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Staff Stories

Notre Dame seeks to enhance our community by attracting employees from all walks of life. The work of maintaining and advancing our University requires individuals who approach challenges from unique perspectives borne of varied and nuanced personal experiences. Moreover, it requires learning from one another in an environment that welcomes open discussion and invites personal as well as professional growth in this area.

The stories below showcase the diversity of thought and experience of the people who work at Notre Dame.

Women’s judiciary panel and 19th Amendment exhibit to be held at ND Law School

Published: January 13, 2020

Denise Wager

Notre Dame Law School will host a panel discussion, How Women Have Shaped the Judiciary, to commemorate the 19th Amendment centennial of women’s right to vote on Friday, January 24 at 4 p.m. in McCartan Courtroom.

High School Equivalency diploma classes for staff

Published: December 31, 2019

Anna McKeever

This preparation program will help employees obtain the skills and knowledge needed to complete the High School Equivalency Diploma examination.

Notre Dame to host Indiana Association of Blacks in Higher Education Fall Symposium

Published: October 10, 2019

Erin Blasko

The Indiana Association of Blacks in Higher Education (IABHE) Fall Symposium will take place Oct. 13 (Sunday) and 14 (Monday) at the Morris Inn at the University of Notre dame.

ILS' Hispanic Heritage Month 2019 Events

Published: September 17, 2019

Institute for Latino Studies

This month is comprised of diverse and unique events and scholarly activities aimed to acknowledge the importance and educate the campus community about the intellectual richness that Latino communities provide to the U.S.

Annual food drive to take place September 9-29

Published: August 28, 2019

Anne Kolaczyk, Office of Information Technologies

Nearly 17 percent of those living in northern Indiana do not know where they will find their next meal. One in four children in this area go to bed hungry each night. The goal of the Fighting Irish Fighting Hunger food drive is to ease that need.

Father Jenkins announces Columbus murals committee

Published: February 14, 2019

Dennis Brown

The committee will deliberate and advise on the display of the mural images in the appropriate context, as well as on related issues, in accord with the framework set out in his Jan. 20 letter to the University of Notre Dame community.

Rita Moreno, legend of stage and screen, to discuss her career and issues facing Latinos in entertainment

Published: January 29, 2019

Institute for Latino Studies

Moreno — an American actress, dancer and singer of Puerto Rican descent — is the first and only Latina to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony (EGOT), and she will be the special guest of Notre Dame’s Institute for Latino Studies next month as part of its Transformative Latino Leadership Lecture Series.

I am ND: Meet Kyle Sturges

Published: January 09, 2019

Carol C. Bradley

Kyle Sturges works in Undergraduate Admissions as senior assistant director of international admissions. For faculty and staff, he founded Spectrum, the University’s LGBTQ and Ally Employee Resource Group.

I am ND: Meet Cyndi Belmarez

Published: October 25, 2018

Carol Bradley

Cyndi Belmarez, institutional research specialist in the Office of Institutional Research, has worked at Notre Dame for more than 30 years. She likes to say that she grew up on campus. “I lived on campus during the summers, and on Saturdays we were here for tutoring and lunch at the Oak Room in the South Dining Hall," she says.

Join us for Fall 2018 Staff Diversity and Inclusion Discussions

Published: October 10, 2018

Anna McKeever

Participatory and highly interactive, this discussion series presents opportunities for all Notre Dame staff to share experiences, learn from each other, and ultimately grow to make the University a more diverse and inclusive place where everyone can do their very best work.

I am ND: Paloma Garcia-Lopez

Published: January 06, 2020

Christina Clark, for NDWorks

Paloma Garcia-Lopez partners with students, manages the Institute for Latino Studies merit scholarship and works with faculty to increase the understanding of Latinos as part of the social fabric of America.

Notre Dame's procurement team works to increase small and diverse suppliers in bidding processes

Published: November 03, 2019

Karrah Herring

The procurement team recently created and is now implementing a Master Subcontracting Plan aimed at increasing the participation of diverse and small businesses in the University’s RFP (request for proposals) process. This process allows businesses to bid on providing supplies or services to various campus departments.

Join Us October 4 for a Diversity & Inclusion Speaker Series Event with Gerardo Gonzalez

Published: September 29, 2019

Anna McKeever

Join us to hear Gerardo M. Gonzalez, PhD, dean emeritus of the Indiana University School of Education and professor of educational leadership and…

How a Russian doctoral student became part of my family

Published: September 04, 2019

Natalie Davis Miller, Managing Editor, NDWorks

You can find anything at Walmart. Nine years ago, I found a Russian. It was Aug. 11, 2010 and international students were arriving at Notre Dame. Our first meeting, though purely incidental, led to one of our family’s most rewarding relationships.

Notre Dame launches BRITE Women Project to support women in nonprofit board service

Published: August 06, 2019

Carol Elliott

The BRITE Women Project (Board Readiness Initiative to Empower Women Project), sponsored by Mendoza’s Nonprofit Professional Development department, seeks to equip women with the skills they need to provide transformational nonprofit board leadership that benefits their communities.

Interested in becoming a diversity education volunteer?

Published: February 07, 2019

Anna McKeever

If you have enjoyed the “We Are All ND” workshop or the “Multicultural Competency” Workshop and you want to help present this material, this is the Diversity Discussion you’ve been waiting for! Join us on Wednesday, Feb. 27.

New initiative, With Voices True, to collect and archive narratives on race

Published: January 25, 2019

Kevin Fye

The Klau Center for Civil and Human Rights has announced a new initiative, With Voices True, to collect and record the voices of the Notre Dame community on the topic of race.

Campus Dining leaders bring international cuisine, fresh vision to Notre Dame

Published: December 03, 2018

Marissa Gebhard

Hailing from places like Korea, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India, Italy, Poland, Bosnia and a host of other countries around the world, Campus Dining staff are almost as international as the cuisine they offer.

Potawatomi Language and Culture Night

Published: October 22, 2018

Erin Blasko

Zada Ballew, a Potawatomi citizen and a senior in the College of Arts and Letters, said, “As both a member of the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi and a student at the University of Notre Dame, I am honored to have the chance to share my culture with my classmates.

Tashi Kyil monks return to Notre Dame to create peace mandala

Published: September 25, 2018

Jessica Sieff

The visit continues "the ecumenical monastic tradition begun between Thomas Merton and the Dalai Lama,” said Dominic Vachon, director of the Ruth M. Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine.

English as a New Language (ENL) classes for staff

Published: January 01, 2020

Anna McKeever

Improve your written and spoken English with free English as a New Language (ENL) classes for Notre Dame staff. Courses are taught on Notre Dame’s campus by South Bend Community School Corporation instructors.

Diversity & Inclusion Speaker Series with Navajo Code Talker November 14

Published: October 17, 2019

Anna McKeever

Join Navajo Code Talker and Former Leader of the Navajo Nation, Peter MacDonald, Sr., for a talk about his experience serving in the South Pacific as a Navajo Code Talker…

Notre Dame Fire Department welcomes first women firefighters

Published: September 25, 2019

Erin Blasko

The University of Notre Dame Fire Department recently welcomed Christi Shibata and Michelle Woolverton as the first full-time women firefighters in the department’s 140-year history.

Notre Dame diversity and inclusion conference to feature Robin DiAngelo, Rev. Joseph Brown, S.J.

Published: August 29, 2019

Amanda Skofstad

The University of Notre Dame will host a one-day diversity and inclusion conference on Sept. 6 (Friday) for faculty, staff and students titled “Open Minds, Loving Hearts & an Engaged Community.” Events include keynote addresses by Robin DiAngelo, author of “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk about Racism,” and Rev. Joseph Brown, S.J., social activist, artist and professor...

Employee Resource Groups assist in diversity recruitment, retention

Published: August 05, 2019

Cidni Sanders

Employee resource groups (ERGs) are voluntary, employee-led groups created by a shared characteristic, interest or life experience. Seven groups currently exist at Notre Dame: Adelante Hispanos, the Black Faculty and Staff Association, Notre Dame Staff of International Descent, Notre Dame Veterans Association, SPECTRUM (LGBTQ), THRIVE! Inspiring ND Women and Young Leaders of Notre Dame.

Events planned to celebrate Black History Month

Published: January 31, 2019

Erin Blasko

Notre Dame will celebrate Black History Month with events including lectures, discussions and performances throughout February.

Procurement seeks to increase engagement with small and diverse businesses

Published: January 22, 2019

Gwen O'Brien and Marissa Gebhard

The competitive bidding program has been expanded to stimulate the participation of small, women-owned, veteran-owned, disadvantaged and minority-owned businesses in formal Request for Proposals (RFPs) for University purchases exceeding $150,000.

Statement by Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., on mass shooting of worshipers at Pittsburgh synagogue

Published: October 28, 2018

Notre Dame News

“In the days ahead, Notre Dame will look for ways to mourn in solidarity with our friends and to address the venomous hatred directed at them because of their faith and identity,” Jenkins said.

Heather Reynolds named inaugural managing director of Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities

Published: October 17, 2018

DJ DiDonna

A nonprofit leader with extensive expertise in poverty alleviation, Reynolds has served as president and CEO at Catholic Charities Fort Worth for the past 14 years.

National Hispanic Heritage Month events on campus

Published: September 17, 2018

Luis R. Fraga

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