It will take the world’s poorest countries more than one century just to reach the level of climate change readiness that the richest countries already enjoy, according to data released Thursday (Dec. 12) by the 2013 University of Notre Dame (ND-GAIN).

ND-GAIN is the world’s leading annual index that ranks more than 175 countries based on their vulnerability to climate change and their readiness to adapt to the droughts, superstorms and natural disasters that climate change can cause.

The latest version of Notre Dame’s annual index highlights huge disparities between the developed world and developing world when it comes to being prepared for the problems climate change is expected to cause in this century.

“We knew that there were disparities between the richest and poorest countries when it comes to climate change adaptation and readiness,” said Associate Professor Jessica Hellmann, who leads Notre Dame’s . “But we did not realize that it would take more than 100 years for the poorest countries just to reach the readiness levels that the richest countries have already attained.”

Some examples of the countries on this 100-year trajectory include Cambodia, Kenya and Haiti. “Given the recent typhoon in the Philippines, some people may be wondering where that island nation falls in terms of readiness,” said Associate Professor , director of the Notre Dame . “According to the data, the Philippines are more than 40 years behind the most developed countries in climate readiness. While that’s better than the poorest countries, it shows that the Philippines still has a long way to go.”

While the ND-GAIN Index shows that countries around the world are becoming more resilient in the face of climate change, the data also show that this trend is not happening nearly fast enough — even for developed countries. “These data are sobering because they cast light on just how unprepared some of the most vulnerable nations really are,” Hellmann said. “But they also show that the most developed countries are not doing enough either, which raises serious public policy questions no matter how well-developed a national economy may be.”

This year’s data show that the ND-GAIN Index is more than just a ranking of countries. The index, which is “open source” and available to anyone with an Internet connection, contains crucial information for policymakers, the private sector and nonprofits. The index aims to unlock global adaptation solutions that save lives and improve livelihoods while strengthening market positions in the private sector and policy decisions in the public sector. It informs strategic, operational and reputational decisions regarding supply chains, capital projects and community engagements. “This year’s announcement shows that the index contains data that can clearly help decision-makers determine global, regional and national priorities,” Chawla said.

Under the United Nations-led climate talks, billions of dollars have been pledged to help the world adapt to climate change. But key questions remain on where and how that money should be spent. ND-GAIN is one tool that can help governments, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector better target those and other investments.

The 2013 Index was released on Thursday (Dec. 12) at the hosted by the Wilson Center, a nonpartisan global public policy institution. The ND-GAIN Annual Meeting serves as the premier gathering of domestic and international experts on climate change adaptation and is attended by leading figures from the government, nonprofit and private sectors.

Contact: Julie Hail Flory, Notre Dame Public Relations, 574-631-7031, jflory@nd.edu

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and ABC News’ “Good Morning America” (GMA) will observe the start of the occasion with special coverage on Tuesday (Oct. 1) that will include live remote broadcasts from a number of locations across the country, including the University of Notre Dame, where the has invited some 200 breast cancer survivors and their families to assemble for the event.

“We were happy to accept the invitation presented by the producers of Good Morning America and participate in the national celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” said Paqui Kelly, a two-time breast cancer survivor who founded the Kelly Cares Foundation in 2007 with her husband, Brian, Notre Dame’s head football coach. “We appreciate the support Notre Dame has offered us by hosting the remote, no better place to kick off the show than in front of the football stadium.”

Paqui Kelly

The GMA broadcast is part of “,” a campaign that aims to help engage, empower and educate Americans on the facts about breast cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment. GMA airs locally in South Bend on WBND-TV (ABC 57) from 7 to 9 a.m.

The Notre Dame segments are scheduled to air between 8 and 9 a.m. EDT. Anyone wishing to participate may arrive beginning at 6:15 a.m. in the area across Moose Krause Circle from the north tunnel of Notre Dame Stadium. Parking is available in the lot south of the Joyce Center. The Notre Dame cheerleaders and leprechaun will be in attendance and local vendor will distribute free pink waffles while supplies last. GMA will provide pink t-shirts and pom-poms to participants, who are encouraged to bring signs supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the “ABC News Goes Pink” campaign.

The Kelly Cares Foundation was established to support organizations, initiatives and programs that closely align with the goals and values of the Kelly family. A strong emphasis has been made on three main pillars – health, education and community. The Foundation supports projects and initiatives that encourage the engagement of individuals in their local communities.

Contact: Julie Hail Flory, Notre Dame Public Relations, jflory@nd.edu

Delivered at Notre Dame’s 168th University Commencement Ceremony, held May 19, 2013 in Notre Dame Stadium

Thank you, Notre Dame, for the joy of your company, the gracious invitation, the warm welcome, and the high honor of this degree.

It was so obvious I almost missed it . . .

See, ever since, almost a year ago, Father Jenkins, with characteristic thoughtfulness, invited me to deliver this commencement address, I’ve been mulling over just what to say to you, class of 2013.

Only Friday a week ago I still had not yet completed this talk, and I got on the train in New York City to travel to D.C. In Philadelphia, a distinguished looking man boarded the train and sat next to me.

He turned out to be a fanatical, in-your-face, obnoxious Notre Dame alumnus! You ever met one? Nice to meet you! Now I guess I am proudly one, after the privilege of this honorary degree which I so appreciate and cherish! He begins to speak with obviously radiant pride and gratitude about Notre Dame, telling me his faithful Jewish parents wanted him to attend a Catholic college – - because, in their words. “The Church founded the universities, and educate better than anybody else” – - and reporting to me that, even as a faithful Jew, he considers his four years here at this Catholic university a gift beyond measure. When I told him I’d be here for graduation, he beamed.

“Father,” he went on, holding my arm and looking me in the eye, “let me tell you the secret of Notre Dame. It’s not the library, as first-rate as it is; it’s not the professors and courses, as stellar as they are; it’s not the campus, as enchanting as it is, or even the football team, as legendary as it is. No, the secret of Notre Dame is really a person, whom we Jews call ‘Miriam,’ and you Christians call ‘Mary.’ She’s there . . . she looks down from the ‘golden dome’; and, if you really want to discover the secret of Notre Dame, visit that grotto you Catholics call “Lourdes.” There’s something there . . . no, there’s someone there . . . we call her Notre Dame, and she’s the secret of her university.”

Thank you, Howard. Hope you’re listening to me now, as you promised me on that train you would. Because with those words you solved the riddle about what I should say in these few moments. That was Mother’s Day weekend; it was May, the month dedicated to her; and I had just returned, with fifty sick and disabled people, from a pilgrimage to the “real” Lourdes in France. So obvious I had almost missed it . . . I’m going to speak of Notre Dame . . . Notre Dame . . . our Lady . . . Mary, the mother of Jesus.

One can make the point that she’s perhaps the most important human person ever. Even history itself is divided “before” and “after” the birth she gave to her firstborn. She was there at Christmas at His birth; at Cana, His first miracle; at the foot of the cross; at Pentecost, the feast we celebrate today.

“But when the appointed time came, God sent His own Son, born of a woman . . .” St. Paul writes the Galatians;

“And while there in Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her firstborn . . .” records St. Luke;

“Mary said to the servants at Cana. ‘Do whatever He tells you . . .’ ’’ reports St. John;

“Near the cross of Jesus stood His mother . . .” recalls the Beloved Disciple;

“The apostles were in continuous prayer, together with Mary, the mother of Jesus . . .” writes St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles, in the account of Pentecost.

Notre Dame . . . Our Lady . . .

John Ruskin held that “every brightest and loftiest achievement of the arts, dreams, advancement, and progress of humanity has been but the fulfillment of that poor Israelite woman’s prayer, ‘He who is mighty has magnified me!’ . . .”

While Wordsworth extolled her as “our tainted nature’s solitary boast.”

“All things rising, all things sizing, Mary sees sympathizing . . .”

. . . claims Gerard Manley Hopkins, as you, the class of 2013, have sensed her maternal presence “rising, sizing, and sympathizing” these blessed years on a campus wrapped in her mantle, and praise God that Father Sorin and that pioneer band of priests and brothers of the Congregation of the Holy Cross placed this most noble endeavor under her patronage from day one 171 years ago.

Might I propose to you, my new classmates, class of 2013, that she’s not just our patroness, but our model. It all comes down to this: she – - Miriam, Mary, Notre Dame, our Lady – - humbly, selflessly, generously, with trust, placed her life in God’s hands, allowing her life to unfold according to His plan. She gave God’s son a human nature; she gave the Eternal Word – - God the Son, the second Person of the Blessed Trinity – - flesh. That’s called the Incarnation. God became one of us.

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” The Incarnation . . .

Now, as you complete years at this acclaimed university dedicated to her, you are asked the same pivotal question the Archangel Gabriel once posed to her: will you let God take flesh in you? Will you give God a human nature? Will He be reborn in you? Will the Incarnation continue in and through you?

I dare say you gratefully claim that God’s Word has certainly taken flesh on this campus in your years here: in your classes and professors, in your friends and service projects, in the prayer and sacraments, in the “all-nighters” and exams, in the memories and promises.

And now it’s your turn to let God take flesh in your lives.

You can answer the way Mary did, “Let it be done to me according Thy will” – - Fiat . . . or, you can reply with a term New Yorkers use, “forgetaboutit!”

Notre Dame challenges us to reply, Fiat! Yes! For, at her best, this university has the heart of Mary, meaning this university gives us Jesus and His Church, and clings to them both with love, loyalty, and service.

Here at Notre Dame we do not strive to be like Harvard or Oxford, but like Bethlehem, Nazareth, Cana, Calvary, and the Upper Room at Pentecost . . .with Mary, as the “Word becomes flesh” in the one who called Himself “the Way, the Truth and the Life.”

Here our goal is not just a career, but a call; not just a degree, but discipleship; not just what we’ve gotten but what we’re giving; not just the now but eternity; not just the “I” but the “we”; not just the grades but the gospel.

My friend on that train ride ten days ago, now my fellow alumnus of this university, will be glad to know that I took him up on it. Last night I snuck down to discover the secret of Notre Dame. Kind of a cool breeze off the lake; the voices of visiting families and friends, the songs, and laughter subsided as I got close; there were the candles, hundreds of them, with wax droppings to remind us of prayers of past generations; there many of you were, kneeling, standing, sitting on the ground; there was quiet, there was a welcome; there was light; there was peace; there was warmth; there was Notre Dame, Mary, our Lady.

There was Bethlehem, as I saw moms, dads and grandparents beaming over their babies of twenty-two years ago, now graduates;

There was Nazareth, as families were united in prayers of thanksgiving;

There was Cana, as students remembered miracles;

There was Calvary, as one or two of you had tears in your eyes, perhaps recalling a past or present cross or crown of Thorns, made a bit more bearable by the one also called the Pieta.

There was Pentecost, as this class whispered that favorite prayer of Father Hesburgh, united with Our Lady and the apostles in that Upper Room, Come, Holy Spirit!

There, I joined my prayers with yours, with hers, and entrusted her university, with her call, her mission, her Catholic identity, her excellence, yoked to the truth of the Gospel;

There I prayed for this class of 2013, their folks and families;

There I prayed for Bishop Rhoades, and for our much missed Bishop D’Arcy, for Father Jenkins, the board, the alumni, the benefactors, the faculty, staff, for Father Dick Warner and Congregation of the Holy Cross.

There I prayed for you, Howard . . . because, on that train ride, you were right: at this grotto there’s a touch of the transcendent, a hint of the beyond, a whisper of the sacred, that reminds us that we’re not just minds and bodies, but hearts and immortal souls, called not to a “crap shoot” called life but an adventure in fidelity that beckons us to cast out to the deep, and, yes, even walk on water toward Him, the Son of God, the Son of Mary; she’d remind us that He has a plan for us, that these years of college have been a part of it, and that we’re happiest when our plans are consonant with His.

There indeed was the secret of Notre Dame, not something but someone: our Lady, who gave the Divine a human nature, and invites us, equipped, please God, with what she’s given us here, to do the same!

Congratulations Class of 2013.

May Jesus Christ be praised!

May Notre Dame, our Lady, reign in our hearts! Tell the world our secret!

Delivered at Notre Dame’s 168th University Commencement Ceremony, held May 19, 2013 in Notre Dame Stadium

Cardinal Dolan, Father Jenkins, distinguished faculty and guests, family, friends and fellow graduates: When I began to consider what I would say in this address, I was overwhelmed by the amount I wanted to say and how I wanted to say it. My initial thought was that I wanted it to be unique. So many of these speeches are the same, using cliché after cliché to get one’s point across. As I considered this idea further, I was struck by the realization that these addresses are so often delivered in this way because that is, perhaps, the simplest and most genuine way of communicating a message that is otherwise impossible to articulate. In light of this insight, then, my message to you today will proceed in just three simple steps. It is a message that we can use to find meaning in those thousands of Notre Dame moments, and it is a message, I hope, that we will all carry in our hearts for the millions of little moments to come.

Allow me, then, to begin with step one: say something shocking to grab the audience’s attention. There were many moments I did not like at Notre Dame while I experienced them. For starters, the uncertainty I felt upon arriving here was not exactly quelled by the depletion of dignity I experienced during Frosh-O and Domerfest, or by the total annihilation of the little dignity I still possessed when I was forced to put on a Speedo and complete the swim test a week later. Then there were the dorm parties. After the sixteenth time of opening a dorm room door only to be pummeled by a wall of heat, the sound of “Party in the USA”, and the smell of cheap beer, I began to question whether or not the social life at Notre Dame was for me. If I decided to forgo one of these gatherings, though, that was OK, because I likely had twenty hours of homework to complete. Surely my friends at other schools didn’t have this much work to do, and even if they did, they only had to focus on classes for their major which they declared at the beginning of Freshman year. No, I had to juggle hour after hour of literature, history, mathematics, science, religion, and some strange topic my professor called philosophy. Then, when I had finished all of my homework and the light at the end of the tunnel was finally visible, there were applications to be completed. Nearly everything at Notre Dame seems to require an application with no less than four recommendation letters. In fact, a required polygraph test seemed like the next logical step in the study abroad application process. And then there was the religion thing. As someone who has gone to a Catholic school since Kindergarten, I consider myself a kind of expert when it comes to the ins and outs of a Catholic education, but even I quickly came to realize that the importance of religion here was a categorically different kind of beast. After just a few weeks I actually began to see the shape of the cross in my toast and to develop a vague sense of being watched at all times. And last but not least, there was the never-ending responsibility thrust upon me as a Notre Dame student to always smile and nod politely as my waiter told me about the time his bosses’ cousin’s neighbor went to Notre Dame.

I’m sure many, if not all, of you can relate to at least one of these experiences, and this brings me to step two: cite a quote to make sense out of everything you just said. When Billy Pilgrim, the protagonist in Kurt Vonnegut’s novel “Slaughterhouse Five”, is asked by his wife what it was like to be a prisoner of war in World War II, his reaction is startling. Instead of reading a horrific account of the experience, the reader turns the page to see his response carved as an epitaph on his tombstone which reads, “Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt.” Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt. When I first read this in high school, I didn’t understand what this meant. I thought about that quote every once in awhile, however, and now, six years later, I think I finally understand what Billy was trying to say. I understand because when I think back on these past four years, not only are the good memories the clearest, but even those things that seemed awful at the time now seem beautiful. We met our best friends during Frosh-O weekend, and Domerfest and the swim test are the things we laugh about now. When we think back to dorm parties, they now seem like a rite of passage, a kind of relic from a simpler time.

Now when we think about the strenuous academic requirements at Notre Dame, we realize that we were being immersed in topics that few would ever have the privilege of learning about, and that this immersion was led by some of the greatest minds and most respected scholars in the world. While our friends didn’t have to memorize Freud’s theory of sexual development, construct a comparative analysis on the messages of Christ and Muhammad, and understand electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions all in one night, we did, and it was empowering. 91��Ƶ was impossible at times, but when I look back now, the clearest memory I have is not of the stress I felt at one in the morning on the fourth night of finals week. No, what I remember is the comfort of looking around the library and coming to the realization that all of you were right there with me, your presence pushing me along. What I remember is the audible buzz of hundreds of people learning at once, the sight of tables barely visible underneath empty coffee cups and books, and the strange feeling of euphoria I experienced as my friends and I all looked up and laughed at once for no reason other than pure delirium. Those applications were difficult, too, but now we realize that the opportunities they allowed us to have will forever be some of the most formative experiences of our lives. They allowed us to build homes in Appalachia and to empower young girls in Cambodia. They allowed us to apply what we had learned about finance, political science, and chemistry at some of the most prestigious businesses, social organizations, and laboratories in the world. And for some of us, they allowed us to live and learn in another country where we got to feel the salt air as we climbed the cliffs of Dover, stand so close to Van Gogh’s paintings of sunflowers that we could see every intricate brushstroke, and begin to dream in Spanish, French, and Italian.

Somewhere along the way, the emphasis on religion at Notre Dame became beautiful too. For those of us who are Catholic, perhaps our faith was strengthened. For those of us from the countless other denominations who are here today, perhaps the continuous engagement in questions pertaining to religion resulted in answers that served to confirm the beliefs you already held. And for those of us who do not adhere to any type of religion, perhaps the presence of religion was, at the very least, comforting, because, in the end, whether you pray to the Blessed Mother, bow towards Mecca five times a day, or live your life based on reason and the principles of kindness and fairness, we are all human beings attempting to be the best people we can be. In this sense, then, what the importance at Catholicism at Notre Dame reflected most was an attempt to challenge us to create a set of values by which we will always strive to be good, loving, and humble human beings.

We all had unique experiences during our time here, but all of the things that, at the time, were an annoyance or difficult now seem beautiful. Just as Billy Pilgrim saw the whole of his life as beautiful, our four years here now seem to be nothing short of perfectly invaluable, and this brings me to my third and final step: give a piece of advice. In keeping with my goal of making this address unique, my advice will not be to follow your dreams or to work hard. I have watched you all for four years. You are some of the most driven and capable people I have ever known, and there is no doubt in my mind that you will find success. My piece of advice to myself and to you all is something far more important, and it is to live every single day fully aware, present, and conscious and to never stop searching for the beauty in the present moment. While this might seem simple, it is not. In fact, I believe that this ability is one that few people ever achieve and if they do, it is often too late. This lack of awareness is why the phrase “you don’t know what you got till it’s gone” seems to be a truism of the human condition. It is why thirty years ago will always be the good old days, and it is why that intangible pin-prick we call nostalgia is so often accompanied by a sense of sadness. But what if we could learn at our young age to live with a constant awareness of the beauty in the world and in our lives? What if we could realize that these days are the good old days, and what if we could appreciate what we have while it’s still in our grasp?

My fellow graduates, I believe with my whole heart that we can accomplish this. I’m not saying it will be easy. There are countless forces in today’s world working against us. As the world continues to move at a quicker pace, competition grows fierce, and Darwin’s idea of the survival of the fittest has never seemed more applicable. This, unfortunately, makes it difficult to slow down for even a moment lest we lose our lead in the race. Furthermore, beauty is often difficult to find amidst the war, genocide, poverty, and hunger that seems to plague our world. Despite these obstacles, however, I believe we can achieve this goal because of the education we received at Notre Dame. This place taught us to think critically, to reason, to evaluate, to debate, to question, and to create, and these are the tools it takes to avoid living unconsciously, prodded along by nothing but outside pressures and expectations. The things we have learned here can force us to see the beauty in the mundane and to appreciate and value the present. If we can use these tools Notre Dame has given us, I truly believe we can make the world a better place because if we are constantly aware of ourselves and of the good in this world, then perhaps we can be more aware of the good in others and strive to make this goodness known.

This is a realization that required thousands of little moments here at Notre Dame to arrive at, and in this very moment, this moment of opportunity and change, it is of the utmost importance. With this new realization, then, let us begin this awareness today. Let us honor our education by going out into the world and by using this awareness as a source of hope and healing for all. And most importantly, do not see today as an ending, because endings, which by their very nature so often hurt, also mark beginnings, and the beginning is a beautiful thing.

In closing, I want to thank every single one of you, my best friends, the people I met once, and the people I have yet to meet. It has been an honor to experience these four years with you. It has been an honor to live with you, to swim with you, to cheer with you. It has been an honor to learn with you and to learn from you, and it has been an honor, perhaps one of the greatest honors of my life, to become an adult with you. So, in the end, even though sometimes things in the present moment did hurt, our time together at this place was beautiful, and not merely because of the privilege of receiving a Notre Dame education. No, so much of that beauty also came from the privilege of experiencing the beauty inside each and every one of you. Class of 2013, I wish everything and more for you. I wish the world for you. Congratulations.

When the the Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame take on the Crimson Tide of the University of Alabama in the Jan. 7 (Monday) at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, it will be the culmination of a three-day celebration that will include a number of events for alumni and fans.

• Notre Dame Pep Rally — 7 p.m., Jan. 5 (Saturday), Ocean Drive between Sixth and Ninth Streets, Miami. The Notre Dame Marching Band, cheerleaders and leprechaun will be in attendance, along with speakers including former Notre Dame head football coach Lou Holtz; legendary players Joe Theismann, Tony Rice, Pat Terrell and Mike Golic Sr.; and comedian Martin Short. Free and open to the public.

• Discover Championship Fan Experience — noon to 8 p.m., Jan. 5 and 6 (Saturday and Sunday), Ocean Drive between Sixth and Ninth Streets, Miami. Presented by Bud Light and Dr Pepper, this celebration will feature live music, interactive games, a zip line, contests and much more. Free and open to the public.

• Notre Dame Masses — 10 a.m. Jan. 6 (Sunday), in two locations: the Grand Ballroom of the Intercontinental Hotel, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami; and the ballroom of the Bonaventure Resort and Spa, 250 Racquet Club Rd., Weston, Fla. Notre Dame’s president, , will be celebrant and homilist at the Intercontinental, and Rev. Paul Kollman, C.S.C., executive director of Notre Dame’s , will preside over Mass at the Bonaventure Resort. Free and open to the public.

• National Championship Game Service Project — noon to 4:30 p.m., Jan. 6 (Sunday), across from Mount Zion Baptist Church, 301 Northwest Ninth St., Miami. In partnership with , volunteers from Notre Dame and Alabama will come together to , transforming a city lot into rows of raised garden beds and beginning the planting process. Notre Dame alumni and friends wishing to help should register by calling or emailing Katie Rutledge, service programs director for the Notre Dame Alumni Association, at 574-631-6723 or katie.rutledge@nd.edu.

• Notre Dame Gameday — Jan. 7 (Monday), noon to 4 p.m., Bayfront Park, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Notre Dame alumni, family and friends are invited to join in this festival that will feature live music by Billboard Chart-topping Celtic band Gaelic Storm as well as performances by the Notre Dame Marching Band and cheerleaders and special celebrity guest speakers (including Martin Short, Regis Philbin, Dick Vitale, Cris Collinsworth, Mike Lee, Ricky Watters, Justin Tuck and Luther Bradley). Pre-registration was encouraged but is now closed. A limited inventory of tickets will be available at the door for $100/person (free for children under 12).

A complete listing of events and activities can be found online at . The BCS Championship Game kicks off at 8:30 p.m. EST in Sun Life Stadium. The game will be televised on ESPN.

ACADEMICS

• Haley Scott DeMaria, the 1995 Notre Dame alumna who made an inspiring recovery from critical injuries suffered in a tragic 1992 bus accident involving the Fighting Irish swimming team, urged the class of 2012 to embrace a life of gratitude and challenged the graduates to celebrate the blessings of their lives, even during the darkest times, at the on May 20. Michael J. O’Brien, a political science major from St. Charles, Ill., delivered the valedictory address, and the Laetare Medal was awarded to Ken Hackett, former president of Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

• Notre Dame’s ranked for the third consecutive year in Bloomberg Businessweek’s seventh annual survey of “The Best Undergraduate Business 91��Ƶs.”

• The University’s MBA program ranked in the Bloomberg Businessweek MBA Specialty Ranking. The ethics ranking was released as part of the publication’s 2012 Best B-91��Ƶs Ranking, where the MBA program landed at No. 20, improving four slots compared to its 2010 result.

• The 2012-13 , “A More Perfect Union: The Future of America’s Democracy,” featured a series of events throughout the academic year that explored profound questions about the state of the U.S. political system and its capacity to deal with the rapidly changing domestic and international challenges it faces. A September panel discussion titled “” featured notable speakers including Rick Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Church.

• Ten faculty members were named fellows of the (AAS) in honor of their efforts toward advancing science applications that are deemed scientifically of socially distinguished.

• The University announced new doctoral programs in and .

RESEARCH

• The University received a five-year, $6.1 million from the National Science Foundation to support the continuation of the nationwide , which uses particle physics experiments to inspire students and provide valuable research, training and mentorship opportunities for high school teachers.

• The University entered into a with the for joint development and commercialization of medical innovations.

• Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on June 15 for the (ND LEEF), a research facility that is a partnership between the University and St. Joseph County Parks. The field-based environmental research facility will allow Notre Dame scientists, graduate and undergraduate researchers, visiting scholars and other academic institutions to study the interrelationships of land, water and wetland ecologies in the face of environmental change.

• by , professor of management, revealed that people who are considered ambitious attend the best colleges and universities, have prestigious careers and earn high salaries, but they don’t necessarily lead more successful lives.

• A by Notre Dame biologist and colleagues revealed that high-ranking male baboons are less likely to become ill than other males. The finding is surprising, given that top-ranked males also experience high stress, which should suppress immune responses.

• by , a health and labor economist, found that in the first two years following the death of a child, there is a 133 percent increase in the risk of the mother dying.

• by , Schubmehl-Prein Family Chair in Computer Science and Engineering, found that the iris, long assumed to be a “stable” biometric over a person’s life, is susceptible to an aging process that causes iris recognition technology performance to degrade slowly over time.

COMMUNITY

• Notre Dame will open a new in January in a renovated historic building, bolstering a growing museum district just west of downtown South Bend. Located in the former Hansel Center, the Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture will house the University’s Community Relations Department, its Crossroads Art Gallery and the Segura Fine Art Print Studio — a renowned print studio formerly based in Arizona.

• As part of a new plan for South Bend’s Northeast Neighborhood, a major mixed-income, single-family residential is taking shape on a 13.4-acre site north of State Road 23, south of Eddy Street Commons and east of Eddy Street. The collaboration among Notre Dame, the city of South Bend and the Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization (NNRO), the “Triangle Housing Plan” includes a mix of 53 new market-value (70 percent) and affordable (30 percent) homes.

• Notre Dame has been named with distinction to the 2012 in recognition of the role it plays in solving community problems; achieving meaningful, measurable outcomes in the communities it serves; and placing students on a lifelong path of civic engagement. Notre Dame is one of four Indiana colleges and universities to be selected with distinction. The Corporation for National and Community Service releases the Community Service Honor Roll annually.

• Members of the LEGO I-Robotics team earned a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Germany from June 1 to June 10 to compete in the FIRST LEGO League . Sixty-six teams from more than 40 countries participated in the three-day event. The nonprofit organization FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), an international program that challenges students to develop presentations and design and program LEGO robots, tasked participating teams this year with finding ways to prevent food contamination. The Robinson Center team researched the problem and decided to focus on the issue of fish being damaged in transport.

• In collaboration with corporate partners and local community organizations, the University of Notre Dame offered a pilot for two weeks this summer to encourage local youth to pursue individual achievement in academics and areas of future career interests. Participating Notre Dame departments were Community Relations at ND Downtown, the Hesburgh Libraries, Multicultural Student Programs and Services, TRiO and the Robinson Community Learning Center.

CAMPUS NEWS

• The at Notre Dame was celebrated in November with a panel discussion, “.”

• After a five-month review process, Notre Dame President , accepted recommendations from the Office of Student Affairs to expand and enhance the for students who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning (GLBTQ), including the creation of a University-recognized student organization.

• For the fourth consecutive year, Notre Dame received honor roll distinctions as one of the top 10 higher education workplaces in the country in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual “Great Colleges to Work For” survey.

• A new on the southern edge of the Notre Dame campus was constructed in a wooded, 8-acre dell that lies between the Irish Green and the Compton Family Ice Arena. The new park is a project of Notre Dame’s and the office of the .

ATHLETICS

• The top-ranked and undefeated Notre Dame football team will take on Alabama in the BCS Title Game Jan. 7, 2013, at Sun Life Stadium in Miami. For Notre Dame, it marks the first time any institution has been ranked No. 1 in the football standings (at 97 percent) and also played in the BCS Championship Game. Meanwhile, Notre Dame graduated 99 percent of its student athletes in all sports — the top figure for the sixth straight year.

• The Notre Dame women’s basketball team made it to the , falling to top-ranked Baylor 80-61.

• The top-ranked men’s soccer team concluded its season with a 17-4-1 record, the most wins for the Fighting Irish since 1988, following a double overtime loss to Indiana in the third round of the . Meanwhile, the women made it to the , but suffered a hard-fought 1-0 loss to the top-seeded Florida State Seminoles.

• Nine athletes with Notre Dame ties that were held July 25-Aug. 12 in London, England. This year’s contingent continued a legacy of Notre Dame participation in the Olympics that goes back 100 years to the 1912 Summer Games in Stockholm, Sweden.

• Notre Dame continues to rank among the leaders in with two more Notre Dame student-athletes receiving Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America citations during the 2011-12 academic year. Notre Dame currently stands second all-time with 223 Academic All-Americans, trailing only Nebraska’s 299, but well ahead of third-place Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s 189 honorees. Since 2000, Notre Dame’s 97 selections is second only to Nebraska’s 112 selections.

FAITH

• Father Jenkins joined some 350 students, faculty and staff from the University who traveled to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 23 to take part in the . The annual march, which marks the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion, has drawn increasing numbers of people over the years, and this year, the 39th anniversary of the decision, Notre Dame’s was among the largest march contingents from any college or university in the country.

• The (ICL) hosted an on the theology of Pope Benedict XVI March 25-27. The conference, which included many Notre Dame theologians and philosophers, gave rise to a book, “Explorations in the Theology of Benedict XVI,” which ICL director John Cavadini Dec. 12.

• Notre Dame welcomed a number of high-ranking Church leaders to campus, including Archbishop Jean-Louis Bruguès, O.P., secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for Catholic Education, who gave the March 22, and Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States, who was among the speakers at the ICL’s on contemporary Christian martyrdom Nov. 4-6.

• On May 21, the University of Notre Dame challenging the constitutionality of a federal regulation. According to Father Jenkins, the mandate of the Health and Human Services department would “require Notre Dame and similar religious organizations to provide in their insurance plans abortion-inducing drugs, contraceptives and sterilization procedures, which are contrary to Catholic teaching.”

Alumni and fans from the University of Notre Dame will join their counterparts from the University of Alabama for a service project in Miami in conjunction with the BCS National Championship football game between the two institutions, to be played Jan. 7 (Monday) at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.

In partnership with , an organization based in the Overtown neighborhood of Miami that aims to promote community development and beautification in inner-city areas, volunteers will come together Jan. 6 (Sunday) to build an urban garden, transforming a city lot into rows of raised garden beds and beginning the planting process.

“We are thrilled to partner with our friends from Alabama and the wonderful people at Roots in the City to roll up our sleeves to build a garden for the Overtown community,” said Dolly Duffy, executive director of the . “This project will allow us to continue our long tradition of service in locations around the country – and around the world – as we’ve traveled with the Notre Dame football team and fans for bowl and home-away-from-home games through the years. It will be inspiring and fun to literally get our hands dirty for such a worthy cause in Miami.”

Participants will meet at noon across from the Mount Zion Baptist Church (301 Northwest 9th St., Miami) for the project, which will last approximately four hours and conclude with a celebration for participants and members of the local community. Notre Dame alumni and friends wishing to help should register by calling or emailing Katie Rutledge, service programs director for the Notre Dame Alumni Association, at 574-631-6723 or katie.rutledge@nd.edu.

The Notre Dame Marching Band and cheerleaders are expected to drop by during the project, along with other special guests.

Founded in 1994, Roots in the City is a nonprofit, community-based organization that is focused on community development, creating jobs and beautifying Miami’s inner city. The organization has established several community gardens and tree nurseries in Overtown.

Contact: Katie Rutledge, Notre Dame Alumni Association, 574-631-6723, katie.rutledge@nd.edu

As Fighting Irish fans descend upon Chicago for the Shamrock Series off-site home football game between the Notre Dame and Miami on Oct. 6 (Saturday), the University will present four academic events highlighting various topics of interest, including the national media, the economy, U.S. foreign policy and the role of religion in politics today.

All events are free and open to the public and will be held at the JW Marriott, 151 W. Adams St., Chicago.

Scheduled academic events include:

“,” 2 p.m., Oct. 4 (Thursday), Grand Ballroom B & C. This event will feature commentary and discussion by Notre Dame faculty members who have worked extensively with news media. Panelists will share their experience working with print, broadcast and online media to offer their expertise on a wide variety of important national and international topics. Panelists include , Schubmehl-Prein Professor of Computer Science and Engineering; , associate director of biological sciences; , Hesburgh Professor of Peace 91��Ƶ; , Short Professor of Law; and , Martin Professor of Business Ethics. The panel will be moderated by , a 1998 Notre Dame graduate and news anchor at CBS Chicago. Registration is requested. Sign up or call 574-631-7367.

“,” 5 p.m., Oct. 4 (Thursday), Grand Ballroom B & C. Sponsored by the , the and the Initiative for Global Development, this event will feature two panelists: Paul Collier, renowned development economist and the director of the Centre for the Study of African Economies at University of Oxford, U.K.; and Sean Callahan, executive vice president of Overseas Operations at Catholic Relief Services. The discussion will focus on the role of U.S. foreign policy in international development and will include a lively debate on what that role should be, what factors should be considered in policy making, and what impact should be expected as policies are implemented.The event will be followed by a cocktail reception and will be streamed live online at" kellogg.nd.edu/livestream/":kellogg.nd.edu/livestream/.

“,” 10 a.m., Oct. 5 (Friday), Lincoln Room. Beginning with an introduction by , I.A. O’Shaughnessy Dean of the , the event will include a faculty roundtable followed by questions from the audience. The event will be moderated by Christopher Waller, professor and senior vice president and director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis; and speakers will include Notre Dame faculty members , William and Dorothy O’Neill Professor of Economics; , Alfred C. DeCrane Jr. Professor of International Economics; , Michael P. Grace II Assistant Professor of Economics; and , associate professor of economics and director of graduate studies. This event will include a continental breakfast.

“,” 2 p.m. Oct. 5 (Friday), Lincoln Room. Hosted by University Communications and moderated by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Executive Editor David Shribman, this event will feature a panel of experts including Gerald Seib, Washington bureau chief of the Wall Street Journal; , John Cardinal O’Hara, C.S.C., Professor of Political Science at Notre Dame; Michael D. McCurry, former White House press secretary; and Julie Cooper, professor of political science at the University of Chicago. Registration is requested. Sign up or call 574-631-6798.

A complete listing of the weekend’s events and activities can be found online at .

When some 35,000 Americans descended on Dublin, Ireland, for the Emerald Isle Classic football game between Notre Dame and Navy (played Sept. 1 at Aviva Stadium), it was for many a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the country, learn about their Irish heritage, and celebrate Notre Dame’s rich academic, faith and athletic tradition.

Dublin, Ireland

A series of academic events were held in the days leading up to the game, including “The Future of Energy: Dreams and Responsibilities,” held in the Science Gallery of Dublin’s Trinity College. Energy experts from around the world, including members of the Notre Dame faculty, discussed the future of energy — clean fossil fuels, next-generation solar applications and other renewable energy solutions, covering current systems, promising technologies and the responsibilities that accompany the development of this new knowledge.

Notre Dame brought together some of the world’s top intellectuals on Aug. 30 to explore the 1916 Irish uprising at a conference at Dublin’s Royal Irish Academy.

“Ambiguity and complexity continue to cloud the meaning of the Rising, nearly a century after it captured the world’s attention,” said , Annenberg-Joyce Professor of American 91��Ƶ and Journalism at Notre Dame, who then probed the context for historical understanding of the event, particularly the role of one key figure, politician Eamon de Valera.

Professor Robert Schmuhl at 1916 Dublin conference

The line-up of speakers included scholars from Notre Dame, New York University, Northwestern University, Oxford University, National University of Ireland, University of Aberdeen and University College Dublin. Notre Dame’s Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish 91��Ƶ also showcased its forthcoming TV documentary on 1916 at the event.

“Notre Dame: The Irish Connections,” the annual Hibernian Lecture, presented by Notre Dame’s , featured , director of Notre Dame’s . In the talk, Whelan analyzed the long-standing historical connections between Notre Dame and Ireland, and explored the more recent linkages of the “Fighting Irish” with the island.

And a roundtable discussion, “Ireland in Transition: Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities,” held in Examination Hall at Trinity College, focused on how a rapidly changing Ireland fits into the wider world today and explored issues such as culture, the economy, politics, education, the Catholic Church and the European Union.

“Notre Dame: A Welcome Home”

Some 10,000 fans packed Dublin’s O2 Arena for the Notre Dame pep rally on Friday night (Aug. 31). Titled “Notre Dame: A Welcome Home,” this event merged the best of American and Irish traditions with musical performances showcasing the , and — and the very best of Irish music, song, dance and literature. The event was aired live on Irish national television. ()

In his to the audience, Ireland’s Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny said: “This is a great event for Ireland to host. It’s going to be a mighty few days showcasing all Ireland is and all we have to offer to millions of people at home and away.” Other speakers and performers included Notre Dame President ; comedian Martin Short; Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick; and such top Irish musicians as Brian Kennedy, Eimear Quinn and The High Kings.

A Mass of Thanksgiving was held Sept. 1 at Dublin Castle, with Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin presiding and preaching, and concelebrants Father Jenkins; Papal Nuncio Charles J. Brown, a 1981 Notre Dame graduate; and Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross Rev. Richard Warner, C.S.C. This outdoor Mass also was broadcast on Irish national television. ()

Mass at Dublin Castle

After Mass, the Notre Dame Band marched from the castle to the Temple Bar area, where fans were treated to a unique tailgate experience on the streets of Dublin. The Band also performed a concert on the Central Bank Plaza, serenading visitors with a selection of Irish and American favorites.

Other Notre Dame events included service projects and fan get-togethers, Masses, an afternoon of tennis with the Notre Dame men taking on the Ireland Davis Cup team at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, tours of historic Ireland locations, and a Notre Dame family pilgrimage to the West of Ireland to climb the spectacular Holy Mountain, Croagh Patrick.

Notre Dame in the Emerald Isle Classic, with a final score of 50-10.

For more photos of Notre Dame in Dublin, visit .

When the Fighting Irish of the University of Notre Dame meet the Midshipmen of Navy on Sept. 1 (Saturday) at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland, it will be the latest installment in a long American football tradition for the two institutions.

The visit will also celebrate Notre Dame’s enduring Irish heritage and its modern-day engagement in Ireland, highlighted by an array of events that will bring a taste of the University’s educational, intellectual, faith and cultural mission to its host country, and offer thousands of visiting fans opportunities to learn about, explore and enjoy Ireland.

Scheduled events in Dublin include:

Academic programs:

• “The Future of Energy: Dreams and Responsibilities,” 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Aug. 30 (Thursday), Science Gallery, Trinity College. Energy experts from around the world will discuss the future of energy — clean fossil fuels, next-generation solar applications and other renewable energy solutions. They will cover current systems, promising technologies and the responsibilities that accompany the development of this new knowledge. Free and open to the public. required.

• “1916 Dublin,” 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Aug. 30 (Thursday), Royal Irish Academy. Scholars from Notre Dame and Ireland will discuss the historical, political and social impact of the 1916 Irish rebellion. The will also showcase its forthcoming TV documentary on 1916 at this event. Media wishing to attend should contact Julie Hail Flory at jflory@nd.edu.

• , 4-5:30 p.m., Aug. 30 (Thursday), O’Connell House, 58 Merrion Square. The annual Hibernian Lecture, presented by Notre Dame’s , will feature Kevin Whelan, director of Notre Dame’s Dublin Centre. It will analyze the long-standing historical connections between Notre Dame and Ireland, and explore the more recent linkages of the “Fighting Irish” with the island. Sold out. Media wishing to attend should contact Julie Hail Flory at jflory@nd.edu.

• “Ireland in Transition: Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities,” 3-4:30 p.m., Aug. 31 (Friday), Examination Hall, Trinity College Dublin. This roundtable discussion will focus on how a rapidly changing Ireland fits into the wider world today and will discuss issues such as culture, the economy, politics, education, the Catholic Church and the European Union. Free and open to the public. required.

Religious events:

• , 9 a.m., Sept. 1 (Saturday), Dublin Castle Court Yard, enter through Palace Street Pedestrian Entrance (off Dame Street). Dublin Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will preside and preach; concelebrants include Papal Nuncio Charles J. Brown, Class of 1981; Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.; and Superior General of the Congregation of Holy Cross Rev. Richard Warner, C.S.C. This outdoor Mass will be screened on Irish national television. Free and open to the Notre Dame extended family — standing room only.

• , 11 a.m., Sept. 2 (Sunday), St. Mary’s Church, Haddington Road. St. Mary’s is one of the most historic churches in Dublin, and a recent restoration has restored it to pristine condition. The Notre Dame Folk Choir will provide the liturgical music for the occasion. Open to the public.

• Notre Dame Family Pilgrimage, 7 a.m.-midnight, Sept. 3 (Monday). A free pilgrimage to the West of Ireland to climb the spectacular Holy Mountain, Croagh Patrick. After climbing Croagh Patrick, the pilgrimage continues by bus to the birthplace of Rev. Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., the “Rosary Priest,” in Attymass, County Mayo. An alternate route will include a stop at the Shrine at Knock. required.

Tours:

• Tours of O’Connell House, times vary, Aug. 29-31, 58 Merrion Square. Daily tours will be offered of historic O’Connell House on Merrion Square, home of the Keough-Naughton Notre Dame Dublin Centre. Free and open to the public. Registration required through oconnellhouse@nd.edu.

• VIP tours of the Irish Parliament, times vary, Aug. 29-31, Leinster House. Twice daily, free and open to the public.

General events:

• , 2 p.m., Aug. 31 (Friday), Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club. Notre Dame men vs. Ireland Davis Cup team. Tickets are $15 for general admission.

• , 6-10 p.m., Aug. 31 (Friday), O2 Arena. This top-class show merges the best of the American and the Irish traditions. The O2 Arena will rock with this exciting event showcasing the Band of the Fighting Irish, Notre Dame Folk Choir and cheerleaders — and the very best of Irish music, song, dance and literature. The event will be screened live on Irish national television. Sold out. Media wishing to attend to cover the event should contact Julie Hail Flory at jflory@nd.edu.

• , 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sept. 1 (Saturday), Temple Bar district. There will be music, special performances, street performers, food and a unique chance to sample Irish culture. Open to the public.

• , 11 a.m., Sept. 1 (Saturday), from Temple Bar to the Central Bank Plaza (between Dame Street and Temple Bar Street) — Featuring the Band of the Fighting Irish. Open to the public. Dublin Bus will provide free public bus transfers to Aviva Stadium from Temple Bar.

A complete listing of events and registration options is available online at .

The Notre Dame-Navy football game kicks off at 2 p.m. in Dublin (9 a.m. EDT). CBS Sports will telecast the game live in the United States, and ESPN America will broadcast the game in 63 other countries around the world.

The University of Notre Dame has entered into a collaborative relationship with the for joint development and commercialization of medical innovations.

Notre Dame will be the first university within the Cleveland Clinic Healthcare Innovation Alliance network, which includes the largest nonprofit health care system in the mid-Atlantic, MedStar Health and its MedStar Institute for Innovation; and the nation’s second-largest nonprofit, secular health care system, North Shore Long Island Jewish and its Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

Through the Healthcare Innovation Alliance, Notre Dame will have access to Cleveland Clinic Innovations’ comprehensive technology and commercialization services infrastructure. Through streamlined integration of the various capabilities between all Alliance members, there will be a focus on the development and deployment of new medical innovations that are generated by faculty and researchers at Notre Dame.

In recent years, Notre Dame has demonstrated its commitment to strengthening its research enterprise by increasing investments in state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure. While Notre Dame does not have a medical school, the University has grown its funded research program significantly and now secures external funding totaling more than $100 million annually. The University has invested $80 million of internal funding through its program to advance the scope, excellence and visibility of its research and scholarship.

With approximately 50 inventor disclosures annually, Notre Dame sees the Healthcare Innovation Alliance network as an opportunity to create a commercialization pathway for innovative technologies in the biotechnology and health science space.

“By collaborating with Cleveland Clinic Innovations, we are hoping to create marketplace opportunities for our biomedical and health innovations to be a force for good,” said , Notre Dame’s vice president for . “We are extremely pleased to partner with Cleveland Clinic Innovations and the Alliance for the excellent complementary technology development and commercialization capabilities the alliance offers.”

Through the distinctive Healthcare Innovation Alliance, Cleveland Clinic Innovations will provide on-the-ground support to assist Notre Dame to advance the creative ideas of its researchers, faculty and staff. Cleveland Clinic Innovations will employ the same knowledge and resources that have helped it create a reputation as an industry leader in navigating the commercialization process, resulting in 48 spin-off companies and more than 300 licensed technologies.

“Cleveland Clinic and Notre Dame share in the commitment and responsibility in identifying, developing and making innovative technologies available to extend and improve patient lives,” said Thomas Graham, M.D., chief innovations officer, Cleveland Clinic. “We are honored to have such a well-respected and prestigious organization as the first university to become a part of the Alliance network.”

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation.

More information is available online at .

Contact: Julie Hail Flory, Notre Dame, jflory@nd.edu; Megan Pruce, Cleveland Clinic, prucem@ccf.org

Nobel Laureate Brian Schmidt delivers a lecture in Notre Dame’s Jordan Hall of Science, Feb. 27, 2012.

The University of Notre Dame’s has added three top professionals in research and government relations to its Washington, D.C., office. The three will focus on furthering the University’s work in the area of federal research development.

Dr. Kathie L. Olsen, retired Rear Adm. Nevin P. Carr Jr. and retired Maj. Gen. Robert Latiff will serve as consultants to facilitate relationships between the faculty of the University and key federal agencies, provide a link between Notre Dame and national research initiatives and advise University personnel about interactions with federal agencies.

“We are very pleased to have three top-caliber individuals such as Dr. Olsen, Adm. Carr and Gen. Latiff join our team. Their experience and skill will greatly enhance our ability to identify opportunities where our research programs can be a powerful force for good,” said , the University’s vice president for research. “In addition, it is a pleasure to be associated with such fine individuals who share our vision as we work toward advancing the research programs of a great Catholic university.”

Formerly deputy director of the National Science Foundation, Olsen is the principal of the consulting firm ScienceWorks, which focuses on helping individuals and organizations to succeed in science and engineering research. She previously served as associate director and deputy of science in the Office of Science and Technology Policy in the Executive Office of President George W. Bush, and as a chief scientist at NASA. A graduate of Chatham College, Olsen earned her doctoral degree in biological sciences from the University of California, Irvine.

“I’m thrilled to be associated with a great institution like Notre Dame,” Olsen said. “I am impressed with the high quality of the science and engineering and Notre Dame’s strong tradition of integrating research with education.”

Carr’s distinguished career in the U.S. Navy was spent largely at sea in combatant ships, and included travel to just about every sea and continent. Ashore, he held a variety of positions in Washington, including deputy assistant secretary of the Navy International Programs, where he was responsible for the Navy’s international partner-building efforts through training, cooperative development and Foreign Military Sales. In 2008, he was assigned as the 22nd Chief of Naval Research, overseeing the Navy and Marine Corps’ $2 billion investment in science and technology. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and the Naval Postgraduate 91��Ƶ, and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business 91��Ƶ.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to work with the vibrant research program at Notre Dame,” Carr said. “Many technologies developed by the military, especially for austere environments, can be used for a variety of purposes that support the University’s work.”

As deputy director for system engineering in the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Latiff managed the NRO acquisition process and was the functional manager for NRO-wide systems engineering. A three-time Notre Dame graduate, he earned his bachelor’s degree in physics and his master’s and doctoral degrees in materials science in 1971, 1973 and 1974, respectively. He has served on the staffs of U.S. Air Force Headquarters and the Secretary of the Air Force and as director of advanced systems and technology for the NRO, leading a team of scientists, engineers and futurists engaged in advanced research, applied technology and technology demonstration programs for the nation’s space reconnaissance program.

“I am honored to be able to serve Notre Dame in this way, and look forward to working with this great team on behalf of the University,” Latiff said.

Contact: Julie Hail Flory, Office of Public Relations, jflory@nd.edu

Andrew Serazin, senior program officer for global health discovery at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, speaks in the Jordan Auditorium of the Mendoza College of Business as part of the 2012 lecture series.

Some 350 Notre Dame students, faculty and staff who traveled to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 23 to take part in the March for Life.

Two Notre Dame alumnae, Dr. Mary O’Connor (’83) and Dr. Patricia Curtin (’80), met CNN reporter Anderson Cooper in Haiti. They were among the Americans who visited the country to mark the second anniversary of the devastating earthquake that shook the nation in 2010.

The University of Notre Dame will break ground this fall on a new wellness center that will offer employees convenient, quality health care through an on-site medical clinic and pharmacy. To be located at the corner of Wilson Drive and Bulla Road on the northeast corner of the Notre Dame campus, the center is scheduled to open Summer of 2012.

“The health and well-being of our employees are important priorities for the University,” said Robert McQuade, vice president for human resources. “By implementing this innovative solution, we are furthering our commitment to provide the resources and benefits necessary to ensure our faculty and staff have access to quality, affordable medical care.”

The wellness center will be operated by Take Care Health Systems, a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

The center will be open to full-time Notre Dame faculty and staff and their dependents Monday to Friday from 7 a.m to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

More information is available at .

The University of Notre Dame will welcome Ernest Bai Koroma, president of the Republic of Sierra Leone, to campus Sept. 27 (Tuesday) for a lecture titled “Faith, Tolerance and Progress.”

President Koroma will speak at 4 p.m. in the Decio Mainstage Theatre of Notre Dame’s . A question-and-answer session and reception will follow the address. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required and will be available beginning today (Sept. 23) by visiting or calling the performing arts center ticket office at 574-631-2800.

“Notre Dame is honored to welcome His Excellency Ernest Bai Koroma to campus,” said , an assistant professor of anthropology and peace studies at Notre Dame who will serve as moderator for the discussion. “President Koroma leads a nation of quiet religious inclusiveness, and the University of Notre Dame will benefit enormously in our aim to promote tolerance and freedom throughout the world by strengthening our connections with Sierra Leone.”

The fourth president of Sierra Leone, Koroma came to power in 2007 in an election that was widely regarded as free and fair, and resulted in a peaceful transfer of power. Sierra Leone has a rich and vibrant history. Fourah Bay College, the first university in West Africa, was founded in Freetown in 1827. More recently, the country went from a state of civil war to providing troops for the African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur in less than eight years.

President Koroma’s visit to Notre Dame is sponsored by the .

Former Notre Dame head football coach Lou Holtz is once again taking a leadership role at the University – this time in an arena outside of athletics. He and his wife, Beth, have graciously agreed to serve as Notre Dame’s first “ambassadors for research” by taking a prominent role in increasing awareness of the University’s mission to pursue research that aims to heal, unify and enlighten a world deeply in need.

“Beth and I have always believed that Notre Dame is different,” Lou Holtz said. “Not only by educating young people who go out and do remarkable things in the world, but also through its commitment to research with potential to alleviate pain and suffering, the University is taking on global challenges and bringing about real change.”

Research to help people with cancer is a deeply personal cause for the Holtz family. Beth Holtz was diagnosed in 1997 with a rare form of cancer and was given a five-percent chance of survival. Today she credits her recovery to her strong faith and the support of her family and others around her during her illness.

“Lou and Beth Holtz are a testament to the human spirit and we are so thankful and proud to have them as part of the Notre Dame family,” said , Notre Dame’s president. “Through their generous financial contributions to the University – and the precious gift of their time as ambassadors for research – they are adding to the many blessings they and their family already have bestowed upon us. We are deeply appreciative.”

The Holtzes also have given $1 million to the University. The gift was a component of the recently completed “Spirit of Notre Dame” campaign, which raised $2.014 billion during a seven-year span that ended June 30. In addition to their most recent gift, the Holtzes also established a scholarship endowment at the University during Lou Holtz’ coaching tenure.

During his 10 years as head football coach, Lou Holtz amassed a record of 100-30-2 and led the Fighting Irish to a national championship during its undefeated 1988 season. The couple has four children – Luanne; Louis Jr., a 1987 Notre Dame graduate; Kevin, a 1989 Notre Dame graduate; and Elizabeth, a 1991 Notre Dame graduate.

Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., president of the University of Notre Dame, expressed the University’s grief at the passing of Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States, who died Wednesday (July 27) in Baltimore. He was 73 years old.

“Archbishop Sambi was an ambassador in the most literal sense of the word,” said. “A strong and joyful leader, he inspired others through his deep faith, genuine compassion and thoughtful pursuit of the truth in the complex issues the Church has faced. He made many friends in his travels, including here at Notre Dame, and he will be deeply missed.

“The prayers of the Notre Dame family accompany the nuncio’s family and loved ones in their time of grief, and also celebrate the witness of Archbishop Sambi to the life of the Church.”

Archbishop Sambi, who was appointed nuncio in 2005, served as the Vatican’s ambassador to the United States and represented Pope Benendict XVI to the nation’s Catholic bishops. He visited Notre Dame last year to participate in the , convened by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to discuss ways to deepen unity among the nation’s 68.5 million Catholics and to derive from their diversity a more robust sense of Catholic identity.