Happy Birthday to all our UR colleagues celebrating their special day in June! We hope you have lots of fun in the sun!

6/1— Rebecca Lane
6/2— Joe Sheehan
6/3— Cristi Ganyard
6/3— Pier White
6/4— Kelsey Forry
6/5— Courtney Quinlan
6/7— Carly Harmon
6/8— Megan Andedo
6/8— Maureen Daday
6/8— Sharon Keane
6/8— Matthew LaFlash
6/8— Dawn McGrath
6/10— Danielle Filgueira
6/11— Bill Ribera
6/12— Carolyn Lax
6/16— Lauren Imfeld
6/16— Rich Reynolds
6/18— Jason Stoller
6/19— William Mitchell
6/19— Aleks Mitrius
6/21— Brigette Kinney
6/22— Annie Envall-Latowski
6/29— Mark Witucki
6/30— Sara Aycock
6/30— Tarrez Clark
6/30— Eric Kim
6/30— Jessica Witous

Amber comes to us locally after 19 years at Beacon Health System, working her way through college, and then developing professionally as a Senior Systems Analyst for the last 10 years. She is ecstatic to be joining the Data Management team with The Office of Development!

Amber received her Bachelor of Science in Business from Indiana University, South Bend and grew up just over the state line in Niles, MI. She and her husband, JR, have 2 kids, Isaac and Adaline, both of whom attend Saint Joseph Grade School, where Amber serves as HASA Co-Chair, leading volunteer activities, and soaking up time with her kids before she becomes ‘uncool’!

In her spare time, Amber is a runner, currently training for her first and only Marathon, a reader, and passionate about spending time with her family. Soccer Mom is a title she embraces and logistics are her specialty!

Amber’s first day is Monday, June 3rd.

–Patty Herrity

I am thrilled to announce that Eli Fish will be joining us as an Associate Regional Director, starting on June 3rd.

Eli holds a Master’s degree in Education from Notre Dame and a Bachelor’s degree in Communications with a minor in English and Gender Studies from Saint Anselm College.

With two years in Notre Dame’s admissions office, Eli has experience managing seven recruiting territories, traveling to share Notre Dame with prospective students and their families, navigating a holistic application review process, and educating coaches on the admissions process to aid their recruiting efforts.

Although a Mainer by heart, Eli is excited to further Notre Dame’s mission and serve within a supportive team dedicated to building lasting relationships. He looks forward to joining the Annual Giving Team and continuing his growth in a community that feels like home.

Please join me in welcoming Eli Fish!

Indi

Eli Fun Facts:

– Obsessed with sports and a huge New England sports fan, especially the Red Sox

– Avid reader and wishes to spend his summer devouring books at the beach

– Physically received his master’s degree before his bachelor’s degree (COVID)

– Loves the idea of cooking but can’t imagine himself actually cooking

– Grew up in rural Maine with no internet access and spent much of his youth playing outside and gardening with his parents

After 16 years of service to Our Lady’s University, Roz Palusci will be retiring at the end of the fiscal year. Roz came to Notre Dame after a 28-year history in commercial banking, brokerage, and consulting.

While at Notre Dame she has served as Development Coordinator, Regional Associate, and Associate Program Director. In these roles, she partnered with some of our most successful RDs, leaders, and teams in Regional Development and has been an integral collaborator behind the scenes in our Wall Street efforts. (Not to mention that she did this all while pioneering remote work long before it was fashionable.)

In retirement, Roz is looking forward to spending more time with her husband, Vince, as well as their two children and four grandchildren. Along with lots of travel, Roz plans to take advantage of the vibrant culture of her beloved New York City.

Roz is going to miss the camaraderie and shared experiences with her coworkers but will be on campus June 6th and 7th to spend some non-virtual time with everyone. Please reach out to her to make sure you get to see her and congratulate her!

-Amy Schell

This week, there will be large bins available throughout the third floor of ESC and floors 10 and 11 in Grace Hall. Please use these bins to take some time to declutter your workspace and/or your assigned locker.

If you have items that you don’t want anymore but feel that they may be useful to someone else, please place these items on the table on the East wall in the Cafe (ESC) or on the large table when you first walk into the suite on 11S (Grace). Any items that are not taken will be sent to ND Surplus or disposed of on May 29th.

Finally, we will be bringing in an outside cleaning company during remote July to clean carpets, glass interiors and surfaces in private offices and cubicles. This decluttering effort is meant to start to prepare your spaces for this cleaning effort. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Patty Kokesh or Nancy Cole.

UR Family,

Leading communications for a congresswoman, the Department of Homeland Security, the White House, and the association that oversees the nation’s top research universities is no easy feat. It takes an expert to navigate the complexities of these high-stakes roles, and that expert just found his way to Notre Dame.

In the 12th episode of For Good, Pedro Ribeiro, Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications, discusses the significance of Notre Dame joining the Association of American Universities, the unique role Notre Dame plays in bringing together leaders from opposite sides of the aisle in D.C., and the importance of maintaining the student experience for student-athletes as the landscape of college athletics evolves.

Watch on YouTube →

Listen on Spotify →

– Brandon Tabor

Dear University Relations Team,

I’m reaching out to share some bittersweet news. Dezha Moore recently shared that she’s decided to pursue new opportunities outside her current role. While we will miss her, we wholeheartedly support her in this new chapter of her career. Her last day will be May 17th.

Dezha is thankful for her time at University Relations, especially to her colleagues on the Giving Programs Team: Leslie, Wendy, Hannah, and Raegan. She is also thankful to department leaders who have supported her.

Please join me in expressing our heartfelt appreciation to Dezha for her dedication and hard work. While her presence will be missed, we wish her nothing but success and fulfillment in her future endeavors.

Just to let you know, we hope to hire someone for this role in the coming months. In the meantime, please feel free to contact Meredith Sharwarko msharwar@nd.edu with any project requests/outstanding items.

With love and respect,
Meredith Shawarko

Dear Colleagues,

The third spring renewal mailing (renew #3) drops in mailboxes on Friday, May 17 to our unrestricted and giving society benefactors. As a reminder, this mailing is sent to all assigned and unassigned benefactors whose annual giving is less than $25,000, asking them to renew their previous calendar year gift by their respective fund owner. This mailing is being sent to over 5,000 households and will be followed by email reminders in the weeks to come. If you have any questions regarding our renewal strategy, please reach out to the appropriate fund (Sorin, Rockne, Law, etc.) owner on the annual giving team and they can assist.

Thanks!
Annual Giving Team

Dear friends and colleagues,

We are excited to share two important announcements for our regional development team.

Sean Sharpe has accepted an opportunity to join the East Coast team, cultivating relationships with several of the University’s top benefactors in Atlanta and Nashville. Before leading the Northwest region for more than 4 years, Sean served as a regional director in the East and New York regions, working closely with benefactors in New York City.

Jason Scarlett has accepted an opportunity to join the Southern team, cultivating relationships with generous benefactors in Kansas City, St. Louis, and southwest Florida. Before leading the Central region for the past 3 years, Jason served as a regional director for 11 years, working closely with Notre Dame families in what was formerly known as the Midwest region.

Please join us in congratulating Sean and Jason and thanking them for their continued leadership in service to Notre Dame and this team.

All the best,
Nadia Erickson and Tim Kelly

Dear Colleagues,

Please join me in welcoming Annabelle Hilson to Regional Development as a Development Coordinator (DC).

A recent graduate of Notre Dame’s Masters of Nonprofit Administration (MNA) program, Annabelle completed her undergraduate studies at the University in May of 2023 with a degree in Business Analytics. During that period she served as an RA in Cavanaugh Hall, as well as the ND student softball manager.

Annabelle grew up in Minnesota and has worked for Minnesota Wild and Skyhawks Sports Minnesota. A strong advocate for underserved individuals, she currently volunteers for the Boys & Girls Club of St. Joseph County. Her interests include travel, outdoor walks, softball, and baseball. Annabelle’s first day is May 20th and she will support fundraisers in Athletics.

Welcome to Development!

Angie Dennig

Please join me in welcoming Teresa Pocius back to Notre Dame and to the Annual Giving team! Teresa will be serving as the Associate Director, Annual Giving Events and Stewardship, leading our Giving Society events and assisting with our stewardship of members.

Teresa is joining us after serving as the Equipment Operations Manager for the Duke Women’s Basketball team. Teresa has previously worked at Notre Dame in Athletics in Crowd Control and Equipment Services and is a South Bend native. She and her fiance, Joe, are excited to be back home!

-Conor

Dear Colleagues,

It is with mixed emotions that I share the news of Tracey Mulherin’s ’02 departure from the IT&S within the Development Office, effective May 10th, 2024. After years within our Notre Dame family as a student [’02] and staff employee, Tracey has made the decision to prioritize her time with her family and take some time away from work. Additionally, Tracey will be graduating from Notre Dame in May 2024 with her MS in Data Science.

As Tracey moves on to this new chapter in her life, Meggie Richard ’15 will transition to the Annual Giving space as an embedded resource. Tracey has been instrumental in the success of Annual Giving, and her absence will undoubtedly be felt.

On behalf of the entire team, I would like to extend my sincerest appreciation to Tracey for her hard work and commitment. Tracey, we wish you nothing but the utmost success in all your future endeavors.

Warm regards,

Wayne

Dear UR Friends and Colleagues,

I write to share the news that Arlia Delphonse’s last day with the University is May 9, 2024. Arlia has been an invaluable member of the Development Coordinator team, and she will be missed.

She has made the difficult decision to relocate to Florida to be closer to her aging parents, a commendable choice that we fully support. We wish her nothing but the best as she embarks on this next chapter of her life.

We are grateful for Arlia’s contributions to the DC Team, and she will always be a cherished member of the Notre Dame Family!

For updates regarding changes to fundraiser partnerships within the DC Team, please refer to the UR site under the Applications tab.

Lori Tinkey, Anita Sareen & the DC Team

Team,

Congratulations to Armando Allen, who will serve as a Regional Director. His first day with Development is May 6, 2024.

Armando was a running back while at Notre Dame and, upon graduating in 2011, played professionally for the Chicago Bears. After leaving the NFL, he transitioned to an extensive career in coaching, recruiting, and athletic administration for the past 8 years. We are excited to see the impact Armando will have on our team. His experience, skillset, and commitment to the mission of Our Lady’s University will help advance our team’s work and culture.

Armando, his wife, Chaniya, and three boys are happy to return to their “Home Under the Dome.”

Please join me in welcoming Armando and his family to University Relations.

-George

This Monday, the Development Information Technology and Services team will perform an upgrade to asceND.  The V6.26 upgrade should be completed by 8:00 a.m. and will include updates to correct the Profile Picture error (shown below) and gift processing components.

We ask that if you experience any issues prior to that time, please access the system again when the upgrade process is finished.  

Thank you for your patience and support.  

Dear Colleagues,

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Bill Doyle’s mother, Ann Doyle (October 29, 1938 – May 1, 2024).

During this difficult time, let us come together to support Bill, Mary Lynn and their family in any way possible.

Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate through this period of grief and loss.

As further information becomes available regarding arrangements, we will be sure to share those details according to Bill’s wishes.

Sincerely,
Nadia Erickson

Friends and Colleagues,

I write to share the bittersweet news that Lin Wang will be leaving Notre Dame on June 30, 2024 to relocate her family to Texas. Lin’s husband, John, was recently appointed dean of libraries at the University of Texas at Arlington.

Fortunately, we expect to see Lin around campus often when she visits her son, Jayden, who will start his first year at Notre Dame in the fall.

Since joining the Storytelling team in 2013, Lin has been the backbone of our operation. She is a masterful executor, a great source of joy, and an irreplaceable friend to all who have worked with her.

During her 11 years with the Department, Lin has brought to life some of our biggest initiatives, including the Sorin: A Notre Dame Day Story play, every occurrence of Notre Dame Day, and all the fundraising collateral we’ve generated for Boldly Notre Dame and For Good.

Please join me in celebrating Lin Wang and thanking her for the lives she has touched through her work at Notre Dame.

Sincerely,
Brandon Tabor

P.S. Our newest teammate, Carol de Lucca, has worked alongside Lin since March 1 and will be the department’s creative project manager moving forward.

Colleagues,

I am both proud and a little sad to share the news that Writer & Editorial Program Manager Allie Griffith will be leaving the Alumni Association as she accepts a new role as Assistant Program Director of Education and Student Formation with the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Studies (soon to be the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good). In this role, she’ll work with faculty, students, and NDIAS colleagues to evaluate the impact of higher education courses on students’ well-being and holistic development. As part of the University’s Strategic Framework, she’ll be helping to build out programs and research projects around human flourishing to support the framework’s Ethics initiative. Her last day with us will be Friday, May 10. Her role will be posted to jobs.nd.edu in the coming weeks.

Allie joined the team a little less than two years ago after beginning her career in education and, in that time, has blossomed as a writer and storyteller in our efforts to share the incredible stories of ND alumni, parents, and friends. She’s played an integral role in the continued evolution of We Are ND as we explore different ways to tell ND stories (ICYMI: check out her recent work on the story of Keenan Hall roommates forever linked by the gift of a kidney donation); stewarded the Echoes newsletter; and managing the Class Notes process for ND Magazine. More importantly, she’s been a fabulous teammate who’s been willing to jump in wherever she’s needed!

Please join me in congratulating Allie on this excellent opportunity!

Thank you,
Joanne Norell

Happy Birthday to all our UR colleagues celebrating their special day in May! We hope this new year brings you growth and happiness!

5/1— Meredith Sharwarko
5/4— Scott Berry
5/4— Tashana Kenny
5/5— Annalisa Tombelli
5/6— Gasser Abousaif
5/7— Courtney Mattison
5/7— Grace Prosniewski
5/9— Eleanor Hanson
5/9— Barbara Josenhans
5/9— Gavin McGuire
5/12— Mary Prebys
5/13— Thomas Speranza
5/14— Josh Flynt
5/14— Beth Dietz
5/15— Laura Marks
5/17— Jacqueline Clinton
5/17— Krista Ybarra
5/18— Ron Linczer
5/18— Maya Sison
5/19— Lori Rush
5/20— Sarah Kriegshauser
5/21— Isabel Dance
5/21— Kiran Mistry
5/21— Ben Nowalk
5/21— Terrell Robinson
5/22— Andy Mason
5/22— Stephanie Washington
5/24— Beth Graybill
5/26— Kate Mueller
5/26— Bailey Smith
5/28— Steven Horstmann
5/28— Brooke Speer
5/29— Caitlin Hutchison
5/29— Amelia Ruggaber
5/31— Patrick Charles
5/31— Jennifer Powell

Dear UR Family,

I write with the bittersweet news that our beloved colleague, Michael McLaughlin, will be retiring from his role in development at the end of this fiscal year after an esteemed 15 years of service to Our Lady’s University.

Throughout his career at Notre Dame, Michael has served both the university and benefactors in an incredibly thoughtful and caring manner. His passion, commitment, and hard work has resulted in incredible production over multiple campaigns. These gifts include the establishment of the Pulte Institute for Global Development, Smith Center in the Duncan Student Center, Berthiaume Institute of Precision Medicine, Our Lady of the Lake World Peace Plaza, and the William and Mary Anne Smith Ballroom, among others.

Beyond his professional achievements, Michael has been a source of kindness and mentorship to many of us. As he embarks on this new chapter of his life, we are filled with gratitude for his invaluable contributions and wish him nothing but happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead.

In recognition of Michael’s career, we plan to celebrate his retirement before the end of the fiscal year with more details to follow.

Please join us in expressing heartfelt gratitude to Michael and the McLaughlin family (Patty, Tommy, Daisy, and Maggie), for being such a cherished part of the Notre Dame community. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

Tim Kelly
Senior Director, South Region