Leading scholars of the Irish language from across Europe and North America gathered in central London last week for In ÉiNDí 2026, an academic seminar conducted entirely in the Irish language and hosted at Notre Dame London.

According to the seminar’s organizer, Brian Ó Conchubhair, Professor of Irish Language and Literature at the University of Notre Dame, the gathering is an important moment for Irish-language scholarship in Britain.

“To our knowledge, this may be the first academic conference hosted in the UK that is conducted entirely through Irish,” Ó Conchubhair said. “It reflects the growing international community of scholars who use Irish as a language of research and intellectual exchange.”

Hosting the seminar in London reflects the global reach of Irish-language scholarship. As an international center for the study of Ireland and its language, the University of Notre Dame has long played a leading role in advancing Irish studies beyond Ireland. In ÉiNDí 2026 represents an example of this commitment, bringing scholars together in a global setting to strengthen Irish as a language of research and intellectual exchange. The seminar's organizer, Brian Ó Conchubhair is a fellow of the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies in the Keough School of Global Affairs and a leader of the Irish Language Initiative in Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters.

The two-day seminar featured keynote lectures from leading Irish-language scholars, including Máire Ní Mhaonaigh of University of Cambridge, Pádraig Ó Siadhail of University of St Mary’s University Halifax, and James Little of the University of Cyprus. Presenters also included scholars from universities across Ireland and beyond, with representatives from every major Irish university participating in the programme.

Beyond textual scholarship, the seminar also explored how Irish-language sources can be used for deeper understanding of broader social and historical questions. Presentations examined topics ranging from the emotional lives reflected in medieval texts to Irish-language responses to global political issues, including reactions to apartheid in South Africa. These topics show that the Irish language has always been a medium for responding to global human rights issues and internal psychological states.

The seminar also addressed contemporary concerns facing Irish-speaking communities. For example, sessions explored topics such as language use in healthcare settings and the ways in which Irish speakers navigate both Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) communities and the wider English-speaking world.

Discussions highlighted how the field is evolving to reach new generations of scholars and students. Digital tools and resources, such as the Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language (eDIL), are making centuries of Irish-language material more accessible, helping to connect traditional Irish Studies with the research habits and expectations of a digital-native Generation Z.

“The timing of the event in 2026 is a significant milestone,” said Ó Conchubhair. “With sessions tracing the history of Irish programs from 1972 to 2026, the seminar offers a moment to reflect on more than fifty years of institutional progress. It is both a celebration of survival and an opportunity to think strategically about the future of the language in a globalized world, ensuring that Irish remains a vibrant, intellectual, and research-driven language on the world stage.”

Learn more about Irish Language Initiatives at Notre Dame. 

Originally published by Joanna Byrne at london.nd.edu on March 17, 2026.

But, the International Travel Registry serves as the essential foundation for how the University supports you when the unpredictable happens.

How It Helps You: The Power of the Headstart

The core philosophy is simple: Anticipation is better than reaction.

"The registry is the backbone of our ability to provide support. It allows us to anticipate things that may impact you so that we can give you a headstart to avoid a problem, or begin planning on how to address the problem," said Chris Ray, Director of Global Safety & Security.

When you provide your flight and hotel, you aren't just giving the University your itinerary; you’re giving them the ability to tailor health, safety, and security messaging and support specific to the risks that may be about to impact you.

This headstart has assisted travelers from being stranded during natural disasters or security events, where the nearest airport might close. Because the University knows where our people are, they can suggest alternative routes before you even realize you’re stuck.

During recent widespread protests in Kenya and Bangladesh, the department used registry data to alert travelers to increased risks in near-real-time. This allowed faculty and students to modify their plans or ensure they had the necessary resources before they ever encountered an issue.

How It Helps the University: Protecting Our People and Our Mission

From a bird's-eye view, the registry allows the University to act as a cohesive unit during a crisis. Beyond individual safety, the registry acts as a strategic map for Notre Dame. It helps the University understand where our global footprint is expanding and ensures we are meeting the rigorous safety requirements needed for federal funding and research grants.

Ray points out that the data collected (which is kept non-personally identifiable) actually shapes the University’s future.

"We use this data to create patterns," Ray says. "It helps the University see areas where we may want to consider new academic programming, much like our increased investment in Mexico programs because we saw such a large travel profile there."

This coordination also extends to our global events. When a department recently hosted a large gathering in Peru, the registry allowed GS&S to provide health and security updates not just to our own staff, but to non-ND participants as well, ensuring the event ran smoothly for everyone involved.

How It Helps the World: Responsible Global Engagement

Finally, the registry allows Notre Dame to be a responsible global citizen. During times of geopolitical tension, having a registry allows for precise, calm communication.

Instead of a generic "avoid the area" email, the University can reach out specifically to those on the ground to help them navigate local risks. This ensures that our researchers and students can continue their important work without becoming part of the crisis themselves.

Originally published by Molly Di Carlo at police.nd.edu on March 30, 2026.

Set against the iconic backdrop of the Golden Dome, this high-energy celebration invites admitted students and their families to experience the pride, tradition, and unmistakable spirit that define Notre Dame. It’s more than an event—it’s a welcome into a community that will support and inspire them for years to come.

The afternoon will come alive with the sounds of the Notre Dame Marching Band, the excitement of the cheerleading team and leprechaun, and the shared energy of students, faculty, and staff. Special guest speakers will reflect on what it means to be part of Notre Dame, offering words of encouragement as the students of the Class of 2030 prepare to begin their journey.

From Rally towels waving across the quad to giveaways and moments of collective celebration, this gathering will create a lasting memory for our admitted students and their families. It’s a chance to look back on an incredible weekend and to look ahead to what’s next.

All members of the Notre Dame community are invited to come out, show their spirit, and play a part in welcoming the Class of 2030. Your presence helps create the kind of send-off that defines Notre Dame: warm, spirited, and rooted in tradition.

Please join us as we come together to celebrate, to welcome, and to say with one voice: “Love Thee, Notre Dame!”

To signal the start and culmination of this celebration, the iconic Word of Life Mural at the Hesburgh Library will be illuminated in green on the evenings of April 1 and April 22.

Go Behind the Scenes with Earth Month Programming

This year, Notre Dame Sustainability has curated a unique lineup of programming designed for the campus community to connect with one another and learn about the vast projects that often go unseen to the everyday campus constituent. Students, faculty, and staff are invited to engage with the campus and explore its hidden systems. Featured events include: Joyce Center Green Roof Tours; Power Plant Tours; St. Mary’s Lake Litter Pick-Up; Campus Green Tours; and a specially-curated viewing at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, exploring the intersection of creativity and water—one of Earth’s precious resources.

A Landmark Year: Celebrating A Decade of Sustainability Impact

The year 2026 marks a significant milestone: a decade since the publication of Notre Dame’s original 2016 Sustainability Strategy. While we look toward the work that remains ahead of us, the past ten years have seen transformative growth. From significant strides in campus decarbonization and food waste mitigation to the expansion of LEED-certified buildings and green roof infrastructure, our collective progress is a testament to the University’s mission.

Join the Celebration

To honor these achievements and the partners who made them possible, Notre Dame Sustainability invites the campus community to the Third Annual Sustainability Celebration on April 22. At the celebration, attendees will have the opportunity to connect with fellow sustainability champions, celebrate both internal and external partnerships, and learn what’s on the horizon for sustainability at the University.

This year’s event carries special significance as we welcome University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. Fr. Dowd’s connection to sustainability at Notre Dame is deep-rooted. As a founding member of the Sustainability Strategy Standing Committee and chair of one of the original working groups, he was instrumental in laying some of the groundwork for the progress we celebrate today. During the formal portion of the evening, Fr. Dowd will provide closing remarks and reflect on sustainability at Notre Dame.

We Want to Hear From You

As we prepare for the Third Annual Sustainability Celebration, we want to show appreciation to sustainability champions across campus working behind the scenes to carry out the critical work that makes Notre Dame more sustainable. We want to hear from the campus community: What does sustainability at Notre Dame mean to you? What progress are you most proud of? How do you feel most impacted by this work? Take a moment to express your sentiments or gratitude here for the opportunity to be featured.

Originally published by Olivia Farrington at green.nd.edu on March 30, 2026.

The ranking is based on academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact. Out of 150 universities included, Notre Dame’s score of 92.2 bested the University of Oxford (89.2), Harvard University (89.1), Durham University (88.7) and Boston College (88.3).

“To be ranked No. 1 in the world for two years in a row is a momentous accomplishment for which all our faculty and staff deserve great credit,” said Fr. Khaled Anatolios, the John A. O’Brien Professor of Theology and chair of the department. “As a department, we take the measure of our own performance less from external rankings than from fidelity to our mission. Nevertheless, these consistently top rankings demonstrate that our fidelity produces scholarly results that are literally second to none in commanding international admiration.”

Guided by the ideals of “faith seeking understanding” and bringing together “things new and old,” the department has six principal areas of research — moral theology, history of Christianity, liturgy, biblical studies, systematic theology and world religions and world church.

In addition to offering a doctorate and four master’s degree programs, Notre Dame’s theology department maintains a strong commitment to undergraduate education by supporting more than 800 theology majors or minors and teaching the theology courses that all Notre Dame students take as part of the University’s Core Curriculum.

Originally published by Arts & Letters at al.nd.edu on March 26, 2026.

Established by the late Pope Francis in 2016, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development supports the Church’s worldwide efforts in the areas of human dignity and human rights, economic justice, care for creation, migration and displacement, as well as peace, conflict and humanitarian crises.

As a dicastery member, Father Groody will contribute to the body’s ongoing discernment process that will help orient the Church’s mission and priorities. He will continue in his roles at Notre Dame while serving the dicastery.

While numerous Notre Dame faculty members have served the Vatican as consultants to dicasteries and have been named to pontifical academies and commissions, Father Groody’s appointment is a distinct honor, noted University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.

“To be called upon by the Holy See to serve in this capacity is a testament to Father Groody’s deep commitment to leadership in service of the most vulnerable among us. This appointment is also an affirmation of Notre Dame’s ongoing contributions to Catholic social thought, to integral ecology and to forming leaders dedicated to the common good,” Father Dowd said. “I am profoundly grateful for Father Groody’s dedication to the University and to the Church, and I am confident that his leadership will be a tremendous blessing as he helps to guide the Church in these areas.”

The most notable precedent in Notre Dame history is the appointment of then-President Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., as a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture by Pope St. John Paul II in 1983.

“I am truly honored and humbled by Pope Leo’s appointment,” Father Groody said. “My vocation is to serve, together with my colleagues at Notre Dame and around the world. The work of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is vital to informing the Church’s response to the world’s most vulnerable people and the most pressing global challenges of our time.”

Father Groody’s academic and pastoral work has focused in part on migration, theology, refugees and human displacement — areas that are directly relevant to the mandate of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. An internationally recognized expert on migration, Father Groody is also an award-winning author, teacher and documentary film producer. He has written four books and numerous articles and has edited or co-edited five books. His works have been translated into nine languages.

Father Groody’s most recent book, “A Theology of Migration: The Bodies of Refugees and the Body of Christ,” includes an introduction written by Pope Francis and received first-place recognition from the Catholic Press Association.

This announcement follows Father Groody’s appointment under Pope Francis in 2025 to the General Council of the Laudato Si’ Higher Education Center in Castel Gandolfo, which is now known as Borgo Laudato Si’.

In that role, Father Groody helps shape the vision, direction and formation of the center, as well as advising on initiatives and global partnerships. He also plays an essential role in Notre Dame’s recently announced partnership with the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Center to establish a Global Alliance dedicated to integral ecology and global sustainability.

Contact: Carrie Gates, associate director of media relations, 574-993-9220, c.gates@nd.edu

Originally published by Carrie Gates at news.nd.edu on March 30, 2026.

In this episode of NDWorks Podcast, host Natalie Davis Miller sits down with Mike Martin, Notre Dame Football General Manager. Martin talks about his life, early beginnings in football as a player and a scout, and his new role at Notre Dame.

This episode of NDWorks Podcast was edited by Michael Wiens, with original music by Alex Mansour and additional music provided by Universal Production Music.

The updates from Executive Vice President Shannon Cullinan and Vice President for Human Resources Heather Christophersen also included new details about a simplified approach to performance management and the University’s continued investment in undergraduate financial aid.

More than 1,200 staff attended the town hall across three 45-minute sessions held in the Leighton Concert Hall and Carey Auditorium.

Changes to performance management, Self Service Center

Christophersen said the new performance management structure simplifies the existing process to promote more meaningful conversations between supervisors and direct reports.

The changes include more flexibility in how staff write their expectations, as well as an evaluation based on “performance dimensions”—attributes connected to one’s role—instead of an overall numerical ranking.

“We heard from you about the feeling of being associated with a number, or put in a box,” Christophersen said.

Christophersen also discussed enhancements to the Self Service Center, an online hub where employees can access information, tools, and support related to Human Resources. The new site has an updated interface for easier navigation, and a real-time live chat during specific hours.

“It’s designed to help you find answers whenever you’re looking for them, whether that be in the evening with your spouse and you’re trying to find medical information, or if your childcare fell through in the morning,” Christophersen said.

Christophersen also announced the return of Staff Appreciation Night at the South Bend Cubs, which is scheduled for Thursday, July 23. More information will follow later this spring.

Cullinan thanks staff, shares financial aid increase

In his remarks, Cullinan expressed gratitude for staff members’ hard work and thoughtful stewardship since last year’s spring town hall, when he and other leaders outlined “storm clouds” the University faced.

“You’ve done extraordinary work,” Cullinan said. “Here, everybody’s in the tent together. It isn’t like that everywhere in higher education when you’ve got challenges.”

Cullinan also encouraged staff to continue caring for one another, which he called a hallmark of Notre Dame’s culture.

“If you’re hurting, this is a good place to be,” he said. “Particularly when we come to work, let’s look out for each other.”

On the same day an expansion to the Pathways to Notre Dame program was announced, Cullinan also discussed Notre Dame’s push to become more accessible and affordable.

Approximately 50% of undergraduates receive need-based financial aid, with another 20% receiving other forms of aid. Among those students receiving need-based aid this year, the average tuition paid was about $8,300, Cullinan said. Because of the Pathways program, no financial aid packages include loans.

“You should be really proud of this, because it takes all of us,” he said.

Cullinan also gave an update on campus construction projects, including two new residence halls, Coyle and Therese Mary Grojean halls, that will house more than 500 students starting in August. He also highlighted the Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, where Notre Dame faculty, students, and staff will provide mental health care to the South Bend community and conduct research starting this fall.

Panel on well-being and stress management

The remainder of the Staff Town Hall was dedicated to the topics of well-being and stress management. The segment began with a panel featuring Nancy Michael, the Rev. John A. Zahm, C.S.C., Teaching Professor of Biological Sciences; Amanda Zelechoski, the Veldman Clinic’s director of clinical services; and Jennifer Burke Lefever, managing director of the Veldman Clinic.

The panel covered how stress affects both our minds and bodies. While some stress is a normal part of daily life, the group explained, it can create long-term negative health impacts if left unaddressed.

The connection between stress and our bodies is meant to help us respond to what’s happening in our environment, Michael said. The lower-order parts of our brain process a situation based on past experiences and quickly prepare the body for what it thinks will occur.

When a moment of uncertainty occurs, Michael said, our body reacts with the signs typical of stress and anxiety: increased heart rate and blood pressure, perspiration, and more.

This mechanism helps us defend ourselves against danger, but it can also be directed toward non-life-threatening situations. Lefever used the example of stress affecting her sleep the night before the town hall as she wondered what to say to the audience.

“I don’t have a tiger chasing me,” she said, “but that impacted my health.”

Because our stress response is controlled by the lower-order parts of our brain, rationalizing or wishing away the stress isn’t an effective way to curb it, Zelechoski said. Instead, physical techniques like deep breathing can help offset the body’s natural response.

“When you’re stressed or frustrated and people tell you, ‘Hey, just calm down.’ Is that helpful?” Zelechoski asked the audience. “It doesn’t work because your brain is in survival mode.”

To practice some of these stress management techniques, the town hall concluded with Donna Armentrout, a clinician at the Veldman Clinic, leading the audience in two mindfulness exercises.

“Sometimes stress, worry, sadness show up in ways we’re not expecting, at times we’re not expecting,” Armentrout said. “It helps to have simple, reliable tools to use in those moments to help us feel calm and grounded.”

You can see the techniques Armentrout shared, and a full video recording of town hall with the option for closed captioning, on the executive vice president’s website.

Sister Raffaella Petrini, F.S.E., president of the Pontifical Commission and Governorate of Vatican City State, will be the principal speaker and receive an honorary degree at the University of Notre Dame’s 181st University Commencement Ceremony on May 17, Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., announced today.

In February 2025, the late Pope Francis appointed Sister Petrini, a member of the religious congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, to the dual roles of president of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and president of the Governorate of Vatican City State. She is the first woman to hold these top leadership positions in the Vatican. Prior to these appointments, Sister Petrini served as secretary general of the Governorate of Vatican City State.

“Sister Raffaella is an extraordinary leader who works tirelessly for the common good and radiates the peace, love and hope of Christ. As the highest-ranking woman in the Vatican, she embodies the future of women’s leadership in the Church, having served Pope Francis and now Pope Leo with deep wisdom, unfailing dedication and true humility,” Father Dowd said. “It is a privilege to have her address the members of the Class of 2026 and their loved ones who are sure to be inspired by her words and prophetic witness.”

As president of the governorate, Sister Petrini is responsible for the administrative operations of Vatican City State, which has approximately 600 inhabitants and nearly 2,000 employees. Her responsibilities include managing public services; overseeing security, health care and the Vatican Museums; chairing the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; and ensuring that all operations align with the pope’s mission.

Sister Petrini is also a member of the Dicastery for Bishops, which assists the pope in the selection and appointment of bishops, and the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See, the body responsible for managing Vatican finances.

On Feb. 3, Pope Leo XIV appointed Sister Petrini to the Commission for Reserved Matters, the entity responsible for awarding financial contracts in confidential areas of the Vatican.

Born in Rome, Sister Petrini is a distinguished scholar and economist. She holds a degree in political science from Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali (LUISS) in Rome, a master’s degree in organizational behavior from the University of Hartford and a doctorate in social sciences from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. In addition to her responsibilities in the Vatican City State, Sister Petrini is a professor of welfare economics and sociology of economic processes in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Angelicum.

Sister Petrini visited the Notre Dame campus in November 2023 to present the Keeley Vatican Lecture at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, focusing on integral human development and organizational management rooted in a “leadership of care.”

The 2026 University Commencement Ceremony will be held in Notre Dame Stadium on May 17 beginning at 9 a.m. with the academic procession.

Contact: Carrie Gates, associate director of media relations, c.gates@nd.edu, 574-993-9220

Originally published by Notre Dame News at news.nd.edu on March 19, 2026.

Corcelli, who has served as interim science dean since July, was selected through a comprehensive national search launched after his predecessor, Santiago Schnell, was appointed as Dartmouth’s provost.

“In multiple roles at Notre Dame, including associate dean, department chair, and most recently as interim dean, Steve has consistently earned the respect of his colleagues and proven to be a wise and visionary leader who is deeply dedicated to our Catholic mission,” Father Dowd said. “I am confident that under his leadership, the College of Science will continue to play an essential role in Notre Dame’s pursuit of excellence as a global Catholic research university.”

As dean, Corcelli will lead six departments comprising more than 280 faculty, more than 600 doctoral students, and 1,726 undergraduate student majors. He will guide the college in its mission to prepare the scientific leaders of tomorrow, seek greater understanding of the natural world and foster discoveries that answer the world’s toughest questions and solve its most enduring problems.

John T. McGreevy, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost, said Corcelli rose to the top of a highly qualified pool of candidates. “Over the past two decades at Notre Dame, he has shown a commitment to collaboration and innovation in the laboratory and the classroom,” McGreevy said. “Steve’s leadership experience, his background as a first-generation college student, his distinction as a nationally recognized computational chemist and his commitment to the University’s Catholic mission will make him a superb dean of the College of Science.”

Corcelli leads a research program focused on the molecular-level understanding of aqueous acids, bases and salts, as well as on the mechanisms of biomolecular binding. His lab uses advanced simulations to investigate ion transport in aqueous electrolytes — relevant to battery technologies — and the binding interactions critical to biological function and drug development.

He has received national recognition for his research, including an NSF CAREER Award, a Sloan Research Fellowship, and the Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award. Corcelli is a fellow of the American Chemical Society and a Kavli Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences. He has authored over 90 publications and given more than 100 invited talks.

Corcelli is also a dedicated educator who has received multiple teaching awards, including the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and the Thomas P. Madden Award for Excellence in Teaching First-Year Undergraduates.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Brown University and his doctoral degree in chemistry from Yale University. After completing a postdoctoral research position at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, he joined Notre Dame’s faculty as an assistant professor in 2005.

Prior to his appointment as interim dean, Corcelli served as chair of the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry from 2022 to 2025, and as the associate dean for interdisciplinary studies and faculty development in the College of Science from 2019 to 2022.

“I am deeply honored to serve as the William K. Warren Foundation Dean of the College of Science,” Corcelli said. “Notre Dame has a unique opportunity to integrate scientific discovery with its Catholic mission in ways that serve both the University and the broader world. I look forward to working with our community to strengthen partnerships across the University and beyond; support our faculty, students and staff in their pursuit of discovery and learning; and advance an intellectually ambitious vision for science in service to the common good.”

McGreevy thanked the search committee for its work over the past several months. “Members represented the University well and were diligent in identifying, evaluating and recruiting an excellent pool of candidates,” he said. “I appreciate their steady work and discernment throughout the search process.”

Contact: Brandi Wampler, associate director of media relations, brandiwampler@nd.edu, 574-631-2632

Originally published by Kate Garry at news.nd.edu on March 24, 2026.

“But coming to the University was probably one of the best decisions I made for myself and my family. I am grateful to God for leading me to Notre Dame,” Hawkins said. “Having the opportunity to speak with Father Ted [Hesburgh], hearing his stories and seeing how he served the community near and far, touched my heart and has inspired me to embrace the mission.”

Hawkins is a senior people strategy partner in NDHR, a position that provides guidance to people leaders around performance management, work culture, and workforce planning. She is originally from Jamaica, where the coat of arms states “Out of many, one people.” “So, there is no difference. We are all one. I think that’s in me, a part of Jamaica I still have.”

Hawkins exemplifies her spirit of community by making sure every employee she interacts with not only feels valued, but also knows that they contribute to what the University is.

“I think community’s important because we all come from a different place and deal with different challenges. We are better when we humble ourselves, seek to understand, respectfully challenge each other, embrace our differences and seek to understand how those behaviors make us better. Community is authentically supporting each other. I am still amazed at how the members of the Notre Dame community step up and support each other in good and challenging times.”

Hawkins gave an example of working with organizational design and a change team of 13 people within a department on campus.

“Some people were new, and some people had been here longer. Someone who was newer said, ‘Why would you want me on the change team?’ We explained that they brought new thoughts, new ideas, and new experiences since coming to Notre Dame. Lastly, we wanted them to know that the ideas that they shared could help us be better. That’s what makes Notre Dame what it is. We are working together as a community to meet common goals and values with care, respect, authenticity, and trust—all while maintaining excellence in how we continue to serve the mission of the University.”

Additional features

Gracie Gallagher, Catholic Mission

Anna McKeever, Collaboration

George Heeter, Excellence

Shawn Thomas, Innovation

Over the years, she had managed some of the most complicated insurance circumstances imaginable, from hurricane response requirements and coverage and pricing questions involving the recent California wildfires, to other exposures such as terrorism, school shootings, pollution, and cyber security incidents. By working with parties within the industry, state regulators, consultants, and industry advocacy groups, Seeger gained a strong understanding of the complexities of balancing interests and creating solutions.

Seeger, the managing director of Notre Dame’s Poverty Initiative, sensed the urge to move on to something different, where she would still have a direct impact on improving people’s lives, but where she could also be personally inspired in new ways.

“I had a great career in the (re)insurance sector, felt like I had made a real impact on the organization and found it incredibly satisfying,” Seeger explained. “But I also wanted to expand and refresh my knowledge, challenge my thinking, and work with people who have other backgrounds and perspectives.”

There are no such things as coincidences

Seeger found her way to Notre Dame through the Inspired Leadership Initiative (ILI) program in 2018, where she quickly engaged with other Notre Dame faculty and staff, making personal and professional connections and establishing relationships that have become a meaningful and lasting part of her life. Following her ILI fellowship, Seeger became an adjunct instructor for the Moreau College Initiative, an academic program of Holy Cross College that provides undergraduate degrees in the liberal arts to individuals incarcerated within the Indiana Department of Correction system.

For two semesters, Seeger taught a required course in Communications and Public Speaking at the Westville Correctional Facility, imparting her experience to the incarcerated students. “My year teaching proved to be incredibly rewarding,” Seeger said.

Seeger also engaged with a number of non-profit organizations in Maine where she and her husband own a home. These include board work at the YMCA, working with the local food pantry and Audubon Society, and serving as an advisor for the Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute. All these efforts gave her the pivot she needed.

Networking relationships through ILI and the Moreau experience remained in place for Seeger and eventually directed her back to Notre Dame as the vision for the Poverty Initiative began to coalesce. She already knew Jim Sullivan, director of the Poverty Initiative and director and co-founder of Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO). Accepting the invitation to come on board felt like the right decision.

“At the time, I was not really interested in returning to work on a full-time basis,” Seeger said. “But as I learned more about the Poverty Initiative mission, I became intrigued. I felt a pull back to Notre Dame.”

Seeger knew it was the right move at just the right time, and an appropriate match for her personality. “I am most energized when allowed to pinpoint areas of need, work with caring and talented people to understand issues and implement viable solutions,” she said.

How the Poverty Initiative works and its primary focus

Poverty is one of humankind’s greatest challenges, and finding solutions to end poverty is a moral imperative at Notre Dame, said Seeger. She considers it to be a natural priority within the University’s Strategic Framework.

Working with the Provost’s Office and University deans, the Poverty Initiative funds innovative ideas, allowing new efforts to be immediately stood up and to begin their work. The Poverty Initiative then works to support Notre Dame Development to ensure that efforts that take hold can be sustained over the long term.

The initiative’s primary focus is on academic research—moving research that shows what works into the hands of policymakers and providers—and educating the next generation of students dedicated to poverty elimination.

The Poverty Initiative’s initial anchor investments were LEO, residing within the College of Arts & Letters, and the Pulte Institute for Global Development within the Keough School of Global Affairs. But since this is a campus-wide initiative, those signature investments have been expanded to include Notre Dame Population Analytics, the new Strengthening Families Research Initiative, and the Building Inclusive Growth (BIG) Lab. In addition, as part of the annual Poverty Research Package process, the initiative has awarded eight significant grants to faculty working on groundbreaking research projects across multiple colleges and schools.

Another priority is supporting the recruitment of expert faculty whose work intersects with solving poverty. One recent example supported the establishment of the Migration Research Initiative, based at the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights in the Keough School, which included recruiting two new faculty to Notre Dame.

Finding inspiration in preparing future generations

A critical investment area of the Poverty Initiative is the creation of the Poverty Research Fellows (PRF) student formation program, which allows students from all academic disciplines to participate in anti-poverty work. Seeger says this program, led by Laura Connelly, “will help form the next generation of leaders who are working toward poverty elimination through a wide range of potential career paths.”

The fellows program has three main components: funded internships, academic courses, and immersive learning trips. The summer internships are research-focused, including skills building, programming, and working directly on research projects.

Seeger says the Poverty Initiative worked with the Department of Economics to hire Adrienne Judson as an assistant teaching professor. Judson has created the first Evidence-Based Poverty Alleviation Concentration that launched this spring semester. “We hope that this will be a prototype for developing concentrations in other academic departments over time,” Seeger added.

Finally, the PRF program includes a hands-on, one-credit immersive course held in Washington, DC, where the students can meet with policymakers and organizations who rely on evidence-based research to inform their work. This course is being designed and led by Forrest Spence, director of undergraduate studies in the Department of Economics.

At Notre Dame, Seeger is inspired to motivate and equip those who are working to explore why poverty occurs and how to minimize its effects on individuals and families. “I am thrilled to be working with so many talented people toward this common goal. It is extraordinary how much has already been accomplished.”

Get involved

Learn more about the Poverty Initiative

Join the Poverty Initiative email list

Learn more about the University’s Strategic Initiatives

Additional features

Arnie Phifer, Bioengineering & Life Sciences Initiative

Joel Day, Democracy Initiative

Kevin Fink, Just Transformations to Sustainability

Angie Appleby Purcell, Ethics Initiative

Jennifer Burke Lefever, Mental Health Initiative

Rebecca Struch, Arts Initiative

“We’re kind of on ground zero. We’re in the trenches here every day, and you never know what’s going to happen,” Father O’Connor said.

Through times both good and bad, University chaplains are devoted to assisting Notre Dame employees, regardless of their faith or lack thereof. Bereavement support, spiritual guidance, support groups, and pastoral conversations are a few of the most common resources the chaplains offer to connect with employees.

A key element that separates University chaplains from other forms of workplace support is their steadfast neutrality. According to Father Mathews, “One interesting thing about our position is that when we come to visit, we’re not a threat, and I think that really helps others open up to us. People are recognizing us not just as a collar, but as a pastoral presence, a sacramental presence that they feel comfortable with.”

Meeting people where they are

Father O’Connor affectionately attributes working on campus to working at the United Nations, due to the wide range of faith backgrounds and identities he encounters. For example, as a resident of Corby Hall, he has met three custodial staff members, each from a different continent and speaking a different language.

Their work in chaplaincy often brings Father Mathews and Father O’Connor to unexpected or behind-the-scenes locations throughout campus, including the basements of the Morris Inn and the campus bookstore, the St. Michael’s Laundry facilities, and kitchen areas. It’s often in these spaces where the chaplains first meet and get to know new colleagues. These “pass-throughs” establish relationships with employees and open up further opportunities for connection.

An added bonus for Father Mathews and Father O’Connor is sharing meals with staff. Attending retirement parties and Christmas parties and judging the Office of Information Technology’s annual chili cook-off are examples of opportunities to break bread with colleagues. Taking advantage of the power of a shared meal, Father O’Connor has invited groups of staff from across campus to join him for lunch at Corby Hall. There, he shows employees the hall’s recent renovations and helps them to learn more about the Congregation of Holy Cross and the history of Notre Dame.

Finding connection

Father Mathews said the religious community on campus has become a parish in its own way. Employees often attend Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, pray at the Grotto, or nourish their faith through other means.

“Maybe they are not practicing [outside campus], but it’s their colleagues or their friends who are their primary community,” Father Mathews said.

Father O’Connor added, “I think we can provide a wonderful witness to people. It’s kind of moving to see that because you think, ‘Oh, I’m just a priest just walking around,’ but the impact we have can be very powerful. Additionally, some of our staff may not belong to a church community, but here they witness daily acts of kindness, respect, and compassion.”

More than anything, they value the connections and relationships crafted throughout the years.

“What I think we’re finding is that more and more, there’s just a need for people to connect with another human being and to have a kind ear that’s going to listen,” Father Mathews said.

University chaplains and other support forms can be reached here.

About the observance

What began in 1978 in Santa Rosa, Calif., as Women’s History Week has evolved into a national annual recognition of the achievements and contributions women have made to the nation and the world. In 1980, U.S. President Jimmy Carter declared the week of March 8 National Women’s History Week, noting that: "too often the women were unsung and sometimes their contributions went unnoticed. But the achievements, leadership, courage, strength, and love of the women who built America was as vital as that of the men whose names we know so well."

Seven years later, a Congressional resolution passed designating the entire month as Women’s History Month. March was selected to commemorate the first major march on Washington by suffragists on March 3, 1913, and in conjunction with International Women’s Day on March 8.

Notre Dame news and media

• Notre Dame Athletics launches yearlong celebration of women's sports (July 30, 2025)

• Notre Dame Global features stories of women who inspire (March 5, 2025)

• Women Lead faculty and staff profiles (2016-2024)

• How Notre Dame admitted undergraduate women 50 years ago (March 1, 2022)

• New campus landmark celebrates contributions of Notre Dame women students and graduates (September 23, 2025)

• Timeline: Selected Women's Firsts at Notre Dame (2022)

• The women of past presence: The Holy Cross Sisters, so integral to Notre Dame's very existence, have faded from our institutional memory in what may seem a longstanding sin of omission (Winter 2021-2022)

• History of Women Religious, an initiative of the Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism (ongoing)

• Women’s Work, a ThinkND series about the working lives and literary works of U.S. women (2025)

• Virtual women’s police station boosts gender-based violence reporting in Pakistan, Notre Dame analysis finds (February 21, 2026)

• Eck Institute investigator to strengthen postpartum care for Indiana mothers (October 3, 2025)

• Corporate boards with more women in positions of power lead to safer workplaces (June 10, 2025)

Notre Dame organizations

• Thrive! Inspiring ND Women employee resource group

• Undergraduate Women in Business Association

• Women’s Legal Forum

• Association for Women in Science – Notre Dame Chapter

• Society of Women Engineers – Notre Dame Chapter

• Women in International Security – Notre Dame Chapter

• Shades of Ebony student club

• ND Women Connect alumnae outreach group
  

Additional resources

• International Women's History Month is here. What's this year's theme? (USA Today)

• Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

• Women’s History Milestones: Timeline (History.com)

• International Women’s Day 2026 & the 70th Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (UN Women)

• Women's History Month reading list (Barnes and Noble)

• Women’s History Month podcasts (Apple)

• International Women’s Day anthems (iHeart Radio)

Originally published by Cidni Sanders at weareall.nd.edu on March 02, 2026.

A public visitation will be held from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Sunday, March 15, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

On Monday, March 16, a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. in the Basilica. Limited seating in the Basilica will be available to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. The line for those seats will begin at 8:00 a.m. outside of Sorin Hall.

Additional overflow seating with a livestream of the Mass will be available in Washington Hall (with Communion available) and the Purcell Pavilion in the Joyce Center. Doors to all three facilities will open at 11:30 a.m. Seating in Washington Hall and at Purcell Pavilion in the Joyce Center will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Following the Mass of Christian Burial, the public is welcome to honor Coach Holtz by assembling on both sides of Notre Dame Avenue as his family leads the funeral procession from Notre Dame Circle to the main entrance of the Cedar Grove Cemetery. At the request of the Holtz family, graveside services are private.

Lou Holtz, the legendary college football coach who led the University of Notre Dame to the 1988 National Championship, has passed away at the age of 89.

One of the most affable coaches of his generation, Holtz won 249 games as a collegiate head coach with 100 of those victories earned at Notre Dame from 1986 through 1996. He led the Irish to the 1988 National Championship with a 12-0 record capped by a victory over West Virginia in the 1989 Fiesta Bowl. The ’88 title season began a 64-9-1 (.871) run for Holtz at Notre Dame that included a 23-game win streak, back-to-back 12-win seasons for the first time in school history and a program record nine consecutive bowl game appearances.

“Notre Dame mourns the loss of Lou Holtz, a legendary football coach, a beloved member of the Notre Dame family and devoted husband, father and grandfather,” said University of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.

“Among his many accomplishments, we will remember him above all as a teacher, leader and mentor who brought out the very best in his players, on and off the field, earning their respect and admiration for a lifetime. In the years since leaving the head football coach position, Lou, together with his beloved wife, Beth, supported Notre Dame in innumerable ways, among them making possible the refurbishment of four residence hall chapels and the construction of the Beth and Lou Holtz Grand Reading Room on the first floor of Hesburgh Library — tangible signs of their great love for their Catholic faith and the mission of Our Lady’s University. Whenever Notre Dame called to ask for his help, Lou answered with his characteristic generosity, and he will be sorely missed. The prayers of the entire Notre Dame community are with his family and many friends in this time of sorrow. May he rest in the peace and love of Christ.”

Holtz was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and instituted several traditions at Notre Dame that carry on to this day. The famous “Play Like A Champion” sign in the football locker room, which Fighting Irish players continue to honor on the way out to the playing field, was first displayed during the Holtz era. Holtz also removed names from the back of the football jerseys to emphasize the team dynamic, a tradition that is still followed today during all regular-season games.

Holtz returned to campus during the 2025 football season and presented the colors for the national anthem before the kickoff of the Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M game.

Among the legendary players coached by Holtz at Notre Dame are 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown and College Football Hall of Famers Raghib “Rocket” Ismail, Michael Stonebreaker, Aaron Taylor and Chris Zorich.

Holtz’s lasting legacy at the University of Notre Dame goes beyond his accomplishments and traditions with the football program. Football student-athletes who played for him developed Holtz’s Heroes, a charitable foundation that supports former student-athletes facing financial, physical or mental hardships, provides scholarship aid to deserving youth and serves communities in need through charitable works.

In 2021 the University dedicated the Beth and Lou Holtz Family Grand Reading Room at the Hesburgh Library, made possible by a generous gift to the University by Holtz in memory of his wife, Beth, who passed away on June 30, 2020.

The Holtz family also supported the Rockne Heritage Fund, which underwrites financial aid to Fighting Irish student-athletes, and in 1991 they established the Lou and Beth Holtz Family Scholarship, which assists deserving undergraduate students with financial need. They also served as members of University President Emeritus Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.’s Cavanaugh Council; funded the renovation of the chapels in the Breen-Phillips, Morrissey and St. Edward’s residence halls; and created the Liz Holtz Endowment for Excellence for Lyons Hall to provide an annual operating budget and for future needs and enhancements for residents of the hall.

At the 2011 Commencement ceremonies, Holtz received an honorary doctor of laws degree from the University of Notre Dame.

In 2011-12, the couple was named the University’s first “ambassadors for research” and took a prominent role in increasing awareness of Notre Dame’s research mission. They took a particular interest in cancer research after Beth was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 1997. She recovered after being given a 5 percent chance of survival.

Holtz began his coaching career at William & Mary in 1969, then moved to North Carolina State University for the 1972 season. He won 33 games in four years with the Wolfpack and claimed the 1973 ACC Championship.

He spent one season in the NFL with the New York Jets, then returned to college football at University of Arkansas in 1977. His first season at Arkansas culminated with a 31-6 upset victory over No. 3 University of Oklahoma in the 1978 Orange Bowl. That victory, coupled with Notre Dame’s dominating upset of top-ranked The University of Texas at Austin in the Cotton Bowl, allowed the Fighting Irish to move from fifth to number one after the bowl season and earn the national championship.

Holtz would finish his run at Arkansas 60-21-2 and eventually move to the University of Minnesota in 1984. He won 10 games in two years with the Gophers before accepting the Notre Dame opportunity at the end of the 1985 season.

After his retirement at Notre Dame at the end of the 1996 season, Holtz joined CBS Sports as a game commentator but still had one more coaching run left. In 1999, he took the job at the University of South Carolina and rebuilt the Gamecock program, finishing 0-11 in his first season then 8-5 in year two, which included an upset of Ohio State University in the Outback Bowl. The eight-game turnaround earned him National Coach of the Year honors. Holtz would eventually win 33 games in six years at South Carolina, which included back-to-back Outback Bowl wins in 2000 and 2001.

Born January 6, 1937, in Follansbee, West Virginia, Holtz grew up in East Liverpool, Ohio, and played linebacker at Kent State University. His first coaching opportunity was at the University of Iowa as a graduate assistant in 1960, and then he served at William & Mary, University of Connecticut, South Carolina and Ohio State as an assistant coach. He was a member of the Buckeye coaching staff for the 1968 national championship season.

Holtz is survived by his four children, Luanne, Lou “Skip” Junior, Kevin and Elizabeth, with the latter three all graduating from the University of Notre Dame.

Originally published by Notre Dame Athletics at news.nd.edu on March 04, 2026.

This photo gallery highlights some of the valuable interactions and experiences Notre Dame faculty, staff, and students have taken part in over the past month.

The selection was curated by Notre Dame Global staff working on campus and in the University's 12 global locations.

Rome

During Orientation Week at Notre Dame Rome, Professor James Schwarten led students from the Rome International Scholars program to explore Garbatella, a neighborhood with an engaging history, strong local identity, and eclectic architecture inspired by the English garden city model.

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Kylemore

Mick O’Dea—esteemed Irish portrait and figurative painter, former president of the Royal Hibernian Academy, and recent recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Philosophy from Dublin City University—visited Notre Dame Kylemore to speak on portraiture and share insights from his career. He also joined Kylemore’s MFA Art Programme residents on a hike across the sweeping vistas of Diamond Hill, drawing inspiration as they work toward their final exhibition.

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Mexico

The Notre Dame Mexico team kicked off the spring 2026 study abroad program in Puebla by welcoming nine Notre Dame students for a semester of academic enrichment, professional internship placements, and deep cultural immersion. From orientation to city exploration, Puebla will provide the students with countless opportunities for growth, connection, and discovery over the next four months.

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Jerusalem

Gabriel Mitchell, director of undergraduate studies for Notre Dame Jerusalem, delivered congratulatory remarks to participants who completed the ADAM coding program. The program provides participants with an opportunity to strengthen their academic skills, gain fluency in foreign languages, deepen their digital literacy, and pursue personal growth.

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London

The spring 2026 cohort of almost 200 spring semester Study Abroad students at Notre Dame London participated in hands-on Shakespeare workshops delivered by Actors From the London Stage. By exploring the epilogue of The Tempest through physical performance, students forged personal connections to the text and to one of London’s most important cultural figures.

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Hong Kong

Notre Dame Hong Kong welcomed five spring semester students from the Mendoza College of Business who will take classes at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a top 10-ranked university in Asia. Among other culturally immersive activities, students were treated to a variety of local favorites, including Hong Kong's famous pineapple buns.

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Beijing

Notre Dame Beijing hosted a delegation from the National Committee on United States-China Relations (NCUSCR), with 15 delegation members, led by Elizabeth Knup, a NCUSCR board member and honorary Senior Fellow at the Asia Society. A highly respected U.S. organization, the NCUSCR plays a longstanding role in advancing dialogue, research, and cooperation between the United States and China.

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São Paulo

The Notre Dame São Paulo team welcomed two new students for the upcoming semester. Notre Dame undergraduate students Anna Gonçalves and Frederick White attended orientation, shopped for essentials, and participated in several cultural activities, including a visit to the Mirante at SESC and Museu do Itaú, to get them acquainted with their new Brazilian home.

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Dublin

Notre Dame Dublin welcomed back a new cohort of study abroad students. Computer Science and Business Analytics majors studying at Dublin City University were the first to arrive. They spent their first week hiking in Howth, a 14th-century fishing village less than an hour from the city and just north of DCU's campus, as they settled into Dublin life, soaking up the history and natural beauty now on their doorstep.

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Global Innovation Team

Notre Dame Global and the Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures welcomed Fulbright visiting scholar, Dr. Richard Watuulo, from Kyambogo University in Uganda. During his three months at Notre Dame, Watuulo will conduct research exploring how to maximize national education curriculum with 21st-century skills for university-level learners.

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Global Engagement Programs

Visiting international students participated in the first of four intercultural workshops led by Dr. Carrie Anne Thomas, associate director of global education for Notre Dame Global. The first session challenged students to reflect on their cultural identities as a foundation for learning, adapting, and thriving in new cultural contexts.

Originally published by Cory Hankins at global.nd.edu on February 11, 2026.

That’s why NDHR is pleased to introduce the new Summer Camp Directory, a comprehensive, easy-to-use tool designed to help Notre Dame families create meaningful, engaging summers for their children in 2026.

The impact of summer camp can last far beyond a few warm-weather months. From theater and tennis to faith formation and science exploration, camps provide opportunities for children to stretch themselves in ways that classrooms sometimes can’t.

Gabriela González, Assistant Director of Research & Special Projects at the Institute for Social Concerns and mother of five, shared how transformative a single summer can be:

“Between the exciting field trips and the positive social environment, the impact of these camps is clear. My middle child found her voice through acting, moving from nerves to a solo, while my oldest gained a stronger sense of purpose and faith. Seeing that level of development in one summer was truly amazing.”

The variety of experiences—academic, artistic, athletic, and faith-based—highlights what summer camp can offer: growth across every dimension of a child’s life.

Another parent, Jessica Piser, who serves as Financial Program Manager in Notre Dame Research, echoed this sentiment after her child participated in camps from the 2025 ND Camp Expo:

“These camps helped give my son a well-rounded, fun, and active summer. He was able to meet new friends and be creative in his theater and art camps. He got to explore a new sport in tennis. And he gained new independence by going to Camp Eberhart for 2 weeks of sleep away camp.”

She also emphasized the value of centralized information for working families:

“Being able to access this camp information allowed our family to plan our summer well in advance… My husband and I work full time during the summer, so having a camp that our son looked forward to going to was a win-win situation and we were so thankful to have [NDHR] aggregate all this information that would have taken hours of self-research.”

While summer camps enrich children’s lives, they also provide vital support for employee families balancing full-time work and caregiving responsibilities.

As González shared:

“Despite the occasional scheduling juggle, the quality of these camps is a huge lifesaver for working parents. From academics to the arts, the creative outlets provided here make all the difference in our children's development.”

To make summer planning even easier, NDHR has launched the enhanced Summer Camp Directory for Summer 2026.

The directory features two convenient views:

• Camp Directory View – Browse the complete list of available camps.

• Find a Camp View – Search based on your child’s age, camp theme, or the week(s) the camp is offered.

Whether your child is interested in STEM, performing arts, athletics, outdoor adventure, or faith-based programming, the directory helps you quickly identify options that align with their interests and your family’s schedule.

In addition to the directory, employees can use the Family Planner to organize schedules for the entire summer. When you open the planner, you’ll be prompted to make a copy, which you can then customize to fit your family’s needs.

Summer has a remarkable way of shaping children, building confidence, creativity, independence, and lifelong memories. With the new NDHR Summer Camp Directory, planning a meaningful and manageable summer is easier than ever.

Have questions? Contact NDHR via the Self-Service Center.

Important Notes

• All information is provided directly by the camps.

• Some camps may appear multiple times to reflect different ages, times, or pricing options.

• Not all camps are full-day or full-week programs.

• Families should verify all camp details directly with the camp provider.

• Additional camps will be added throughout the coming months as information becomes available.

If you know of a camp that should be included, NDHR invites you to submit it through the Suggest a Camp form.

Originally published by Grace Prosniewski at hr.nd.edu on February 18, 2026.

About one quarter of inmates have a serious mental illness and 63 percent struggle with drug dependence or abuse, often coinciding with behavioral problems. Those awaiting trial for serious offenses may tend toward violence, making jail time dangerous for both inmates and jail employees. In addition, the county jail system, which is often viewed as a short-term, transitional time period for inmates, is typically overlooked for providing meaningful therapy opportunities and other interventions.

A new study by University of Notre Dame researchers shows that introducing a unique and low-cost cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program for longer-term jail inmates teaches lifelong skills and reduces violent behavior — making the jail safer in the long run.

“Despite the fact that most people are in jail for a short time, many spend months serving a sentence or even years awaiting trial,” said Mary Kate Batistich, an assistant research professor in the Department of Economics who works in Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO).

“These inmates often come into the jail system with traumatic pasts and with much higher rates of mental illness and substance use disorders than the general population,” she said. “Violence is an issue in jails, as are behavioral problems, with suicide and homicide rates much higher than you’d think, considering that this population is confined and surveilled.”

In their working paper, Batistich’s research team reported that inmates who participate in CBT programs experience a 49 percent drop in behavioral incidents and a 50 percent drop in physical assaults on other inmates or officers.

Batistich, along with co-authors William Evans, the Keough-Hesburgh Professor of Economics at Notre Dame and co-founder of LEO, Tyler Giles of Wellesley College and Rebecca Margolit-Chan of Cornell University, examined Step Up, a CBT program administered to inmates at the Lubbock County Detention Center in Lubbock, Texas. Designed for individuals with violent backgrounds or tendencies, the program uses a combination of group classes, one-on-one counseling and a structured workbook to help participants recognize and manage emotions.

Through a self-paced 14- to 21-week curriculum, participants learn how to identify their emotions and the physical sensations that accompany them. The goal is for the inmates to learn to recognize their emotions and change their way of thinking — from making negative behavioral choices to adopting rational and constructive behaviors — as a way to peacefully resolve conflict.

“The underlying philosophy of the program is that although individuals experience negative events (such as an unpleasant confrontation with another person), it is one’s interpretation of the event, rather than the event itself, that leads to negative reactions such as anger and violence,” the researchers wrote.

Typically within a jail system, authorities will respond to more serious behavioral infractions by placing the inmate in solitary confinement, where it is estimated that about 4.4 percent of the incarcerated population is held at any point in time, according to the study.

“There's been research suggesting that solitary confinement can actually be very harmful to the individual, both psychologically and physically,” Batistich said. “This form of discipline may not even be making the institutions any safer. What we're doing in this paper is offering an alternative by promoting therapy over punitive measures.”

And this alternative is not only replicable on a national scale, but cost effective as well, according to the researchers.

“There is a real intersection between the criminal justice system and poverty, homelessness, mental illness and substance use disorders. Incarcerated individuals are often dealing with several of these issues and also tend to be overlooked and underserved. These are the people in most need of our care and attention.”

The cost of implementing the Step Up program — including supplies, curriculum books and personnel — is an average of $618 per participant. Leveraging existing jail space and staff capacity, along with instruction by graduate students at nearby Texas Tech University, have made it possible to keep costs down.

The researchers concluded that therapy designed to reduce violent behavior in jails works well when implemented during incarceration, while participants are kept to a consistent and intensive treatment regimen as they await trial or extended incarceration. Such treatment can “improve one’s behavior in the near term, increase safety within institutions and potentially benefit public safety as well,” they wrote.

“There is a real intersection between the criminal justice system and poverty, homelessness, mental illness and substance use disorders,” Batistich added. “Incarcerated individuals are often dealing with several of these issues and also tend to be overlooked and underserved. These are the people in most need of our care and attention.”

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

Originally published by Tracy DeStazio at news.nd.edu on February 12, 2026.

Fisher is currently chair of the Fischell Department of Bioengineering at the University of Maryland, where he is Distinguished University Professor, MPower Professor, and Distinguished Scholar-Teacher. At Notre Dame, he will succeed Paul Bohn, who retired in December as inaugural director of BELS and Arthur J. Schmitt Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

The Bioengineering & Life Sciences Initiative is a joint effort of the College of Engineering and the College of Science and is a key priority in the University’s strategic framework. The initiative advances human health and wellness through interdisciplinary biomedical research and training — from fundamental discoveries through detection, prevention and treatment of disease. Emphasizing accessible health care solutions, BELS brings together researchers from a variety of fields to create transformative solutions for health.

“This appointment reflects both the strength of the foundation already in place — thanks to Paul’s superb leadership — and our aspirations for the future of Bioengineering & Life Sciences at Notre Dame,” said John T. McGreevy, Notre Dame’s Charles and Jill Fischer Provost. “John Fisher is a visionary leader and excellent scholar-teacher whose experience aligns perfectly with the initiative’s trajectory and Notre Dame’s ambitions as the leading global Catholic research university.”

Fisher holds bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and biomedical engineering from Johns Hopkins University, a master’s in chemical engineering from the University of Cincinnati and a doctorate in bioengineering from Rice University. He joined Maryland’s Department of Chemical Engineering in 2003 and three years later became a founding member of the bioengineering department he now chairs. During his two decades at Maryland, Fisher has won a variety of awards for teaching excellence, graduate student mentorship and scholarship, including a National Science Foundation CAREER award and a Fulbright. In 2024, he was appointed Distinguished University Professor, the institution’s highest honor for a tenured faculty member, recognizing excellence, impact and significant contribution to the field both nationally and internationally.

“We are thrilled to have John, who is an extraordinary biomedical engineer, join us in the college and lead the BELS Initiative,” said Patricia Culligan, the Matthew H. McCloskey Dean of the College of Engineering. “Advancing research and training in bioengineering is among our highest priorities for the College of Engineering, and I look forward to working with him to elevate collaborations within our college and across science, engineering and other units on campus.”

As director of the Tissue Engineering and Biomaterials Lab, Fisher leads a research team that focuses on computational modeling and tissue engineering, bioprinting, and bioreactors for the regeneration of lost tissues. He also directs the Center for Engineering Complex Tissues, which aims to create a broad community focusing on 3D printing and bioprinting for regenerative medicine applications.

Fisher has served in numerous leadership positions in his field, including as the 2025 chair of the Council of Chairs, a national assembly of bioengineering and biomedical engineering department chairs, and as 2018-20 chair of the Americas Chapter of the Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine International Society. Fisher is a fellow of the International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering, the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering and the Biomedical Engineering Society. He is currently a member of the society’s board of directors and co-editor-in-chief of Tissue Engineering. His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense and the Food and Drug Administration, among others.

“What attracted me to Notre Dame is the excellence and rigor of the research,” Fisher said. “The types of questions people in science and engineering are exploring, and the execution of their research programs, is really top-notch. I’m also a big believer that we’re here to educate as well as to do research. I love teaching, and I love Notre Dame’s commitment to teaching.

“What really speaks to me is the mission — the commitment to pursue research and to educate at the highest level, but doing it in a way that positively impacts society. There are some personal things as well. I grew up in the Midwest, our family is Irish Catholic, so it’s wonderful to bring that aspect of who I am together with my work.”

Fisher joins the University at a pivotal moment for the Bioengineering & Life Sciences Initiative, as it accelerates efforts to expand research, training and shared infrastructure.

Since its launch in 2024, the initiative has gained significant momentum. It has identified core research themes and awarded nearly $1.25 million in seed funding to support multidisciplinary teams working in areas such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, global health and emerging infectious threats. It has also expanded training opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows and made major investments in shared research infrastructure — including the acquisition of a Glacios 2 cryo-TEM microscope, the first of its kind at Notre Dame, scheduled for installation in April, along with complementary efforts to restructure flow cytometry resources.

To learn more about the Bioengineering & Life Sciences Initiative, visit go.nd.edu/BELS.

Originally published by Kate Garry at news.nd.edu on February 19, 2026.