Farewell to Jim Small

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Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is with bittersweet emotion that I share with you the news that Jim Small is retiring from Notre Dame, effective June 30, 2023.

Jim has served as a senior leader of our team for over eleven years, transforming development communications into inspiring stories for Notre Dame alumni, parents and friends. We will miss Jim’s passion, innovation, commitment to excellence and devotion to Notre Dame and our mission.

Jim is leaving Notre Dame and our University Relations team in a much better and stronger place. Jim pioneered and executed many of our biggest and most creative endeavors over the past decade, including Notre Dame Day, the Notre Dame Trail, and Sorin: A Notre Dame Story. Under Jim’s leadership, Storytelling developed custom donor proposals to convey our priorities, translating into billions donated to the University. He built videography, design and social media experiences previously unconceived; enhanced brand messaging; and taught us the importance of “Think, Feel, Do” through storytelling. While the Annual Giving team continues to break records in unrestricted and giving society gifts and donor counts year after year, Jim pushed colleagues to think differently, not to look back, but rather, to always look ahead with excitement. Similarly, Jim and Susan are now doing just that with retirement on the horizon, and Jim asked me to share the attached message with you.

Later this week, the position of Associate Vice President for Development will be posted. In the meantime, please take a moment to read Jim’s heartfelt message and join me in wishing Jim, Susan, and the entire Small family every happiness on their next adventure.

Best, Lou

– – – – –
 
From Jim Small, Associate Vice President for Development, Storytelling & Engagement
 
I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve the mission of the University of Notre Dame and to be your colleague for 4,189 days. It’s the most cherished professional honor of my lifetime.
 
How lucky we all are to represent an institution that matters — and, how lucky I have been to work every day with so many talented, humble and kind individuals who love Notre Dame as much as I do.

Trust me, this is rare air.

I will admit I am going to miss 7:47 AM ET meetings every Monday with Lou and crew and I’m dearly going to miss being in the trenches with my teammates on the Storytelling Team and Annual Giving Team (AKA) “The Record Breakers.” You have proven you are the ABSOLUTE BEST at what you do in the world — PERIOD.

And selfishly, I’m going to miss the privilege and responsibility of telling the Notre Dame story – a love story unlike any other.

But, please know that I still believe I have the ability to “do” great things – so I’m not ready to utter the “R word” (retire) just yet — even though my birth certificate and hair color will tell you otherwise. So please feel free to spread this story about my departure:
 
“Small has decided to leave Notre Dame early (sans a degree) and enter his name into the transfer portal to explore opportunities where he can use up the eligibility he has left to see what his N.I.L. value is in the marketplace…”. (I HOPE YOU ARE SMILING)

I will leave you with this. The prolific American essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, is credited with this quote, that inspired me long ago to always ‘think differently and never be afraid to fail:
 
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” 
 
I hope I’ve left a trail…

P.S. There are three blonde-headed kids in Vero Beach, FL who are going to see their Grandpa & Grandma Small a little more often. I pray they will appreciate this as much as we will.

2 thoughts on “Farewell to Jim Small”

  2. Will definitely miss you Jim! You are one of the most talented and brilliant men I know. Good luck to you and I know you will get to spend more time with those grandchildren.