For Good: Stories from Notre Dame

An arts renaissance is unfolding at Notre Dame, and the University is investing in the arts to enrich the student experience and strengthen the bonds between campus and the broader community. In this episode of For Good , Rebecca Struch, Managing Director of the Notre Dame Arts Initiative, reflects on why people turn to the arts in times of uncertainty, how creativity builds community and breaks d...

For Marcus Cole, the Joseph A. Matson Dean of Notre Dame Law School, true success goes far beyond rankings, salaries, or prestige. Instead, it’s found in purpose—the lives our graduates lead, the communities they serve, and the profound good they do in the world. In this episode of For Good , Dean Cole reflects on how Notre Dame is forming lawyers to lead with conviction and compassion. He discuss...

Kathleen Sprows Cummings brings Catholic history vividly into the present—illuminating not only where the Church has been, but where it may be headed next. In this episode of For Good , Cummings, the John A. O’Brien Collegiate Professor of American Studies and History and inaugural director of Notre Dame’s Global Catholic Research Initiative, reflects on the people and movements that have shaped C...

Mentors, teammates, and now the athletes Mike Norment leads have shaped his journey and his approach as Notre Dame’s Peterson Family Head Swimming and Diving Coach. His focus: building a program defined by character, consistency, and care for the individual. In this episode of For Good , Coach Norment shares his path into coaching, what defines a strong team culture, and the values that drive succ...

At Notre Dame, formation happens in classrooms, residence halls, and even on the football sidelines. Rev. Nate Wills, C.S.C., brings that mission to life every day. As a Holy Cross priest, faculty member in the Alliance for Catholic Education, and chaplain to the Fighting Irish football team, Fr. Nate accompanies students across many dimensions of University life: celebrating dorm Mass, mentoring...

Notre Dame’s mission extends beyond campus and into the neighborhoods, partnerships, and relationships that shape our shared future. Few people embody that spirit more fully than Tim Sexton ‘90. As associate vice president for public affairs, Tim has spent decades building bridges between the University and the South Bend community—a lifelong calling rooted in family, relationships, and the belief...

Lily Joy Santos ’28 and Giovanni Nasello ’27 are much more than just voices in your voicemail. As student callers at ND Listens, they embody the spirit of gratitude, curiosity, and care that makes the Notre Dame family so special.  In this episode of For Good , Lily Joy and Giovanni reflect on how ND Listens, Notre Dame’s student engagement center, builds authentic connections, fosters community a...

For Rev. Edward “Monk” Malloy, C.S.C., president emeritus of Notre Dame and longtime priest-in-residence at Sorin Hall, leadership at Our Lady’s University begins with faith, humility, and service—virtues instilled by his parents and deepened through the mentorship of his dear friend, Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C. In this episode of For Good , Father Malloy reflects with gratitude and wonder on a...

For Tim Dolezal ’02, vice president and chief investment officer at Notre Dame, managing the University’s investment portfolio is more than a financial responsibility—it’s a mission-driven calling a lifetime in the making. In this episode of For Good , Tim shares how Notre Dame’s long-term investment strategy has earned top-tier returns while prioritizing expanded scholarship support, honoring don...

Micah Shrewsberry began his career just a few miles away from Notre Dame’s campus in a coaching role that required him to drive the team bus and wash the players’ jerseys. From those humble beginnings, Micah has steadily climbed the ranks in a career that has taken him to the coaching staffs of the Boston Celtics, USA Basketball’s U19 Men’s National Team, and now Notre Dame men’s basketball as the...

For Austin Wyman ’23, a current Ph. D. student in quantitative psychology at Notre Dame, the study of mental health is not just academic—it’s personal. Motivated by a family tragedy that might have been prevented with better access to mental health care, Austin has made it his life’s work to understand mental illness, advocate for early intervention, and help others get the support they need befor...

For Shannon Cullinan ’93, executive vice president at the University of Notre Dame, there is no challenge Notre Dame cannot navigate—so long as it leans in and stays true to its mission. In this episode of For Good , Shannon discusses the financial headwinds facing Notre Dame—and all of higher education—and shares how the University is well-positioned to weather times of uncertainty thanks to its...

For Heather Christophersen ’98, vice president for human resources at Notre Dame, leadership means having the courage to take risks and empowering others to do the same.  A former building manager at LaFortune Student Center, Heather now leads the team that shapes Notre Dame’s distinctive workplace culture, one that recently earned the University the title of Best Large Employer in America by Forb...

Throughout his tenure as president of the University of Notre Dame, Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., has led with patience, curiosity, and an unwavering belief in the University’s ability to meet the moment and navigate challenges as they arise.  In this episode of For Good , Father Dowd discusses Notre Dame’s ongoing efforts to expand affordability and access, form a student body that reflects the ri...

Mary Gallagher, the Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs, recognized something distinctive about Notre Dame from the moment she arrived—the University’s unique ability to lead on the global stage with vision and purpose, guided by its Catholic mission and its unwavering commitment to human dignity. In this episode of For Good , Gallagher reflects on the Keough School’s first...

For Tricia Bellia, Notre Dame’s faculty athletics representative to the NCAA and chair of the University’s Faculty Board on Athletics, college sports are not separate from the educational mission at Notre Dame—they’re a fundamental part of it. With firsthand experience as a former Division I student-athlete herself and as the mother of two others, Tricia inherently understands the challenges that...

For Matt Kloser, the Hackett Family Director of Notre Dame’s Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI), Catholic education is a vocation—shaped by faith and inspired by the call to serve. His own journey to teaching began at home in a family of educators committed to making an impact through the transformative power of education. In this episode of For Good , Matt reflects on his path from Notre...

For Maria Fernanda Zamora ’25 and Kellogg Institute visiting fellow Juan Sebastián Chamorro, free speech is both a danger and a source of power—one that has allowed them to shine a light on the injustices they’ve experienced and witnessed firsthand.  Their lives—separately shaped by the same oppressive regime in Nicaragua—are united by a shared belief in the importance of using the power of their...

Don’t look now, but Notre Dame has become a fencing school. For the fourth time in the last five years—and the sixth in the last nine—Notre Dame Fencing stands on top of the college fencing world, winning the program’s 14th NCAA team national championship earlier this spring. Only one program remains ahead of the Irish on the all-time titles list, and with the championship culture established by h...

From its world-class location in the Eternal City at the heart of global Catholicism, Notre Dame Rome offers students an unparalleled opportunity to experience and learn from more than two millennia of history, art, architecture, and culture. Surrounded by the ancient ruins of the Roman Empire and the sacred sites of the Vatican, Notre Dame students are cultivating new perspectives, deepening thei...

In the heart of one of the world’s most historic and cosmopolitan cities, Notre Dame students are living out an unrivaled global experience—broadening their horizons, deepening their faith, and seizing once-in-a-lifetime opportunities that will shape their lives long after graduation. In this episode of For Good , we take our show on the road to London—the largest of the University’s global locati...

Science at Notre Dame just got a lot more exciting thanks to Kate the Chemist. As the University’s first-ever Professor for Public Understanding of Science, Dr. Kate Biberdorf is on a mission to ignite curiosity, break down barriers, and make science fun and accessible to all. In this episode of For Good , Kate shares her journey from chemistry lab to national TV and explains how her new role at N...

With the recent conclusion of a wildly successful Notre Dame football season and the ongoing dominance of the highly ranked women’s basketball team, Notre Dame Athletics is in the midst of a historic year—which is saying something for an athletics program as tradition-rich and accomplished as that of the Fighting Irish. In this episode of For Good , Pete Bevacqua, the James E. Rohr Director of Ath...

As Assistant Vice President for Campus Ministry, Rev. Pete McCormick, C.S.C. helps infuse the sacred into the everyday at Notre Dame, seamlessly connecting the University’s Catholic tradition with the dynamic and diverse experiences of students. Father Pete’s joyful presence and genuine connection to the student body have made him one of the most beloved and influential figures on campus. In this...

For decades, the Notre Dame Alumni Association has cultivated one of the most passionate and engaged alumni and friends networks in the world. Under the leadership of Executive Director Dolly Duffy, this vibrant community thrives through a shared commitment to service, faith, lifelong learning, and the enduring spirit of Notre Dame. In this episode of For Good , Dolly shares her inspiring journey...