Dear colleagues:

I am happy to announce that the Special Events & Stewardship unit is now fully staffed! We have hired Amanda Retartha as an assistant director, and Amy Thomas as the stewardship writer/editor.

A Double Domer with a B.A. and M.A. in English, Amanda Retartha recently earned her Ph.D. from New York University in English and American Literature. A true academic, Amanda will be responsible for the stewardship programs for endowed professorships and the University Libraries. While at Notre Dame, she interned at Ave Maria Press, and worked for Academic Services for Student Athletes. At New York University, Amanda interned at Scholastic, Inc., and served as an adjunct instructor/teaching assistant as well as an assistant to the Dean of their School of Law, where she wrote acknowledgments and other correspondence. In Special Events & Stewardship, Amanda will also write acknowledgments, serve as a strategic partner to the East Region of Development, and assist with departmental events.  Amanda and her husband Jonathan (an assistant director of Annual Giving and Strategic Marketing) reside in South Bend.

Amy Thomas, a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy, earned her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Notre Dame in 2011. Amy returns to the University from Press Ganey Associates, where she was recently serving as an account manager, responsible for 58 clients and a caseload of over $3 million. Before this role, she had served as an adjunct faculty member at both Indiana University South Bend and Lake Michigan College, where she taught composition, creative writing, and introductory literature courses. Her excellent project management skills and extensive writing background will assist her in this new role, as she will be preparing acknowledgments, editing annual endowment report updates for the academy, and writing for many audiences. Amy will serve as a strategic partner to the Midwest Region of Development and assist with departmental events. She is a native of Detroit and currently resides in South Bend, where she enjoys writing, gardening, and yoga in her spare time.

Amanda (starting on July 21) and Amy (starting on July 28) will report directly to Heather Moriconi and will be housed at Eddy Street Commons. Please join me in welcoming them to the Department of Development.

Warm regards,

Katherine Lane