It is with mixed emotions that I announce Lavarr Barnett will be leaving the University of Notre Dame and the Southwest team to start his next great adventure. Starting in September, Lavarr will be serving as the Vice President of Investor Relations at Summit Equity Investments, a private equity company based in Los Angeles. The Barnett family will continue to reside in the Michiana area.

Lavarr’s last day will be Friday, July 16. Please join me in congratulating Lavarr on this incredible next step in his career!

Best, Shelby

I am pleased to announce that effective July 1, RaeLee Rea will be promoted as Associate Program Director, Gift Planning Administration. In addition to RaeLee’s continued management of the Donor Advised Fund program and the DAF Portal, RaeLee’s role will be formally expanded to include responsibility for administration of realized estate gifts from benefactors’ estates and trusts, preparation of the new Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) quarterly reports, review and revision of trust instruments, Gift Planning agreements, designations, and other legal documents, and approval of Gift Planning documents prior to execution by the University. RaeLee will also continue to partner with the Controller’s Office, Gift Management, and Stewardship in management of these Gift Planning programs.

In fulfilling these expanded responsibilities, Gift Planning is thrilled to be adding Carolyn Hardman who will transition to Development Associate, Gift Planning Administration, as of July 1st. In this Gift Planning role, Carolyn will work with RaeLee to continue the growth and streamlining of the DAF program and DAF data, aid in the processing and administration of realized estate/trust gifts, and help develop a comprehensive gift processing plan for families of deceased Gift Planning benefactors. Carolyn will also cross-train regional Development Coordinators in Gift Planning processes, assist with coordinating and sending the new electronic CRT statements, and further develop procedures and processes for Gift Planning.

-Rich Naponelli

I am excited to announce that Shaheen Goldrick will be joining the Southwest team as Regional Director, working with benefactors in Denver. She will be transitioning from her role as the Director of Corporate Relations on July 6.

Shaheen has been with the University for four years and previously was the Director of Business Development at 2020 Women on Boards. She has also been serving as a committee chair for the UR DEIU Task Force since its inception in August 2020.

Shaheen graduated from Notre Dame in 1994 with a degree in Sociology and Gender Studies Concentration.

Welcome to the SouthBEST team, Shaheen!

Best, Shelby

REMINDER:

There will be a repair to the 1st floor ramp in the ESC Parking Garage on Wednesday, June 30th from 8am-5pm. During this repair, there will be a complete blockage of the ramp from the first to the second floor for both directions. If your car is on the second, third, or fourth floor and you will need to use it that day, please move to the first floor by Wednesday, June 30th at 7am.

It is our pleasure to welcome Terrell Robinson, Denise Moulds, Michelle Jones, and Jessica DeFina to the Development Coordinator team. Terrell, Denise, and Michelle will start on July 1st, and Jessica on July 6th.

 

Terrell comes to us from Eugene, Oregon where he worked extensively in athletics at both the K-12 and collegiate levels. He has a Master of Arts degree in Sports & Athletic Administration from Gonzaga University and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Oregon. Terrell is looking forward to moving to the Midwest with his wife and 2 children and cannot wait for ND football to begin!

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Denise joins the team with a collective 14 years of experience at Notre Dame. Most recently, she worked as a HERE Ambassador and was with the Irish 1/Campus Card office for seven years before that as their Business Manager. Denise has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Western Governors University. She is excited to bring a wide range of administrative and campus experience to Development.

 

Michelle comes to us from Hoosier Environmental Council in Indianapolis where she most recently worked as a Development Associate. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, South Bend in Sustainability Studies with a Minor in History. Michelle is excited about being able to bring her development experience to Notre Dame.

 

Jessica comes to us from campus where she worked as an Event Specialist for Venue ND. She is also a Certified Wedding Planner. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, Bloomington in Tourism and Hospitality. Jessica is excited about this career change which will allow her to enjoy free weekends with her new son and husband.

 

Please join us in welcoming Terrell, Denise, Michelle, and Jessica!

 

Angie, Noell, Anita, and Deena

Please join me in congratulating Zach Thurston on his engagement! Last Sunday, June 20, Zach asked his now-fiance, Emma, to marry him in Saint Augustine, Florida (she obviously said yes!). One of Emma’s bucket list items has been to swim with dolphins, and Zach sneakily used that activity to formulate the perfect way to propose. We’re so excited for you two!

– Lauren Dolzan

UR Team-

Our extraordinary colleague, Janet Jessup, will be retiring next week. Janet has been an incredible member of the UR Development team. Her warmth, teamwork, leadership, and presence will be deeply missed. Janet has built strong relationships internally and externally with benefactors and leaves a beautiful legacy, as her contributions will be valued and remembered.

Janet is Notre Dame through and through — a grad, employee, married to a grad and ND Mom — and I’m confident we will see Janet around town and on-campus, whether at a yoga class, a long walk or cheering on the Irish on gameday. Upon retirement, Janet and her husband Scott are headed on a month-long, cross-country, camping adventure.

Please join me in congratulating Janet as she moves on to this next phase of life. Congratulations Janet!

Cheers!
Anne

Please note that the rules regarding parking at ESC remain unchanged except regarding the June 30th closure. Vehicles cannot be parked in the street spots for longer than two hours, and those parking in the garage must park above the “bump” on the ramp (no first floor parking) and not in any reserved spots on the 2nd level. The building manager will begin issuing tickets to vehicles that do not abide by these rule next week.

There will be a repair to the 1st floor ramp in the Eddy Street Parking Garage on Wednesday, June 30th from 8am-5pm. During this repair, there will be a complete blockage of the ramp from the first to the second floor for both directions. If your car is on the second, third, or fourth floor and you will need to use it that day, please move to the first floor by Wednesday, June 30th at 7am.

Congratulations to Patty and Ryan Kokesh on the birth of their new son!

Martin (Marty) Joseph Kokesh joined team Kokesh on Sunday, June 20th.

He weighed in at 7 lbs, 3 oz and was 20 3/4″

The whole family is doing great! Best wishes to the happy Kokesh family!

-The Information Technology and Services team

Allison and Jon Slabaugh welcomed their twins to the world on June 15th. Charlotte (5 lbs 10 oz) and Tyler (5 lbs 4 oz), and Mom and Dad are all home and well . . . and Madison is loving her new role as a big sister!

Congratulations to the Slabaugh family!

-The Academic Advancement Team

Quick rental car reminder: Faculty or staff renting cars for business travel should NOT purchase rental car insurance; the University’s insurance will respond in the event of an incident/accident. This practice applies when renting from Enterprise and Hertz (Notre Dame’s preferred providers) as well as other providers (e.g., Avis, Budget, etc.).

The June Matching Gift Email will send Tuesday, June 22 to this list of assigned entities who work for matching gift companies, have made a gift since May 15, 2021, and as of today have not yet matched their gift. These gifts represent nearly $75K in potential matches.

Please note that individuals on the second tab of the excel file (“Fundraiser Outreach”) have not received the matching gift email message (all gifts exceeding $25,000) but may be eligible to match their gifts totaling over $888K. You are encouraged to reach out to your assigned benefactors directly to discuss the details and answer questions related to the matching gift process.

If you have any questions regarding this matching gift communication, please reach out to Laura Walker.

Dear UR Colleagues,

As we approach the new year, I’d like to share some updates with you about our Clubs Team. First of all, I am pleased to announce that Abbey Johnson has been promoted to Clubs Program Director at the NDAA effective July 1, 2021. Abbey brought valuable insight from her time as Vice President of the New York City club, and since joining the Clubs Team in late 2019 as Clubs Program Manager, Abbey quickly established herself as a key member of our team. With Ellie Kuhns’ departure at the start of 2021, Abbey took on additional duties and clearly demonstrated her ability to guide our Clubs in engaging our alumni and friends, even in these difficult times.

Additionally, the role of International Alumni Relations Program Director will once again be a part of the Clubs Team and will report to Abbey. As you know, we were unable to fill this position after Nathalia Casiano resigned in September, but I’m pleased to announce that Lea Barthuly will succeed Nathalia in this important role on our team. Lea has been with the NDAA as the Alumni Education and Professional Programs Coordinator since January of 2018. A native of Bayreuth, Germany, Lea first came to the United States in 2007. In addition to the US and Germany, Lea has also lived and studied in China from 2009-2011, and again in 2012 and 2016. Lea holds an MBA from the University of North Florida and an MA in International Management and Intercultural Communication from the University of Warsaw.

Please join me in congratulating Abbey and Lea on their promotions. I’m excited to see the Clubs Team reach new levels of engagement for our alumni and friends with these changes.

All the best,
Mike Sullivan

Please welcome Rebecca Withey to University Relations! Rebecca joins the Development Coordinator team and will support Sherita Jackson, Bob Morton, and Shannon Forry.

Rebecca recently relocated from Sacramento, California, where she served as an Instructional Assistant for the Radio, Television, and Video Production Department at Cosumnes River College. During her summer months, she would direct a children’s STEM-centric Technology Camp on University Campuses such as Berkeley and San Jose State University. After working 20 years in the corporate tech sector and media, she went back to school and earned degrees in Communication Studies & Applied Art and Design at Sierra College.

Fun fact about Rebecca – she has written, produced, and directed several film projects that made it into various California film festivals including her award-winning Children’s Short, The Mighty Oak. She has two children who still live on the West Coast: Jonathan (age 27) and Emily (age 22). She currently lives in Elkhart with her fiancé Charles Lane and his teenage son, Reo.

Rebecca’s first day will be Tuesday (6/15). Welcome to Notre Dame, Rebecca!

In recognition of her contributions to Notre Dame, University Relations, and Academic Advancement, we’re pleased to share the news of Kelly Courington’s promotion to Development Associate, effective July 1, 2021. In addition to her ongoing responsibilities, Kelly will now also lead the efforts of our Academic Advancement team in providing a predictable schedule of meaningful and immersive fundraiser experiences, directly tied to promoting fundraising opportunities. These experiences will serve to further inform fundraisers and inspire donors about the University’s ambitions.

Congratulations, Kelly!

-Michael Loungo

It is with bittersweet emotions that I share that Amy Plotkin will be leaving Notre Dame effective July 2. Amy’s
husband, Brian, has accepted the position of Head Soccer Coach at West Point Academy in New York. Amy
has been a valuable member of the Development Coordinator team for the past three years. She has also
served as our liaison to the Internal Engagement committee where she organized multiple volunteer
opportunities and health and wellness initiatives for the entire UR group. Please join me in bidding a fond
farewell to Amy as she enters this next chapter of her life.

Thank you,
Angie Dennig

Congratulations to Development Coordinator Katie Edel on the birth of her new daughter! Casey and Katie welcomed Holland Elizabeth to their family on 6/11 at 7:45am. She weighed 6.11 lbs (matching her bday!) and was 19.5″

Best wishes to the happy family!

Our contact at the Food Bank of Northern Indiana has reached out to ask if anyone can assist them on Friday, June 18 or Monday, June 21 at their 702 Chapin St. location. They will have several people out on those days, including one of their pantry staff. If you can work any of the below shifts or can dedicate any amount of time to help, please contact Agency Relations Director Brandy Love at blove@feedindiana.org. This could serve as a great team building opportunity that will also benefit our larger community.

Friday, June 18
9am – noon
12-3pm

Monday, June 21
9am – noon
12-3pm

Thank you for your service to our Michiana neighbors in need!

Dear Procard holders,

As you are aware, the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2021) is nearly here. Please take a minute to read the following two important reminders of year-end procedures as they pertain to your Procard statement reports and the underlying Fund/Org to which your Concur account defaults.

Transaction Timing
Remember that because Procard months range from the 26th to the 25th, the Procard year-end is actually June 25th.

To ensure that a Procard purchase is recorded in the current budget year, the transaction must be posted into your June Concur statement. Due to normal posting delays by Chase, please be aware that a Procard purchase made on or after June 22nd will likely be posted in your JULY Procard Statement Report and consequently into Fiscal 2022.

If you intend to make purchases in Fiscal 2021 with your Procard (especially if using unrestricted funds), you should do so before June 22nd.

Procard Statement Report Submission and Approval
It is extremely important that you complete ALL outstanding Procard Statement Reports (and have them approved) before July 6th.

Procard activity is recorded in the University accounting system only after the monthly report has been submitted and approved. Until then, the transactions remain in a clearing account and are not properly applied against the applicable research, discretionary, or administrative account. We will make an adjusting entry at year-end forcing all outstanding reports to be recorded in the current Fiscal Year. HOWEVER, all transactions on this adjusting entry will be to the cardholder’s default FOP and Supplies (72001). To ensure that your transactions are recorded correctly, please submit your Procard statements in June. Then take a moment to remind your Approver to approve as soon as possible, but no later than July 6th.

Please note we are unable to move Procard transactions posted after the fiscal year close back into Fiscal 2021 (the “old” year). If your intent is to make any Procard purchases using current “old” fiscal year dollars, please review your current budget and purchasing needs and plan accordingly.

While restricted account (e.g., research or discretionary) balances roll over into the new fiscal year, it is always best to have transactions posted in the proper period–especially because outstanding report balances will be charged to Supplies in FY 2021, regardless of the underlying transactions.

If I can be of any assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Best regards,
Mike Favorite
Senior Financial Analyst, Office of the Controller

George Mandarakas is no longer on the Corporate Relations team. If you were working with George on any projects, please contact CR Interim Senior Director Josh Tullis for a project transition plan. Also, we will be looking to refill this position. If you are interested in this role or would like to know more, please reach out to Josh Tullis or Tara Gilchrist.

– Josh Tullis

Happy Birthday to all our colleagues celebrating their special days in June! We hope your year is filled with fun and sun!

6/3 – Cristi Ganyard
6/3 – Shayne Murphy
6/3 – Pier White
6/4 – Marcia Hittner
6/8 – Dawn McGrath
6/8 – Megan Andedo
6/8 – Maureen Daday
6/8 – Matt LaFlash
6/8 – Sharon Keane
6/9 – Michael Loungo
6/11 – Bill Ribera
6/12 – Carolyn Lax
6/13 – Mark Futa
6/16 – Rich Reynolds
6/17 – Noel Terranova
6/19 – William Mitchell
6/21 – Brigette Kinney
6/22 – Anastasia Envall-Latowski
6/22 – George Mandarakas
6/22 – Marilyn Bassett-Lance
6/29 – Mark Witucki
6/30 – Jessica Witous