Alliance for Catholic Education

A funny thing happened on the way to creating this podcast with Fr. Bob…  When we first went to record this episode, he was vice president and associate provost for interdisciplinary initiatives. In that role, he oversaw the Institute for Educational Initiatives, among other wonderful institutes and centers on campus.  Then , in December 2023, the University’s Board of Trustees elected Rev. Robert...

As we wait in joyful hope, it’s time for our year-end gift to you, highlighting a few memorable moments from this year’s  Think. Pair. Share.  conversations, as we talked all things modern education with some of the best minds—and hearts—in the field. Thank you to our listeners, the team at the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Alliance for Catholic Education, and of course to our gues...

From following in Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C.’s clarinet playing footsteps, to leading others in the mission to educate by embracing one’s belovedness and radiating it out to a world in need Taylor Kelly , an associate director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives at the University of Notre Dame, discusses her role walking alongside others as they discover their capacity for human flourishin...

From Fr. Ted Hesburgh hand-in-hand with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to providing radical accompaniment, opportunity, and formation to students, in order to help enable their fullest flourishing Alec Torigian , national coordinator for ACE’s Pursuing Achievement Through Higher Education initiative, discusses his role walking with middle to high school aged students on their educational journey while...

From the Grotto and St. Bernadette to Breen-Phillips Hall and Coach Leahy, envisioning a future for Catholic schools that fully integrates faith formation with the disciplines, increases academic rigor, and deepens clinical partnerships for the betterment of all students Dr. Kati Macaluso , the academic director for ACE Teaching Fellows, discusses her new role working alongside faculty in service...

From seminary life in Old College and full house Masses at Keough Hall, to leading team prayer in the storied locker room of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Fr. Nate Wills, CSC , director of the Alliance for Catholic Education’s Blended Learning Initiatives and faculty in the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, discusses his vocation within a vocation, empowering Catholic school teachers and leaders...

Our year-end compilation of a few fun and memorable moments from this year’s conversations, as we talked all things modern education with some of the best minds—and hearts—in the field. Thank you to our listeners, the team at the Institute for Educational Initiatives and the Alliance for Catholic Education, and of course to our guests: Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, Nicole McNeil, Nikhit D'Sa, Katy Lichon,...

From Thanksgiving family traditions like tropical turkey, secret stuffing, and pleasant pumpkin rolls, to becoming agents of change by building empathy and designing pathways through STEM and engineering to make the world better Dr. Gina Svarovsky, founding faculty director of the Center for Broader Impacts and associate professor in Notre Dame’s Center for STEM Education, discusses feeling empowe...

From jack-o-lantern tales and top-o-the-chart treats, to the authentic power of truth and healing in the Indigenous experience Will Newkirk , Director of the American Indian Catholic Schools Network, discusses standing together as co-conspirators of hope— at the intersection of Indigenous culture and Catholic identity —looking to the future by witnessing, sharing, and celebrating stories, as well...

From coffee ice cream and hoagies, submarines, or po’boys, to how designing instruction that optimizes motivation over memorization in the classroom also optimizes learning. Dr. Andrea Christensen, Director of Education, Schooling and Society, shares why teaching her students is the privilege of her life and how we all have a role to play in affecting positive change in schools, as well as, celebr...

From banter, bits, and doing it all for the music and the fans, to the animating power of STEM education as a force for good in the world Dr. Matt Kloser, founding director of the Center for STEM Education, shares how “The Story of Science” is an unfinished narrative we can all help write, as well as, S’more Than Coffee playing tennis with John McEnroe, and closing out the show on keyboards with B...

From summertime foods, frisbees, and exploring Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, to the transformational power of finding the “secret sauce” at St. Procopius and all Catholic schools Kate Schuenke-Lucien, the Director for Haiti in the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child, shares how the universality of loss connects us and how being a voracious and joyful reader animates her work buil...

From handmade Father’s Day gifts and the origin stories of “Cup of Joe” and FJ’s cookies, to the fine art of welcoming people on the journey and building community for all Fr. Joe Carey, CSC, the chaplain for the Alliance for Catholic Education, discusses being called to love everyone he meets and serve others in the imitation of Jesus; listening, affirming, and helping people along the way, as we...

From graduation trivia and Roberto Clemente, Jerome Bettis and all things Pittsburgh athletics, to leading the revitalization of Catholic schools Dr. John Staud, the executive director of the Alliance for Catholic Education program discusses choosing hope and the example of Christ and the body of Catholic Social Teaching as the radical animating principle guiding the work of ACE, as well as, laure...

From Easter traditions and proper chocolate-bunny-eating etiquette to embracing and empowering the transformative power of the Latino community within Catholic schools Dr. Katy Lichon, Director of Catholic School Advantage and the English as a New Language Program, discusses the domestic Church and how the legacy of Catholic education can inform our future; celebrating all gifts, talents, and cult...

From St. Patrick and his feast day to five-day cricket extravaganzas and adopting a human-centered approach to research application in the lived experience of children and teachers Nikhit D’Sa, Assistant Professor and Senior Associate Director for Research at the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child discusses social emotional learning, teacher wellbeing, and the role of play in low...

From The Shamrock to The Dome, traveling a providential path to understanding how children learn and what role education plays in the development of a just society Nicole McNeil, professor of psychology and Director of the Education, Schooling, and Society program considers the science behind children’s cognitive development and the duality of the power of education to change people’s lives.

From Philly soft pretzels and New Year’s celebrations to the essential role of lay people as “Agents of Spirituality” in our Church. Fr. Lou DelFra, CSC, faculty member and Director of Pastoral Life for the Alliance for Catholic Education, reflects on ACE as a movement of the Holy Spirit and its culture of discernment, as well as middle schoolers as litmus tests for relevancy and celebrating Catho...

A year-end compilation of just a few of the fun and memorable moments from our inaugural year of conversations. Thank you to our listeners, the team at the Institute for Education Initiatives and the Alliance for Catholic Education, and of course to our guests: John Schoenig, Chrissy Trinter, Ernest Morrell, Neil Boothby, Maria McKenna, Kevin Baxter, Kristin Valentino, Mark Berends, Luis Fraga, An...

From reflections on being the Notre Dame leprechaun to inspiring lifelong, engaged readers. Dr. Michael Macaluso, faculty member of the Alliance for Catholic Education and fellow of the Institute for Educational Initiatives, explores the implications literacy has on how we understand and therefore interact in the world, the origins of the new Alexandria Award, as well as his thoughts on a zombie a...

Listen to Dr. Anna Haskins talk about her current research process when it comes to working with working with parents and school personnel when it comes to the long-reaching consequences of parental incarceration on children.

From apple picking and pumpkin patches to community building and examining the economics of education in pursuit of better outcomes for disadvantaged children and families. Dr. Chloe Gibbs, Director of Notre Dame's Program for Interdisciplinary Educational Research (ND PIER) and Assistant Professor of Economics, discusses the importance of rigorous, relevant and impactful policy research as the cr...

From stamp collecting and favorite numbers to examining how the education system, the family, and the criminal justice system connect and interact—both preserving and mitigating social inequality. Dr. Anna Haskins, Associate Professor in Sociology and the Center for Research on Educational Opportunity (CREO) considers the role of schooling in society, the long-reaching consequences of parental inc...

Listen to Dr. Luis Fraga talk about his experience of testifying before the House Judiciary Committee (with his son!) about the United States' history of voting rights suppression and voter disenfranchisement as a way of providing context for the current legislation being considered to transform the Voting Rights Act. 

Listen to Dr. Luis Fraga explain the Latino Studies Scholars Program, where this year 10 Notre Dame students who have shown leadership in working on behalf of Latino communities will receive $25,000 merit-based scholarships. Learn more at https://latinostudies.nd.edu/undergraduate/latino-studies-scholars-program .