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Division of Student Affairs recognizes outstanding student leaders

2025-04-22T09:00:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs honored seven graduating students at its 39th annual Student Leadership Awards banquet on April 14. These annual awards recognize current students for their exemplary leadership and many contributions to the Notre Dame community.

Rev. A. Leonard Collins, C.S.C., Award

The Rev. A. Leonard Collins, C.S.C., Award, which honors a graduating senior who has expended substantial personal effort to advance the interests of students at Notre Dame, was presented to Aidan Rezner from Corona, California.

A neuroscience and behavior major, Rezner served as Student Government vice president his junior year, working alongside the executive cabinet to articulate perspectives on campus culture at Notre Dame. As a senior, he served as a peer leader and co-instructor in the Moreau Program, and worked as a senior fellow in the Gender Relations Center to develop and host programs promoting a culture of healthy masculinity.

Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Leadership Award

The Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Leadership Award went to Gabriella Searl, a theology major from Wichita, Kansas. This award represents the highest faith-related honor the University bestows on its students, and is given to a student who has made a significant effort to advance Notre Dame’s Catholic character.

In her time at Notre Dame, Searl has helped students grow in their faith by organizing and hosting a weekly rosary in her residence hall room and providing a source of faith-based community in Howard Hall. Beginning her sophomore year, Gabriella worked as a videographer for the Notre Dame football team, and as a senior, she continued serving Howard Hall as a resident assistant.

Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., Award

The Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., Award, which honors a graduating senior whose leadership has led to a more welcoming and inclusive environment within or beyond the University community, was given to Frances Ubogu, a biological sciences major from Lagos, Nigeria.

Ubogu's involvement included serving as president of Shades of Ebony and the performance club Dance Africa, chairing a committee on the Diversity Council and working as a senior fellow in Multicultural Student Programs and Services. Ubogu also worked as a research assistant in the Schafer Lab for Biological Sciences where she assisted with cancer research and as a volunteer at local health centers.

John W. Gardner Student Leadership Award

The John W. Gardner Student Leadership Award was presented to Melody Padilla of Modesto, California, for exemplifying the ideals of Notre Dame through outstanding service beyond the University community

A theology and Latino studies major with a minor in business economics, Padilla shared her commitment to the Catholic faith and social justice issues through a variety of on- and off-campus roles. In her time at Notre Dame, Padilla served as a volunteer at La Casa De Amistad, vice president of outreach for UndocuAlly ND, an Anchor Intern in Campus Ministry, a Mercy Works leader and as a student researcher for both the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good and the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights.

Ray Siegfried Award for Leadership Excellence

Allison O’Connor, an accounting major in the Business Honors Program from Batavia, Illinois, received the Ray Siegfried Award for Leadership Excellence. The recognition honors a senior at Notre Dame who exemplifies the qualities for which Siegfried was known, including leadership, generosity, devotion to the Catholic faith and an affinity for athletics. At Notre Dame, O'Connor was a leader in Student Government and served as chief-of-staff during the 2024-25 academic year. O’Connor was also a varsity athlete on the women’s rowing team.

Mike Russo Spirit Award

The Mike Russo Spirit Award, which honors an undergraduate who is distinguished in extracurricular activities, service and personal character, was presented to James (Jimmy) Grammig, a management consulting major from Tampa, Florida, whose cheerful and selfless attitude were noted at the awards ceremony for positively impacting everyone he encounters in the Notre Dame community. Grammig, a Crowley Family Scholar and resident assistant in O’Neill Family Hall, was recognized for his consistent thoughtfulness toward others and his ability to create a sense of belonging among everyone he meets.

Denny Moore Award for Excellence in Journalism

Finally, the Denny Moore Award for Excellence in Journalism, which honors a senior who exemplifies the qualities for which Moore, the University’s late associate vice president for public affairs, was known — including personal integrity and character, commitment to Notre Dame and writing ability — went to Sam Coffman, an American studies major with a minor in journalism, ethics, and democracy.

A Lily Scholar from Muncie, Indiana, Coffman, served as an active leader in Notre Dame Student Media, serving as a columnist, reporter and moderator for political debates. He also worked as a writer and intern at Notre Dame Magazine and held public affairs internships in the office of Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and through a firm in Washington, D.C.

Meruelo Center partners with Visa to launch inaugural Visa Fintech Foundations program

2025-04-02T11:00:00-04:00

Through a pilot partnership between Visa and the Meruelo Family Center for Career Development, University of Notre Dame undergraduate students now have the opportunity to learn about the financial technology (fintech) industry while also exploring career possibilities in the field.

Launched as a pilot program at Notre Dame in the fall of 2024, the Visa Fintech Foundations program explores the intersection of technology and traditional financial services in weekly in-person, on-campus sessions. Facilitated by Visa subject matter experts, the program covers various foundational components of banking, digital currencies, decentralized finance and career opportunities to demonstrate how technology is reshaping the future of financial affairs worldwide.

“In recent years, we have seen growth in the number of employers interested in hiring students with fintech experience,” said Ryan Willerton, associate vice president for career and professional development at Notre Dame. “Providing students with the opportunity to learn directly from professionals working for a global leader like Visa not only helps to improve their understanding of how technology relates to traditional banking, it also prepares Notre Dame students for potential careers in a competitive and evolving industry. We are truly grateful to be the first to partner with Visa to offer our students such an exclusive opportunity.”

For well over a decade, the Center for Career Development has worked with alumni, campus partners and employers to better prepare students to compete for top positions in the financial services industry. According to Willerton, strategic partnerships have resulted in a 400 percent increase in jobs for students after graduation, with seniors accepting more than 250 positions annually.

Visa Fintech Foundations

“Recognizing the trajectory of the financial payments industry, our career development staff, working under the University’s centralized career services model, have sought opportunities like the partnership with Visa to raise awareness and help prepare students for evolving recruiting expectations and processes,” Willerton said.

Students are selected for the Visa Fintech Foundations program by Center for Career Development staff based on students’ interest in both financial services and technology-related career paths. As a non-credit initiative, the program allows for the selection of students studying a wide range of subjects regardless of individual educational requirements.

As a result, in 2024, 32 sophomore and junior students pursuing degrees in various Notre Dame colleges and schools were selected from a competitive pool of applicants to be a part of the inaugural cohort.

Along with six weeks of in-person presentations led by eight Visa leaders who traveled to Notre Dame from across the country each week, students were assigned to six teams to work collaboratively on a case study and invited to visit the Visa headquarters in San Francisco to present their findings at the conclusion of the program. There, students had the opportunity to engage more intentionally with Visa, tour its new Market Support Center and translate what they learned in the program through capstone presentations to a panel of senior Visa executives.

“The Visa Fintech Foundations program was an incredible learning experience for me, and I’m thankful to the entire Visa team for their dedication to providing my cohort with such insightful and engaging content and for welcoming us to their headquarters,” said Mushfiq Milan, a Notre Dame senior majoring in business analytics and real estate. “I’ve gained a much deeper understanding of the fintech landscape, and the interactive sessions and capstone project have truly expanded my knowledge of the field.”

The Visa Fintech Foundations program will return to Notre Dame in 2025. Applications for its second cohort will be made available in August, and on-campus sessions will begin in October. As a result of the program’s success, Visa plans to replicate the program at other universities in the future.

“The fintech landscape is rapidly evolving, and Visa is committed to leading this transformation,” said Jeremy Broome, senior vice president of global talent at Visa. “The Visa Fintech Foundations program is designed to uplift students with the critical skills and insights necessary to lead in the payments sector. Our partnership with the University of Notre Dame has proven the value of this initiative, and we are excited to bring this transformative experience to more campuses across the nation.”

Doug Thompson appointed inaugural executive director of diversity and engagement

2024-05-01T10:23:00-04:00

Doug Thompson

Doug Thompson, current vice president for equity and inclusion at Gustavus Adolphus College, has been appointed as the inaugural executive director of diversity and engagement in the University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs, effective July 1.

In this role, Thompson will oversee the newly established Center for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in addition to Multicultural Student Programs and Services, the Gender Relations Center and the Office of Student Enrichment. As executive director, Thompson will also lead the division’s efforts in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the context of the University’s Catholic, Holy Cross mission. Additionally, Thompson will establish a sixth unit for Diversity and Engagement within the Division of Student Affairs to nurture belonging and inclusion among all students while further engaging underrepresented voices throughout the Notre Dame community. This new unit will also complement the existing work in Campus Ministry, Career and Professional Development, Residential Life, Student Development and Student Health and Wellness.

“I look forward to Doug sharing his extensive experience in higher education and his gifts for enacting meaningful change across multiple student-facing areas with the Notre Dame community,” said Rev. Gerard Olinger, C.S.C., vice president for student affairs. “His demonstrated leadership in diversity, equity and inclusion, and his clear appreciation for and ability to represent how our work flows from our Catholic, Holy Cross character and identity, is inspiring and exciting for our students, the division and the University alike.”

Thompson has nearly 20 years of experience in higher education administration in areas such as diversity, equity and inclusion; student affairs; academic advising; and enrollment management. As the inaugural vice president for equity and inclusion at Gustavus Adolphus College, Thompson works as the chief strategist for diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and racial justice efforts, and supervises a team of professionals within the Center for Inclusive Excellence, the Center for International and Cultural Education and the Academic Support Center. He also chairs the President’s Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and leads the college’s Bias Response Team.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University, his master’s degree in strategic communication and leadership from Seton Hall University and his doctoral degree in leadership for the advancement of learning and service from Cardinal Stritch University.

Prior to Gustavus, Thompson served as the associate dean of students at the Dougherty Family College at the University of St. Thomas and the assistant dean for equity and diversity at the University of West Florida.

Thompson will soon relocate to South Bend with his wife and children.

Karen Kennedy appointed associate vice president for residential life

2023-12-07T11:00:00-05:00

Karen Kennedy, senior advisor in the Office of the Executive Vice President at the University of Notre Dame, has been appointed associate vice president for residential life in the Division of Student Affairs, effective spring 2024.

In this role, Kennedy will oversee all established and emerging areas of the Office of Residential Life, including residential communities, facilities, programs and services available to the more than 6,600 undergraduate students who reside on campus. As associate vice president, Kennedy will also provide strategic leadership of the University’s residential model, one of the most established and distinctive components of the Notre Dame undergraduate experience. Additionally, Kennedy will steward the unit’s core mission of providing holistic student development and formation in the context of community rooted in the University’s Catholic, Holy Cross tradition.

“Karen brings to this role a deep knowledge of and appreciation for residential life at Notre Dame, a sincere devotion to our students and a strong commitment to her faith and our Catholic mission,” said Rev. Gerard Olinger, C.S.C., vice president for student affairs. “I am thrilled that she will return to the Division of Student Affairs to strategically and thoughtfully lead a team that supports student belonging, helps students to integrate their academic and social lives, and encourages students to cultivate their gifts, talents and interests at Notre Dame and beyond.”

Kennedy earned her master’s degree in higher education administration from Boston College, and her bachelor’s degree in science-business from the University of Notre Dame. She began her career at Notre Dame in 2012.

Before she started in her role as senior advisor to the executive vice president, Kennedy served as program director for ND Innovates in Institutional Research, Innovation, & Strategy. Within the Division of Student Affairs, Kennedy previously held leadership roles as director of student centers, activities and events; director of housing; and senior advisor to the vice president for student affairs. Kennedy also received both the Rev. John Francis “Pop” Farley, C.S.C., Award from the division for her distinguished role in student life, and the Nancy J. Walsh Irish Clover Award from Notre Dame Student Government for her exemplary service to the student body.

Prior to Notre Dame, Kennedy worked at Boston College for six years, during which time she served as director of the Urban Catholic Teacher Corps and helped launch the Lynch Leadership Academy.

Kennedy lives in South Bend with her husband, Sean, and three children.

University announces plan for construction of two new residence halls

2023-10-04T09:00:00-04:00

As part of its commitment to on-campus residential life, the University of Notre Dame announced plans for the construction of two new undergraduate halls on the south side of campus. These halls will help the University provide on-campus housing to all undergraduate students, including transfer students.

The project will entail the decommissioning of Pangborn and Fisher Halls to make room for the new residence halls.

“At Notre Dame, residential life is an integral part of the undergraduate educational experience. Residence halls allow students to interact with an array of peers, learn from each other, build communities and form lifelong friendships,” said University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. “These new halls, with enhanced community space, will ensure that we are able to provide current and future students with an appropriate living environment in a place they call home.”

In recent years, the University has taken significant steps to provide quality residential space to all Notre Dame students. Following the announcement of a six-semester residency requirement for undergraduate students, several halls were constructed, and others were extensively renovated while residents were moved to a “swing hall” for a full academic year. While major renovations were considered for Pangborn and Fisher Halls, it was determined that the existing structures were not amenable to extensive improvements alone.

Women's residence hall

As a result, in August 2024, Pangborn Hall residents will relocate to the new men’s residence hall currently under construction on the East Quad. Simultaneously, Fisher Hall residents will relocate to Zahm Hall, a swing hall facility, where residents will remain for the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years. In the fall of 2026, Fisher residents will move to the new men’s hall located on the former Fisher Hall site. When the new hall located on the former Pangborn Hall site opens at the same time, it will house a new women’s community. The new halls will bear the names of their respective benefactors.

Following the construction of the halls on the South Quad and the completion of the new men’s residence hall on the East Quad, the University’s on-campus residential capacity will increase by 445 beds, thus accommodating the six-semester residency requirement and ensuring housing for all transfer students going forward.

“As we enter this next phase of residential life at Notre Dame, I look forward to continuing to ensure our residence halls meet our students’ needs and contribute to the formation and development of all students within the context of a supportive community,” said Rev. Gerry Olinger, C.S.C., vice president for student affairs. “While the most important aspect of our residence hall communities continues to be the people who reside within them, the buildings themselves remain integral to supporting our students’ ability to experience personal growth and form valuable connections among one another.”

Although the new halls will differ from each other in appearance, both will reflect the collegiate gothic campus architecture represented in other newly constructed residence halls and be similar in square footage. The women’s hall will occupy 83,416 square feet and include 275 beds, and the men’s hall will be 82,728 square feet and include 258 beds.

Both residence halls will be three stories and include a variety of room types, community and study spaces, kitchens, laundry, a chapel, fitness space and a basement with storage. Additionally, the women’s hall will feature a tower that will signal the entrance to the hall, and the men’s hall will include a distinctive chapel visibly situated along the South Quad.

Division of Student Affairs awards scholarships to student leaders

2023-05-08T08:24:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs recently awarded scholarships for the 2023-24 academic year to five junior undergraduate students in recognition of their demonstrated leadership on campus and beyond.

After reviewing nominations from across campus, a selection committee composed of representatives from Student Affairs and the academy awarded Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarships to Kylie Boyer, Luzolo Matundu, Olivia Hsin and Grace Wetli and the Hipp-Beeler Scholarship to Santiago Rodriguez.

Each scholarship is designed to recognize and provide additional resources to students who display exemplary leadership qualities and a commitment to the holistic education of the mind and heart. The criteria include demonstrated leadership in residence hall programs, spiritual activities, community service, student government, student activities, entrepreneurial projects, interhall sports or any combination of these or other activities in the area of student life.

Established by Mike Harper in 1995, the Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship encourages recipients to develop leadership qualities similar to those of Lou Holtz, former head coach for Notre Dame football.

A junior double majoring in pre-professional studies and applied and computational mathematics and statistics and minoring in compassionate care in medicine, Boyer earned a Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship as the result of her mentorship and service both on and off campus. A Downers Grove, Illinois, native and McGlinn Hall resident, Boyer is active in both the Notre Dame and South Bend communities. On campus, Boyer works as a mathematics tutor in individual and small-group settings and has served as a leader in her residence hall as a hall commissioner and vice president. She is also the treasurer for Notre Dame women’s club volleyball. Off campus, Boyer works as a tutor for the Robinson Community Learning Center, and she has served on behalf of the Michigan WISEWOMAN Program at Catherine’s Health Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Additionally, in 2021, she interned with International Medical Aid in Mombasa, Kenya, where she worked alongside health care providers at an orphanage and in clinics to provide care to members of the community.

Matundu, a junior majoring in political science, applied and computational mathematics and statistics and Africana studies from Chicago, also received a Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship for her on-campus stewardship and her commitment to issues of social justice at Notre Dame. A QuestBridge and Fighting Irish Scholar, Matundu serves as the director of the diversity and inclusion and the race and ethnicity departments within Student Government and as vice president for Shades of Ebony, a student club dedicated to creating a space for Black women on campus through camaraderie and service. Additionally, she is actively involved in the Building Bridges Mentoring Program and the Voices of Faith Gospel Choir, and she co-hosts the Black@ND podcast. In her time at Notre Dame, she has also served as co-chair for academic outreach for Diversity Council, director for the Plunge Retreat for First Year Black Students, a member of the St. André Committee, and a diversity, equity and inclusion commissioner on behalf of Farley Hall.

A junior from Los Angeles who grew up in Taipei, Taiwan, Hsin, majoring in film, television and theater and pre-health studies and minoring in compassionate care in medicine, received a third Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship. A Pasquerilla West Hall resident and member of the Advisory Committee for Student Climate Related to Race and Ethnicity, Hsin served first as secretary and now as president of Diversity Council, where she plays an active role in its academic life, residential life and campus life committees. Additionally, she regularly integrates her passion for health care and storytelling in the Department of Film, Television, and Theatre, where she works as a director and production assistant to lead teams of students to write and direct short films.

The fourth Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship was awarded to Grace Wetli, a junior from West Lafayette, Indiana. A chemical engineering major and member of the Engineering Leadership Council, Wetli has held internships at Roche Diagnostics and the Notre Dame Center for Civic Innovation, and regularly mentors first-year students as an undergraduate teaching assistant in the College of Engineering. Also an active member of Flaherty Hall, Wetli serves as the hall president, a liturgical commissioner and a member of the hall flag football team.

Established in 1992 by Student Government, the Hipp-Beeler Scholarship is designed to honor student-athletes Colleen Hipp and Meghan Beeler, who died in a bus accident.

Santiago Rodriguez from Bronx, New York, was awarded the Hipp-Beeler Scholarship for his commitment to community-building at Notre Dame.A computer science major, Rodriguez has helped to create and implement various academic projects at Notre Dame, including Introspect, a platform that connects students to appropriate advisers. Rodriguez also serves as vice president of Wabruda, a student group focused on the intellectual, social and spiritual connections among men of color at Notre Dame, and is an active member of Dunne Hall, where he worked to reintroduce food sales following the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Rodriguez is a member of ColorStack, a community of more than 1,500 Black and Latino computer science students from over 500 schools throughout the United States, and is active in The Country Market, which allows for community-owned grocery shopping in urban and rural areas.

Division of Student Affairs recognizes outstanding student leaders

2023-04-19T09:37:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs recognized nine students at the 37th annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet on April 4. These annual awards honor current students who have made exceptional contributions to the Notre Dame community.

The Rev. A. Leonard Collins, C.S.C., Award, honoring a graduating senior who has made substantial personal efforts to advance the interests of students at Notre Dame, was given to Elizabeth “Eliza” Smith of Kennesaw, Georgia.

A psychology and global affairs major with minors in computing and digital technologies and Italian, Smith served on the Student Government Executive Cabinet as director for race and ethnicity and was instrumental in the creation of the 2023 Walk the Walk Week event “Celebrating Black Excellence,” which welcomed the president and CEO of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson, as a keynote speaker. Smith served as a leader in Johnson Family Hall and as a peer mentor in the Building Bridges Mentoring Program within Multicultural Student Programs and Services. She also helped to shape the experience of first-year students through her service on the St. André Bessette Committee and various Class Councils in her time at Notre Dame.

The Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Leadership Award was awarded to Grace Gasper from Los Angeles. This award is given to a graduating senior who embodies Blessed Moreau’s vision of educating the heart and mind as well as someone who has demonstrated significant effort in advancing the Catholic character of the University.

Gasper, a theology and film, television and theater major, was extensively involved in advancing the Catholic character at Notre Dame through extensive leadership roles in Campus Ministry and the wider community. She served as a Compass Small Groups leader, retreats co-chair and Anchor Intern. She also ministered locally throughout the South Bend community and worked as a McGrath Institute for Church Life Vision mentor.

The Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., Award honors a graduating senior whose leadership has significantly advanced the climate of welcome and inclusion within or beyond the University community. This year the division honored two recipients: Molly Doerfler and Nicholas Crookston.

A mechanical engineering major originally from Pittsburgh, Doerfler served as secretary, vice president and, most recently, president of PrismND, the University’s first and only official LGBTQ undergraduate student organization. She also served as a member of the Student Affairs Advisory Committee for Student Climate Related to LGBTQ Students and as a student representative for the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee within the College of Engineering.

Majoring in political science, global affairs and Latino studies, Crookston, a Balfour-Hesburgh Scholar from Muncie, Indiana, worked to increase the climate of inclusion in his time at Notre Dame through the Diversity Council and UndocuAlly ND, a training program created to educate the campus community and promote allyship on behalf of immigrant community members. Additionally, under his leadership within the Latino Student Alliance, Crookston launched a nonpartisan campaign to educate young voters and increase voting participation.

The John W. Gardner Student Leadership Award, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the ideals of the University through outstanding community service beyond the University, was awarded to John Sexton from Cumming, Georgia.

Following his father’s diagnosis of ALS, Sexton developed an assistive power wheelchair that can be controlled by a user’s eyes. Named LifeDrive, Sexton’s product was featured as a part of the 2021 What Would You Fight For campaign and will soon be available for wider distribution with the goal of spreading hope, independence and dignity to those in need. An electrical engineering major, Sexton, who served as the head drum major for the Band of the Fighting Irish, also coordinated a photo of the 1,900 students, faculty and staff from the College of Engineering on the field of Notre Dame Stadium to honor the 50th anniversary of co-education at Notre Dame.

Molly Schroeder, from San Diego, was awarded the Ray Siegfried Award for Leadership Excellence, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities for which former Notre Dame Trustee Ray Siegfried was known, including leadership, generosity, devotion to the Catholic faith and affinity for athletics.

An economics and history major, Schroeder generously served her home community of Cavanaugh Hall where she was an active participant on various interhall sports teams and held roles as a spiritual life commissioner, hall president and, most recently, a resident assistant. Beyond her residential community, Schroeder served on the Financial Management Board within Student Government, was appointed Class Council treasurer and became an RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) sponsor through Campus Ministry, accompanying others into the life of the Catholic Church.

Blake Ziegler and Austin Wyman, both from New Orleans, were awarded the Mike Russo Spirit Award, honoring outstanding undergraduate students who exemplify the qualities for which Russo was known, including service, personal character and striving to bring the best out of themselves and others.

A political science and philosophy major, Ziegler has worked diligently in his time at Notre Dame to enhance interfaith relationships and provide support for students from a variety of faith backgrounds through his leadership of the Jewish Club and in his role as president of the Jewish on Campus Ambassador Program, which serves as the union of Jewish students in North America. Among other initiatives, Ziegler spread awareness about antisemitism and developed Antisemitism Awareness Week, organized sabbath celebrations, hosted various speakers and coordinated a Holocaust remembrance campaign. Ziegler is also a Lauder Fellow of the World Jewish Congress and vice president of Jewish advocacy for the American Jewish Committee global board.

Wyman, a psychology major and theology minor, has been a champion for conversations among students, faculty and staff regarding the awareness and de-stigmatization of mental health support at Notre Dame. A Balfour-Hesburgh Scholar and Fighting Irish Scholar, Wyman often worked as an adviser to the Student Health and Wellness unit and held leadership roles as a senior fellow in the Office of Student Enrichment, president of Active Minds and co-director of health and wellness within Student Government. Wyman is also one of 10 young adults in the United States who serves on the National Alliance on Mental Illness Next Gen youth and young adult advisory board.

The Denny Moore Award for Excellence in Journalism was awarded to Claire Reid from Madison, Wisconsin. This award is given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities of Moore, a former Notre Dame associate vice president who was known for his integrity, character, commitment to Notre Dame and writing ability.

A film, television and theater major with a minor in journalism, ethics and democracy, Reid served as an associate news editor for The Observer and held news internships with the South Bend Tribune, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Los Angeles Times. A Spanish-speaking math and reading tutor at South Bend’s Holy Cross 91��Ƶ, Reid often reported on underrepresented people and communities.

Rev. Pete McCormick, C.S.C., named assistant vice president; 3 Campus Ministry staff elevated to directors

2022-11-08T10:00:05-05:00

Rev. Pete McCormick, C.S.C., director of campus ministry at the University of Notre Dame, has been named the inaugural assistant vice president for campus ministry. Three current Office of Campus Ministry assistant directors have also been promoted to director positions.

As assistant vice president, Father McCormick will lead the University’s faith formation, spiritual life and liturgical offerings of undergraduate, graduate and professional students within the Division of Student Affairs. Additionally, he will continue to oversee the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, provide pastoral support to all faculty and staff and guide the mission of the Office of Campus Ministry in collaboration with the division strategic plan.

Father McCormick has served as the director of Campus Ministry since 2015. Prior to this role, he was an associate director in Campus Ministry and the rector of Keough Hall. He was ordained a Holy Cross priest in 2007, and earned both his master’s degree in divinity and his EMBA from Notre Dame. He also serves as the chaplain for the Notre Dame men’s basketball team.

“Father Pete has clearly and consistently demonstrated his leadership and presence on our campus and, as we prepare to implement our next strategic plan, I am grateful for the many ways Father Pete and our Campus Ministry team have and will continue to contribute to discussions around the role of faith in our students’ lives,” said Rev. Gerard Olinger, C.S.C., vice president for student affairs.

Also in Campus Ministry, Tami Schmitz, Kate Barrett and Mike Buckler will transition to director roles in the areas of pastoral care, liturgy and student ministry, respectively.

Division of Student Affairs awards scholarships to student leaders

2022-05-11T13:00:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs recently awarded scholarships for the 2022-23 academic year to five junior undergraduate students in recognition of their demonstrated leadership on campus and beyond.

After reviewing nominations from across campus, a selection committee composed of representatives from student affairs and the academy awarded Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarships to MyKayla Geary, Michael McKenzie and Carlondrea “Lala” Petty and Hipp-Beeler Scholarships to Hawraa Al Janabi and Halen Carbonel.

Each scholarship recognizes demonstrated leadership in residence hall programs, spiritual activities, community service, student government, student activities, entrepreneurial projects, interhall sports or any combination of these or other activities in the area of student life.

Established by Mike Harper in 1995, the Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship encourages recipients to develop leadership qualities similar to those of Holtz.

A junior majoring in economics and education, schooling and society and minoring in Africana studies, Geary earned a Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship as the result of her commitment to education and social justice. A Houston native and Cavanaugh Hall resident, Geary is active in the Notre Dame and South Bend communities. Geary has served as a teaching intern through the Alliance for Catholic Education, a math and literary tutor through TutorND, the public relations director for the Diversity Council of Notre Dame and a seminar leader for the Center for Social Concerns. She will also serve as a resident assistant in Cavanaugh Hall her senior year. She received an undergraduate research fellowship through the Institute for Advanced Study where she was paired with a visiting researcher to collect and analyze data related to the Rwandan genocide. Currently, Geary is interning through the Transition Assistance Program within the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to analyze information related to educational delivery mechanisms. Off campus, Geary serves as a program analyst in the Robinson Community Learning Center’s Take Ten Violence Prevention Program and a literacy coach through the South Bend Community 91��Ƶ Corp.

McKenzie, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in Chinese from Wilmington, Delaware, also received a Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship for actively engaging in Notre Dame’s residential mission while participating in the Rome Global Gateway program. There, he organized student activities and residence hall programs, including a weekly sport session at a local park where Notre Dame students interacted with residents. On campus, McKenzie lives in Keough Hall, where he will serve as a resident assistant his senior year, and is a member of Enable ND, which designs prostheses and assistive technologies for limb-different individuals free of charge. He is also a Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement Eagan Fellow, a member of the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges Scholars Program and the founder and president of B+ at Notre Dame, an initiative that raises awareness and funding for childhood cancer.

Petty, a junior from South Bend majoring in pre-professional studies and Spanish, also received a Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship. A Howard Hall resident and first-year scholar-leader through the AnBryce Scholarship Initiative, Petty has actively engaged in sharing her experiences and addressing her cultural identity as a Notre Dame student. In fall 2021, Petty traveled to Puebla, Mexico, as a part of the Notre Dame International Study Abroad Storytellers program. There, she engaged in conversations and research initiatives while also producing podcasts, videos and social media content. On campus, Petty served as the community outreach commissioner for the Black Student Association and will serve as the director for community outreach for Student Government in her senior year. Locally, Petty has served as youth developer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County, a youth coordinator and counselor for La Casa de Amistad, an intern with Green Bridge Growers and as a member of the Girls on the Run Michiana Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Committee.

Established in 1992 by Student Government, the Hipp-Beeler Scholarship is designed to honor student-athletes Colleen Hipp and Meghan Beeler, who died in a bus accident.

Al Janabi of Martinez, California, was awarded one of two Hipp-Beeler Scholarships for her commitment and contributions to first-generation students at Notre Dame. A neuroscience and behavior major with a minor in Spanish, Al Janabi serves as an adviser and member of the Notre Dame Matriculate leadership team, which empowers high-achieving, low-income high school students to apply for admission. Additionally, as a scholar in the Balfour-Hesburgh Scholars Program, she serves as an organic chemistry tutor and as the organization’s social chair and treasurer, organizing class retreats and annual events. A resident of Breen-Phillips Hall, Al Janabi founded Community Building Community, which is designed to create a safe space for minority and LGBTQ students in residence halls. She also volunteers as a counselor for the Crisis Text Line and as a Spanish and Arabic translator for the Sister Maura Brannick Health Center.

Carbonel was awarded the second Hipp-Beeler Scholarship, also for his contributions to engaging first-generation students at Notre Dame. A science and pre-professional studies major from Dededo, Guam, Carbonel serves as the president of 1stG ND, leading the club to organize events that foster a welcoming community for first-generation and minority students. He also serves as a peer mentor to first-year students through the Building Bridges Mentoring Program within Multicultural Student Programs and Services. Additionally, Carbonel is a Fighting Irish Scholar in the Office of Student Enrichment who serves as a residence hall ambassador in Keough Hall to help raise awareness for programs and events available through the office.

Division of Student Affairs recognizes outstanding student leaders

2022-04-29T13:00:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs recognized seven students at the 36th annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet on April 6. These annual awards honor current students who have made exceptional contributions to the Notre Dame community.

A business analytics major, Njomo served as student body president this year, and previously was the president of Stanford Hall where he advocated for marginalized individuals in residential communities. He was an active participant in the Building Bridges Mentoring Program within Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS), where he actively advocated on behalf of first-generation, low-income students, and served as a Notre Dame Young Life facilitator, guiding high school students in personal growth and daily skills. Most recently, Njomo served as a strong advocate for the observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a University holiday.

The Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Leadership Award was awarded to Mary Mueller from Lake Elmo, Minnesota. This award is given to a graduating senior who embodies Father Moreau’s vision of educating heart and mind as well as someone who has demonstrated significant effort in advancing the Catholic character of the University.

Mueller, a theology major with minors in studio arts, philosophy and Catholic social tradition, has been extensively involved in advancing the Catholic charism at Notre Dame, particularly through leadership roles in Campus Ministry and the Center for Social Concerns. She served as a Small Group Bible 91��Ƶ leader, a Compass Small Groups co-leader and the director of spirituality for Notre Dame Right to Life. She was also a member of Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations, and assisted with the Short Course Process for students entering the Catholic Church.

The Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., Award annually honors a graduating senior whose leadership has significantly advanced the climate of welcome and inclusion within or beyond the University community. This year’s recipient is Max Siegel from Fishers, Indiana.

A psychology and global affairs major, Siegel served as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council, president of the Zeta Alpha chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and a representative for athletics on the Student Government Executive Cabinet. In 2020, Siegel presented to the Undergraduate Experience and Student Life Committee of the Board of Trustees where he addressed the student experience related to the coronavirus pandemic and discussed microaggression training through MSPS. He also spoke at the 2020 Juneteenth Rally and Walk for Unity.

The John W. Gardner Student Leadership Award, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the ideals of the University through outstanding community service beyond the University community, was awarded to Greg Miller from Chandler, Arizona.

An applied and computational mathematics and statistics and honors economics major and constitutional studies and Hesburgh Program in Public Service minor, Miller has made significant contributions to the South Bend community in his time at Notre Dame. Engaging in local activism and housing advocacy efforts, Miller co-founded the South Bend Tenant Association, served as the president of the Roosevelt Institute and was appointed by the city of South Bend to serve on the Housing Affordability and the Landlord and Tenant Education task forces. In addition, he served as co-president of BridgeND and was named a 2021 Truman Scholar for his work in public service.

Thomas Deslongchamps from Milwaukee was awarded the Ray Siegfried Award for Leadership Excellence, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities for which former Notre Dame Trustee Ray Siegfried was known, including leadership, generosity, devotion to the Catholic faith and affinity for athletics.

A liberal studies major and business-economics and Italian minor, Deslongchamps was a goalkeeper on the men’s soccer team and was accepted to the Sorin Fellows Program in the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture. He also served as a co-leader in the University’s Communion and Liberation club, visiting local nursing homes, hosting weekly discussions about religious texts and fostering community and friendship.

Madeline Ward from St. Johns, Florida, was awarded the Mike Russo Spirit Award, honoring an outstanding undergraduate student who exemplifies the qualities for which Russo was known, including service, personal character and striving to bring the best out of themselves and others.

A political science and applied and computational mathematics and statistics major, Ward served as a resident assistant in Howard Hall and a Welcome Weekend ambassador. She also served as a co-chair of the ND Votes task force and as a core team member for the Summer Service Learning Program within the Center for Social Concerns. She volunteered as a teaching assistant at La Casa de Amistad in South Bend, and, as part of the Student Policy Network, Ward served as a lead on the Indiana Driving Privilege Card Project, advocating for legislation to provide driving privilege cards to undocumented Indiana residents.

The Denny Moore Award for Excellence in Journalism was awarded to Genevieve Redsten from Madison, Wisconsin. This award is given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities of Moore, a former Notre Dame associate vice president, who was known for his integrity, character, commitment to Notre Dame and writing ability.

An English major, Redsten served as editor-in-chief of Scholastic magazine, directing in-depth coverage on a variety of topics, including the University’s 50th anniversary of the admission of undergraduate women, the character of the Notre Dame Law 91��Ƶ and the University’s relationship to its neighbors in the South Bend community. A dedicated journalist, she earned internships at Indianapolis Monthly, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Tampa Bay Times. Following graduation, Redsten will intern with The Dallas Morning News.

Division of Student Affairs recognizes outstanding student leaders

2021-04-29T10:00:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs recognized seven students at the 35th annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet. These annual awards honor current students who have made exceptional contributions to the Notre Dame community.

A political science major with a minor in business economics and international development, Ingal served as student body president this year, and previously as the director of the First Undergraduate Experience in Leadership program and as vice president of Badin Hall. She is a Kellogg International Scholar and a member of Halftime A Cappella.

The Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., Award annually honors a graduating senior whose leadership has significantly advanced the climate of welcome and inclusion within or beyond the University community. This year’s recipient is Odalis Gonzalez Reyes from American Falls, Idaho.

A psychology and Latino studies major with a minor in education, schooling and society, Gonzalez served the Gender Relations Center as a program assistant for FIRE Starter, was the president of the Student Coalition for Immigration Advocacy and served on the leadership board of Show Some Skin. She was also a senior cohort leader for the AnBryce Scholars Initiative, led retreats for LatinX first-year students within the Office of Campus Ministry and dedicated time to tutoring and mentoring high school students in her time at Notre Dame.

The John W. Gardner Student Leadership Award, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the ideals of the University through outstanding community service beyond the University community, was awarded to Molly Link from Brush, Colorado.

A theology major with a minor in Catholic social tradition, Link has used her dedication to the Catholic faith to serve her fellow students and the local community in her time at Notre Dame. On campus, Link founded the BeLoved Women’s Discernment Community and serves as both a Resident Assistant in Lewis Hall and as a Campus Ministry Anchor Intern. Link is also an active leader in the Center for Social Concerns. She regularly serves the South Bend community as a catechist in a local parish and a volunteer with the Center for the Homeless.

The Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Leadership Award was awarded to Aaron Benavides from Corpus Christi, Texas. This award is given to a graduating senior who embodies Blessed Father Moreau’s vision of educating the heart and has demonstrated significant effort in advancing the Catholic character of the University.

Benavides, a political science major with minors in digital marketing, journalism and theology, served as the Student Government chief of staff his senior year, and in multiple student government positions prior, including the director of the Department of Faith and Service. He was appointed by University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., as the student representative with the Campus Engagement Task Force on clergy abuse, and served as a Basilica sacristan and Mass chair for the 2020 Junior Parents Weekend.

Conal Fagan from Derry, Northern Ireland, was awarded the Ray Siegfried Award for Leadership Excellence, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities for which former Notre Dame Trustee Ray Siegfried was known, including leadership, generosity, devotion to the Catholic faith and affinity for athletics.

A political science and peace studies major, Fagan served as the first Irish-born Notre Dame Leprechaun, a varsity cheerleader and a sports broadcaster for Fighting Irish Media. He has been an active leader within the Center for Social Concerns, served as a co-chair for the Kroc Institute for International Peace 91��Ƶ conference and dedicated his time beyond Notre Dame to coaching and mentoring students with disabilities.

Sarah Galbenski from Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, was awarded the Mike Russo Spirit Award, honoring an outstanding undergraduate student who exemplifies the qualities for which Russo was known, including service, personal character and striving to bring the best out of themselves and others.

An honors Spanish and global affairs major with a concentration in international peace studies, Galbenski served as student body vice president her senior year and in multiple leadership roles within her Walsh Hall community. She served the local South Bend community as well as communities abroad in Ecuador and Chile as a Spanish interpreter, bilingual tutor and English language instructor. Galbenski is a Kellogg International Scholar and member of the Notre Dame Folk Choir.

The Denny Moore Award for Excellence in Journalism was awarded to Dessi Gomez, from San Clemente, California. This award is given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities of Moore, a former Notre Dame associate vice president, who was known for his integrity, character, commitment to Notre Dame and writing ability.

An American studies major with minors in journalism, ethics, democracy and gender studies, Gomez served as a writer and editor with The Observer newspaper and Scholastic magazine, contributing to coverage of breaking news while also reporting on arts, culture and entertainment in the Notre Dame community. As a student journalist, Gomez traveled to Puerto Rico in 2019 to report on the island’s recovery following Hurricane Maria. She has also held two professional journalism internships, including one at the Los Angeles Times.

Division of Student Affairs awards scholarships to student leaders

2021-04-28T14:00:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs recently awarded scholarships for the 2021-22 academic year to five junior undergraduate students in recognition of their demonstrated leadership on campus and beyond.

After reviewing nominations from across campus, a selection committee composed of representatives from within and outside the division awarded the Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship to Allan Njomo and Sara Ferraro and the Hipp-Beeler Scholarship to Jennifer Moreno-Mendoza, Erica Browne and Samuel De La Paz.

The criteria for each scholarship is demonstrated leadership in residence hall programs, spiritual activities, community service, student government, student activities, entrepreneurial projects, interhall sports or any combination of these or other activities in the area of student life.

Established by Mike Harper in 1995, the Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship encourages recipients to develop leadership qualities similar to those of former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz. A junior business analytics major, Njomo earned a Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship as the result of his commitment to inclusion and social change within the Notre Dame community.

A Stanford Hall resident and newly elected student body president, Njomo was born in Kenya and relocated to the United States when he was 9 years old. Most recently, Njomo served as the president of Stanford Hall where he supported fellow residents throughout the pandemic and created a safe space for dialogue surrounding racial injustice that spearheaded a microaggression training program in partnership with Multicultural Student Programs and Services. Additionally, Njomo has actively advocated on behalf of first-generation, low-income students and worked to strengthen greater participation in the GreeNDot violence prevention program.

Ferraro, a junior from West Nyack, New York, majoring in the Program of Liberal 91��Ƶ (PLS) with a minor in data science, also received a Lou Holtz Leadership Scholarship. A Lyons Hall resident, Ferraro has been actively engaged with the Center for Social Concerns since her freshman year, completing a Summer Service Learning Program at Bethany House where she offered support and tangible resources to women facing homelessness. Ferraro continues to advocate for empowerment in social work and has since participated in two fall seminar programs and two Virtual Service Corps programs. Ferraro has held a wide range of on-campus leadership positions, and as co-president of ND Jump Rope, she teaches youth after-school programs in South Bend. Ferraro also serves on the PLS Student Advisory Committee and the Lyons Hall Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and founded a University chapter of Global Brigades, which focuses on human rights education and legal empowerment.

Established in 1992 by Notre Dame Student Government, the Hipp-Beeler Scholarship is designed to honor student-athletes Colleen Hipp and Meghan Beeler, who died in a bus accident. Moreno-Mendoza was awarded one of three Hipp-Beeler Scholarships for her commitment to and support of current and future students.

A marketing major with minors in Latino studies and theology, Moreno-Mendoza serves as a board member for the Fighting Irish Scholars program within the Office of Student Enrichment and as an Anchor Intern for the Office of Campus Ministry, where she helps coordinate the efforts of multicultural ministry. She is also the co-head advising fellow of the Matriculate chapter at Notre Dame, a program that guides and supports limited-resourced, high-achieving students in all aspects of the college application process. Additionally, Moreno-Mendoza co-founded the My College Journey Academy in her hometown of Irving, Texas, which helps local high school students prepare for college.

Browne was awarded the second Hipp-Beeler Scholarship for her excellence in student leadership. Originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Browne is a member of the Core Team within the Center for Social Concerns. In this role, she works to improve seminar leadership training and student preparation prior to seminar immersion. She also served as a co-leader for the center’s Act Justly Seminar, leading a dialogue on achieving racial justice in the Notre Dame and South Bend communities. Additionally, Browne served as a co-facilitator for Campus Ministry’s annual Plunge Retreat for Black first-year students at Notre Dame.

De La Paz, a mechanical engineering major with a minor in energy studies, received the third Hipp-Beeler Scholarship. At Notre Dame, De La Paz was accepted into the Rev. Don McNeill, C.S.C., Leadership Fellows Program within the Center for Social Concerns where he advocated on behalf of bipartisan clean energy legislation in Indiana. In addition, he serves as a team leader with Geothermal ND, is a member of and retreat leader for the Notre Dame Folk Choir and serves as the liturgical commissioner for Siegfried Hall.

Notre Dame adds 24/7 telehealth access to support students’ medical and mental health needs

2020-10-27T12:00:00-04:00

As part of the University of Notre Dame’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, all enrolled students now have free and immediate access to medical and mental health visits through TimelyMD, a telehealth company that specializes in higher education.

The new program, called Fighting Irish Care, offers students an additional resource for campus health, with medical care, mental health counseling and health coaching programs specifically designed for college students. The program gives students 24/7 access to free medical and/or one-time mental health counseling visits from licensed physicians and counselors, anytime and from anywhere in the United States.

“Fighting Irish Care is another addition to our growing list of student support services and a natural extension of the telehealth services currently offered by University Health Services and the University Counseling Center,” said Christine Caron Gebhardt, assistant vice president for health and wellness. “I’m thrilled students now have immediate access to health care and mental health support regardless of their needs or physical location to campus.”

For students, seeking care is as easy as making a video call. From an app on their phone or other device, students can see the profiles, faces and basic details of a diverse range of medical providers or mental health counselors available to them. They can choose to meet with a specific provider or select the first available. Typically, students have a video consultation with someone within 5-10 minutes.

TimelyMD enhances campus resources by helping to limit the spread of illness, remove the stigma of mental health counseling and grant peace of mind to students and their families. While 75 percent of college students in a recent survey said their mental health has worsened since the pandemic began, fewer than 30 percent have tried teletherapy as a coping strategy. Fighting Irish Care is one more strategy Notre Dame offers to break down barriers and increase access for students in need.

“Virtual access to medical and mental health counseling has never been more important, especially for college students who may be learning remotely, need care after hours and prefer to do so privately on their own devices,” said Luke Hejl, chief executive officer of TimelyMD. “Continuing classes on campus means anticipating and addressing the concerns, needs and demands of students and their families.”

Division of Student Affairs recognizes outstanding student leaders

2020-05-07T13:00:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs recently recognized seven students who have made exceptional contributions to the Notre Dame community. In place of what would have been the 34th annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet, Vice President for Student Affairs Erin Hoffmann Harding personally contacted the honorees to notify them of the annual awards and congratulate each student on his or her campus impact.

A marketing and film, television and theater major, Kim served as executive director of the Student Union Board and the chair of Junior Parents Weekend. In these roles, Kim fostered an environment of respect and inclusion, which positively impacted his peers and the Notre Dame community.

A biochemistry major with minors in anthropology and compassionate care in medicine, Abraham Arega has committed significant time and energy to advancing the climate of inclusion at Notre Dame. She was the vice president for the Notre Dame African Student Association, served on the advisory board for the Fighting Irish Scholars Program, was a peer mentor with the Building Bridges Mentoring Program and served as a focus group leader for the Inclusive Campus Student Survey. Abraham Arega also served her community as a resident assistant in Howard Hall and as a Campus Ministry small group leader.

The John W. Gardner Student Leadership Award, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the ideals of the University through outstanding community service beyond the University community, was awarded to Tim Jacklich from Glen Ellyn, Illinois.

A political science major, Jacklich has given much of his time at Notre Dame volunteering with Latino and immigrant populations both locally and nationally. In addition to his work serving Spanish-speaking youth and families, Jacklich served as co-president of the Notre Dame Glee Club and on the vice president for student affairs’ Advisory Committee for Student Climate Related to LGBTQ Students.

The Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Leadership Award was awarded to Carolina Robledo from Kirby, Texas. This award is given to a graduating senior who embodies Blessed Father Moreau’s vision of educating heart and mind as well as someone who has demonstrated significant effort in advancing the Catholic character of the University.

As a music major and history and education, schooling and society minor, Robledo has furthered Notre Dame's Catholic, Holy Cross character through extensive service in Campus Ministry. She served on various retreat teams and sang in Coro Primavera and the Notre Dame Liturgical Choir. She also assisted in planning Misa en Español and the annual Our Lady of Guadalupe Mass, and presented in residence halls about Las Posadas during Advent. In addition, Robledo coordinated the virtual Spanish Rosary during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Madeline Coady from Haverhill, Massachusetts, was awarded the Ray Siegfried Award for Leadership Excellence, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities for which former Notre Dame Trustee Ray Siegfried was known, including leadership, generosity, devotion to the Catholic faith and affinity for athletics.

An accountancy major and Catholic social tradition minor, Coady served as a resident assistant in McGlinn Hall and participated on the women’s rowing team. Coady also co-founded the Notre Dame Club of Greater Boston and served as a student assistant for Welcome Weekend.

Laksumi Sivanandan from Flushing, New York, was awarded the Mike Russo Spirit Award, honoring an outstanding undergraduate student who exemplifies the qualities for which Russo was known, including service, personal character and striving to bring the best out of themselves and others.

A political science and American studies major, Sivanandan served as vice president of the Notre Dame Class of 2020, where she fostered unity within the senior class. She was one of five student leaders representing Notre Dame at the ACC Student Leadership Symposium and, throughout her four years at Notre Dame, continually dedicated herself to helping her fellow students.

The Denny Moore Award for Excellence in Journalism was awarded to David Korzeniowski, from Framingham, Massachusetts. This award is given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities of Moore, a former Notre Dame associate vice president, who was known for his integrity, character, commitment to Notre Dame and writing ability.

A film, television and theater major, Korzeniowski served as managing editor of Scholastic. He was active as a student broadcaster providing on-air commentary for nearly a dozen Fighting Irish sports teams, including basketball, soccer and track and field. Korzeniowski received the All-American collegiate broadcasting honors from the Sportscasters Talent Agency of America.

Christine Caron Gebhardt appointed assistant vice president of student services

2019-11-05T10:50:00-05:00

Christine Caron Gebhardt, director of the Gender Relations Center at the University of Notre Dame, has been appointed assistant vice president for student services in the Division of Student Affairs, effective Monday (Nov. 11).

In this role, Caron Gebhardt will oversee the student service departments that support student health and well-being at Notre Dame, including the nationally accredited University Counseling Center, the nationally accredited University Health Services, the McDonald Center for Student Well-Being and the new Center for Student Support and Care, which includes the Care and Wellness program and the Sara Bea Disability Services. She will also serve as the division’s senior contact for student crisis, withdrawal and readmission, both for individual cases and the overall design of Notre Dame’s student response and intervention protocols.

“Christine is deeply committed to the holistic formation of our students, and she has successfully launched major new efforts in violence prevention and inclusion in her time at Notre Dame,” said Erin Hoffmann Harding, vice president for student affairs. “I am delighted that she will lead the development of an expanded vision for nurturing student health and well-being with her team, campus colleagues and students.”

Caron Gebhardt earned her doctoral degree in theological ethics with a focus on biomedical ethics from Vanderbilt University, where she also earned a master’s degree in theological studies. She received her bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies and the pre-medical program from the College of Holy Cross. She began her career at Notre Dame in 2012.

In her seven years as director of the Gender Relations Center, Caron Gebhardt has worked collaboratively with various offices within the Division of Student Affairs and the wider University to address topics related to healthy relationships, diversity and inclusion, and violence prevention. Concurrently, she serves as co-chair for both the Committee for Sexual Assault Prevention and the greeNDot violence prevention program. She is also a Title IX resource coordinator and an instructor for the Moreau First Year Experience.

Prior to Notre Dame, Caron Gebhardt worked for 16 years as the director of education and formation at Christ the King Church and the principal of Christ the King Grade 91��Ƶ in Nashville, Tennessee. As a faculty member at Vanderbilt University, Seattle University and other institutions across the south, she has more than 11 years of experience teaching courses on theological and philosophical ethics, biomedical ethics, human sexuality, gender and Catholic Social Justice.

Caron Gebhardt lives in South Bend with her husband, Carl, and two children, Jacob and Rachael.

Division of Student Affairs recognizes outstanding student leaders

2019-05-02T12:00:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs recognized seven students at the 33rd annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet on April 9. These annual awards honor current students who have made exceptional contributions to the Notre Dame community.

As a marketing major, Boggess has served as the executive director of the Student Union Board, welcomed visitors to campus as a tour guide and served in leadership roles for Welcome Weekend. Since her sophomore year, Boggess has served on the Orientation Steering Committee to help plan an inclusive Welcome Weekend and ensure a positive transition to life at Notre Dame for all students. She also served as a student facilitator for a focus group on political views as a part of the Inclusive Campus Student Survey.

A political science major and international development studies minor, Bineza has committed significant time and energy to improving the climate of welcome and inclusion on campus. She has served the Gender Relations Center since her sophomore year and held leadership roles in Shades of Ebony and Voices of Faith. She also led a focus group for the Inclusive Campus Student Survey.

The John W. Gardner Student Leadership Award, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the ideals of the University through outstanding community service beyond the University community, was awarded to Annelise Gill-Wiehl from Naples, Florida.

An environmental engineering major and international development studies minor, Gill-Wiehl is a Kellogg International Scholar who has used her innate compassion and the skills learned while at Notre Dame to effect change in rural Tanzania. She piloted a successful program to replace household stoves that emit hazardous pollution and are a leading cause of lung cancer in East Africa. She also learned Swahili, gained the trust of families and worked to lead a village toward cultural change.

The Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Leadership Award was awarded to Joe Crowley from Lansing, Michigan. This award is given to a graduating senior who embodies Blessed Father Moreau’s vision of educating heart and mind as well as someone who has demonstrated significant effort in advancing the Catholic character of the University.

An English and political science double major, Crowley has been extensively involved in advancing the Catholic character on campus, particularly through his leadership in music ministry and Campus Ministry. He serves the Zahm Hall community as director of choir for Sunday Mass, trains fellow music ministers in residence halls across campus and has been essential in some of the largest hall liturgies of the year. Crowley is a senior anchor intern for Liturgy with Campus Ministry, is a member of the Notre Dame Folk Choir and Glee Club, and was a student facilitator for the Inclusive Campus Student Survey focus groups.

Shannon Hendricks from Granger, Indiana, was awarded the Ray Siegfried Award for Leadership Excellence, presented to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities for which former Notre Dame Trustee Ray Siegfried was known, including leadership, generosity, devotion to the Catholic faith and affinity for athletics. A business analytics major and Catholic social tradition minor, Hendricks is a starter on the varsity women’s soccer team and has won several awards for positively impacting the soccer team environment on and off the field. Her zeal and passion have also propelled her to be an advocate and ally for adults with disabilities. She established a collaboration between Notre Dame women’s soccer and the Special Olympics soccer teams and, through research grants, has analyzed international organizations to determine the best way to care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Alyssa Ngo from Marion, Indiana, was awarded the Mike Russo Spirit Award, honoring an outstanding undergraduate student who exemplifies the qualities for which Mike Russo was known, including service, personal character and striving to bring the best out of themselves and others.

A program of liberal studies and English major, and education, schooling and society minor, Ngo serves as executive chair of the Diversity Council and previously served as president of the Vietnamese Student Association. She was an undergraduate panelist in the 2019 Walk the Walk Week luncheon and is a valued member of the Advisory Committee for Student Climate Related to Race and Ethnicity. She has also served in various settings as a thoughtful, vocal representative for marginalized student populations, and worked as a student facilitator for the Inclusive Campus Student Survey focus groups.

The Denny Moore Award for Excellence in Journalism was presented to Juan Jose Rodriguez, originally from Nashville, Tennessee. This award is given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities of Moore, a former Notre Dame associate vice president who was known for his integrity, character, commitment to Notre Dame and writing ability.

Rodriguez, a business analytics and film, television and theater major with a minor in journalism, served as editor-in-chief of Scholastic in 2018-19, directing in-depth coverage of topics of major interest to the Notre Dame community, including career opportunities, the pros and cons of living on campus and the #MeToo movement. He was also one of the driving forces in developing a new era of cooperation between the various student media groups that now, for the first time, occupy the same space in Duncan Student Center.

Division of Student Affairs recognizes outstanding student leaders

2018-04-18T08:00:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs recognized seven students at the 32nd annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet on Tuesday, April 10. These annual awards honor current students who have made exceptional contributions to the Notre Dame community.

As a political science and theology major with a minor in peace studies, Tang has served as a senior anchor intern in the Office of Campus Ministry where she co-led the RCIA program, guiding students on a year-long faith journey toward becoming fully initiated into the Catholic Church. Also in Campus Ministry, Tang founded the first fellowship group to support the faith needs of Chinese Catholic students and faculty at Notre Dame. In addition, Tang served on the Orientation Steering Committee and as an international ambassador for Welcome Weekend.

A Latino studies, romance languages and political science major, Jenn is committed to improving the climate of inclusion on campus, especially for Latino/a students and undocumented students. In his time at Notre Dame, Jenn has served as the president of the Latino Student Alliance, as president of Ballet Folklorico and as the student director of the Institute for Latino 91��Ƶ mentorship program.

The John W. Gardner Student Leadership Award, given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the ideals of the University through outstanding community service beyond the University community, was awarded to Majak Anyieth from Bor, South Sudan.

A science pre-professional and education major, Anyieth holds a deep commitment to promoting peace through education in his home country of South Sudan. Before coming to Notre Dame, Anyieth attended the African Leadership Academy in South Africa. In his time at Notre Dame, he founded the nonprofit organization Education Bridge with the purpose of building schools in South Sudan and educating children in the hopes of becoming leaders and proponents of peace. Last spring, the organization opened its first school and welcomed more than 200 students.

The Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Leadership Award was awarded to Liam Maher from South Bend, Indiana. This award is given to a graduating senior who embodies Blessed Father Moreau’s vision of educating heart and mind as well as someone who has demonstrated significant effort in advancing the Catholic character of the University.

An art history and political science major, Maher has been extensively involved in advancing the Catholic character on campus, particularly through leadership roles in Campus Ministry and the Gender Relations Center. He serves as the president of the Notre Dame Folk Choir and as the spirituality committee chair for the PrismND LGBTQ Alliance, and is a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee for Student Climate Related to LGBTQ Students.

Christopher Dethlefs from La Vista, Nebraska, was awarded the Ray Siegfried Award for Leadership Excellence, presented to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities for which former Notre Dame Trustee Ray Siegfried was known, including leadership, generosity, devotion to the Catholic faith and affinity for athletics.

Dethlefs is a four-year member of the men’s boxing club, serving for two years as captain and personally raising more than $17,000 through Bengal Bouts. A resident assistant in Sorin Hall, he has also been the dorm service commissioner for two years and was a participant in the International Summer Service Learning Program through the Center for Social Concerns.

Maxwell Ujdak from South Bend was awarded the Mike Russo Spirit Award, honoring an outstanding undergraduate student who exemplifies the qualities for which Russo was known, including service, personal character and striving to bring the best out of themselves and others.

Ujdak, a marketing and visual communications design double major, blazed a new path within the Notre Dame Band as the first student band manager to become a member of the Irish Guard. A resident of Zahm Hall, Ujdak was also one of two designers on the 2016 Shirt Committee, which sold more than 150,000 units.

The Denny Moore Award for Excellence in Journalism was presented to Selena Ponio, originally from Manila, Phillippines. This award is given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities of Moore, a former Notre Dame associate vice president, who was known for his integrity, character, commitment to Notre Dame and writing ability.

Ponio, an international economics major with a minor in the John W. Gallivan Program in Journalism, Ethics and Democracy, has worked as a writer and editor for The Observer and interned at the South Bend Tribune and CBS’ “60 Minutes.” Topics of her stories included the reaction of friends in her hometown of Dallas to the horrors of the 2016 shooting of police officers in that city, and memories of her own American citizenship ceremony.

Duncan Student Center to open on Notre Dame campus

2018-01-11T13:00:00-05:00

The Duncan Student Center at the University of Notre Dame will open in its entirety to students, faculty, staff and the greater Notre Dame community on Jan. 15 (Monday). With ample recreation and relaxation space, career services facilities, three dining options, student organization space and space for student-oriented programming, the facility will soon exist as a venue to foster the community atmosphere for which Notre Dame is so well known.

“The Duncan Student Center is the physical embodiment of the integration we hope our students will explore as they pursue their interests, cultivate their well-being and discern their futures,” said Erin Hoffmann Harding, vice president for student affairs. “I cannot wait to see how our students will bring this facility to life and use its spaces to further enrich and enliven our campus community.”

To commemorate the opening, a communitywide daylong celebration will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 15 with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. in front of the first-floor fireplace. Food samples from the facility’s three micro-restaurants will be served from noon to 2 p.m. Staff operating in the new building will also be available throughout the day to offer guided tours of their spaces on floors 2, 3, 4 and 5.

The first floor inside the new student center will house flexible, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, innovation space, lounges, dining areas and offices. Spaces include the Jan and Marty Hiller Midfield Commons, a comfortable setting conducive to studying or socializing;the Hagerty Family Café, serving Intelligentsia coffee and desserts; and two additional dining options, Modern Market, a farm to fork concept, and Star Ginger Asian Grill and Noodle Bar, a Vietnamese micro-restaurant.

The Thomas and Therese Grojean Family Loft will occupy the second floor to provide a setting for students to come together over food, schoolwork and relaxation. The loft also houses a large portion of the student media suite, which will offer a media laboratory atmosphere with newsrooms and radio studios visible through clear glass and an open television studio. Student media operations for NDTV, The Voice of the Fighting Irish (WVFI) internet radio, WSND-FM, Dome yearbook, Scholastic magazine and The Juggler will all relocate to the space.

Also on the second floor, graduate students will have dedicated graduate student-only study and lounge space in close proximity to the new home of Graduate Student Life and the Graduate Student Union. The Office ofResidential Life will also relocate on the southern portion of the second floor to provide easier access to services such as housing, rector support, RA development, summer housing and off-campus student support.

Commissioned artwork designed to celebrate the diversity that exists among Notre Dame students, faculty and staff will also be installed on the first two floors in the spring of 2018.

The Smith Center for Recreational Sports facility on the third and fourth floors will offer triple the amount of fitness space currently available in Rolfs Sports Recreation Center and will complement existing space in the Rockne Memorial and the new recreational courts in the North Dome of the Joyce Center. A three-story climbing wall, which will span the second, third and fourth floors, will be surrounded by a 1/6-mile suspended indoor track with an adjacent basketball court. These features, in addition to a variety of new equipment, will allow RecSports to broaden its fitness programming.

The fifth floor features an expanded Center for Career Development, with more than 40 interview rooms and meeting space to benefit students. Many of the rooms will be available for students to use in the evening for studying and student organization meetings. The center will also centrally locate Undergraduate Career Services, Graduate Career Services, Mendoza Graduate Business Career Services, and an employer engagement team to engage with alumni and recruiters.

The seventh floor holds the beautiful and flexible Dahnke Ballroom, a 500-seat facility that can be sub-divided to host smaller events.

Floors eight and nine have premium and club seating for football games as well as space for visiting coaches and athletic department officials. The Rasmus Family Club opened in fall 2017 to enhance the football game day experience and offers a stunning environment for pregame festivities.

Planning for the Duncan Student Center has ensured the facility will complement the student organization space and administrative offices located in the LaFortune Student Center. Duncan will operate in conjunction with LaFortune, which will continue to house departmental, student organization and administrative offices and serve its historic role as a student center in the heart of campus.

Notre Dame alumnus Raymond T. Duncan, his wife, Sally, and their family made a gift for construction of the new building prior to Raymond’s passing in 2015. A 1952 Notre Dame graduate, Duncan was the chairman and chief executive officer of Duncan Oil Inc. in Denver, Colorado, and founded Silver Oak and Twomey Cellars in Napa Valley and Sonoma County, California. In addition, he was the founder of Purgatory Ski Resort near Durango, Colorado. He was also a former member of the College of Arts and Letters Advisory Council and a retired member of the Snite Museum of Art Advisory Council. The Duncans’ support of the University also includes a gift in 2007 to build Duncan Hall, home to more than 230 male students, and the establishment of the Duncan Endowment for Excellence in American Art, which supports Snite Museum acquisitions, exhibitions, publications, education programs and research projects related to American art. The Duncans are also generous supporters of other areas of the University, including the Institute for Scholarship in Liberal Arts, Monogram Club, Department of Athletics and McCormack Scholarship.

Ryan Willerton appointed associate VP of Career and Professional Development

2017-08-16T08:00:00-04:00

Ryan Willerton, most recently the director of the Office of Community Standards at the University of Notre Dame, has been appointed associate vice president for career and professional development in the Division of Student Affairs, effective Aug. 22.

“Ryan is a proven and innovative leader with a longstanding reputation for upholding the values and mission of Our Lady’s University,” said Erin Hoffmann Harding, vice president for student affairs. “He cares deeply about and works tirelessly on behalf of our students, his colleagues and the University. I am confident in Ryan’s abilities to lead our outstanding career and professional services team, deepen relationships with employers and ensure Notre Dame students are well equipped to find success, meaning and impact in their professional roles.”

Willerton earned his master’s degree in educational psychology and guidance from Eastern Illinois University and his bachelor’s degree in Spanish/secondary education from Bradley University. He began his career at Notre Dame in 1998 as a student development coordinator in the Student Activities Office, and went on to serve as the assistant director of residence life and housing from 2001 to 2003.

From 2003 to 2012, Willerton was the director of Student Activities Facilities where he led a department that managed the LaFortune Student Center, Washington Hall and Stepan Center. He also trained and developed hundreds of student managers and employees, facilitated thousands of student meetings and events and welcomed more than 2 million guests to the student center annually.

Since 2012, Willerton has overseen the University’s conduct process, reshaping the Office of Community Standards through careful study and engagement of students to ensure University policies and processes support student growth from their choices.

Under Willerton’s direction, career services at Notre Dame will continue to allow students to reflect on their talents and values to seek impact in their careers while leveraging a robust network of alumni, benefactors and employers.

In his new role, Willerton will work collaboratively with undergraduate and graduate career services coaching and counseling teams and an employer relations team to create strategies for career discernment and development of Notre Dame students. He will also take an active role in outreach to existing and potential employers, recruiters and organizations to cultivate new relationships and expand career opportunities.

In addition, Willerton will oversee the operation of a world-class Career Center within the Duncan Student Center that will allow Notre Dame to reimagine the ways in which career services and resources are delivered not only to students, but to employer partners and alumni.

Willerton lives in South Bend with his wife, Mattie, and their two sons, Jack and Quinn. Mattie, a graduate of Notre Dame’s Remick Leadership Program, is entering her fifth year as principal of St. John the Evangelist Catholic 91��Ƶ in Goshen.

Contact: Kate Morgan, communications program director for student affairs, 574-631-1377, kmorgan4@nd.edu

Basilica of the Sacred Heart to close for next phase of organ installation

2015-12-07T09:30:00-05:00

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame will close for three weeks from Dec. 28 (Monday) through Jan. 15 (Friday) for the next phase of the installation of the new Murdy Family Organ. The Basilica will reopen for the 5 p.m. Vigil Mass on Jan. 16.

The new Murdy Family Organ, to be fully operational by Christmas 2016, will replace the current Holtkamp Organ. In 2013-14, the Basilica closed for renovations including the removal of carpeting and the installation of slate tile flooring to aid acoustics. This year’s closure will allow for workers to make space for the new Murdy Family Organ.

“The current Holtkamp Organ was not designed to be played as frequently as it is now, and the sound quality has continued to suffer,” said Andrew McShane, associate director for music and liturgy in the Office of Campus Ministry. “Two Masses each day along with choir rehearsals and ongoing student practice sessions have created serious operating issues. The Basilica has simply outgrown the current organ and there is a need for a larger, better functioning organ to occupy the space and sustain the Basilica for years to come.”

While the Basilica is closed, the Holtkamp Organ will be removed and work to reinforce the balcony from the basement to the loft will begin. Reinforcement is necessary as the Murdy Family Organ is substantially heavier than the existing organ. In addition, all of the pews in the west transept will be removed to make room for the choirs that will begin singing near the interim organ in January. The choirs will be relocated back to the choir loft once the Murdy Family Organ is functional.

The new Murdy Family Organ is being designed and built by Paul Fritts and Co. Organ Builders, based in Tacoma, Washington. The organ will be delivered in August 2016. The entire assembly and voicing process will take approximately four months to complete and will be accomplished by the Fritts team at night and during off hours. The organ, in addition to the new flooring installed in 2014, was made possible by a donation from Wayne and Diana Murdy.

While the Basilica is closed, all liturgies will be celebrated in the Sacred Heart Parish Crypt. A complete Mass schedule is online at campusministry.nd.edu.

Through undergraduate, graduate, liturgical and music ministries, the Office of Campus Ministry fosters personal spiritual growth; encourages participation in the sacramental and liturgical life of the Church; supports other forms of worship and personal prayer; provides opportunities for pilgrimages, retreats and service; and seeks to enhance and develop lifelong faith formation. For more information, visit campusministry.nd.edu.

Contact: Kate Morgan, associate director of communications, Office of Campus Ministry, 574-631-5241 (office), 574-440-4788 (mobile), kmorgan4@nd.edu