s research and de la Martinez’s opera will be examined side by side, inviting engagement with lost voices.

“As an historian of colonial America, my contribution is to bring to light the actual voices of enslaved Africans, as they spoke them in court," said White. “This is extremely rare evidence that allows us to know about these individuals by hearing their words, including the cadences of their speech, the snatches of Creole, the metaphors and the emotions that seep through their written testimony.”

“Both the opera and court records allow us to give voice to enslaved individuals," said White. “And, perhaps surprisingly, what we uncover when we hear the testimony of these individuals is how often they chose to talk about intimacy, family and their often-tragic tales of love and longing.”

White will be joined by de la Martinez, political activist and writer Candace Allen, research fellow Kristy Warren, author and Vanity Fair travel editor Michelle Jana Chan and "Imoinda" librettist Joan Anim-Addo in a discussion moderated by BBC journalist Kevin Le Gendre. De la Martinez will perform at the piano with singers from the opera production.

Originally published by Joanna Byrne at london.nd.edu on Feb. 4.

Notre Dame’s London Global Gateway to host Vatican meeting on finance and technology

2019-01-29T13:00:00-05:00

A Vatican conference titled “An Ethical Debate on Finance and Technology” will take place Thursday and Friday (Jan. 31 and Feb. 1) at the University of Notre Dame’s London Global Gateway.

Convened by the Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice (CAPP), a Pontifical foundation founded by St. Pope John Paul II, the conference will be led by Lord Daniel Brennan and Domingo Sugranyes Bickel, chairman of the CAPP Foundation. Rev. James M. Lies, C.S.C., director for Catholic initiatives and a faculty member in the Notre Dame London Global Gateway, will participate and offer the welcome address.

The meeting will include a Mass at the London Global Gateway celebrated by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of the Archdiocese of Dublin. A dinner at the House of Lords in the Palace of Westminster will feature a keynote address by Lord Christopher Patten, chancellor of the University of Oxford and 2015 Notre Dame commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient.

The meeting aims to affirm the position of the Holy See on ethical issues in finance in relation to Catholic Social Teaching on the economy. Seeking to advance the position of the Church in relation to economic and financial ethics in the digital age, attendees will address such topics as the ethical challenges raised by developments in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics and neuroscience, and the role of the Church in applying the principles of Catholic Social Teaching in these areas. Speakers and participants include prominent clergy, moral theologians, economists, and leaders in education, finance and technology.

“As Notre Dame’s mission statement says, the University strives ‘to provide a forum where, through free inquiry and open discussion, the various lines of Catholic thought may intersect with all the forms of knowledge found in the arts, sciences, professions and every other area of human scholarship and creativity,’” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president. “It is therefore a great privilege for Notre Dame to welcome this conference, as those involved take up the critical themes associated with the ethics of finance and technology.”

The conference is organized jointly with the London Global Gateway and is co-sponsored by Saint Mary’s University, the Centre for Catholic 91��Ƶ at Durham University, the 91��Ƶ of Politics and International Relations at the University of Kent, and Campion Hall, University of Oxford.