A letter from our office
Dear Friends,
The 2023-2024 academic year has gotten off to a fantastic start. As we enter our second full academic year of operations, the Office of Institutional Transformation is firmly positioned to lead and catalyze Notre Dame’s efforts to enhance inclusive excellence as a premier global Catholic research University, fostering a culture of belonging where all can thrive.
Read the full message from Rev. Page.
Our goals and our progress
Honoring the mandate issued by the Board of Trustees Task Force report Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Notre Dame: A Strategic Framework (2021), grounded in the University’s Catholic mission, and consistent with established best practices of national organizations, the Office of Institutional Transformation will help coordinate, inform, assist, support, and assess the work of campus partners.
Throughout the year, we’ll provide progress reports and important updates regarding the implementation of our strategic plan and provide more information on how you can get involved.
DEI practitioner spotlight: Leigh Hayden and Ricky Herbst
DPAC staff are raising the curtain on a new era of inclusivity
“All cultures use the arts as a form of expression, but there haven’t been equal spotlights in their presentation.” With these words, staff at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center set forth a challenge to themselves and a commitment to the campus and South Bend communities.
The center’s Statement on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA), developed in 2022, outlines the ways in which staff plan to work to unify, respond, engage, and make the center more inclusive for all. DPAC employees Leigh Hayden, director of marketing and communications, and Ricky Herbst, cinema programming director, are among about a dozen of the center’s 24 employees who volunteered to serve on the DEIA committee.
Learn more about our people, programs and progress
The University’s diversity, equity, and inclusion website – diversity.nd.edu – has long existed as a place where you can learn more about Notre Dame’s commitment and find stories showcasing our people, programs, and progress.
This month, the site is being refreshed with a new look and feel to enhance our ability to engage with students, faculty, and staff. The new design makes it easier to feature an array of messages, resources, reports, profiles, and more while also providing more visibility to the many ways in which you can get involved in this important work.
We want to hear from you
Do you have questions or feedback about the Office of Institutional Transformation or the University’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives?
Sharing your perspectives and insights helps our office partner more effectively with divisions, colleges, and schools to implement the University’s DEI strategy. Hearing from you also ensures that we support Notre Dame community members in cultivating a more welcoming campus environment.
About
Transformations is a quarterly publication of the Office of Institutional Transformation highlighting Notre Dame’s journey to achieve its aspirations as a truly Catholic, diverse and inclusive university. To learn more about the people, programs and progress associated with this integrated strategy as well as how you can get involved, please visit diversity.nd.edu.