Miller (Millie) Margaret Brennan — entered the world this past Friday, March 1st at 2:06 PM.

Millie weighed 7 lbs. 3 ozs. and was 20″ long.

Mother Susie, father Ryan and Millie are home and are doing well!

Congratulations!

It is a pleasure to welcome Karen Deak to the University Relations team as the Academic Advancement Director for Research Innovation & IDEA Center. She will begin her new role on Monday, March 18, 2019.

Karen is currently the Director of Network Engagement at IDEA Center, where she actively develops a nationwide, multi-industry network of external experts willing to help commercialize Notre Dame-generated innovations. She holds an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a PhD in genetics from the University of Chicago. Karen joined the University in 2011 in the College of Science where she created a program to teach STEM graduates the skills of a patent agent. She later served as the Commercialization Specialist in the Office of Research before moving to IDEA Center. Her husband John is an associate professor in the Department of History at Notre Dame, and since 2016 Karen and John have lived among the residents of Dunne Hall as one of only two faculty couples on campus who live in residence.

As an active marathoner, Karen’s ambitions extend beyond the professional. As a co-host for Notre Dame Alumni Association travel experiences, her interests go well beyond campus.

You can expect to see Karen soon. In the meantime you can contact her at kdeak@nd.edu to welcome her to University Relations.

Thank you,

Michael Loungo

Hello again.

Today we welcome Kate Mueller, the new Law School AAD, to her first day as part of the University Relations team. Like all of our Academic Advancement Directors, Kate serves our fundraisers to help them hit their goals.

While Kate’s office is in the Law School, you will see her regularly around Eddy Street Commons, Main Building, and Grace Hall as she gets to know our team in meaningful ways, and navigates her onboarding schedule. Take a meeting with her….you’ll learn not only about the pronunciation of her last name, but also her profound commitment to serve our team and the University in this new role.

You can connect with Kate by email at kate.mueller@nd.edu, and by phone at 1-9280.

Thank you,

Michael Loungo

From Andy Gilmour: Kite Operations Manager:

The shutoff valves for the water bypass are not working and the service technicians for Kite will need to interrupt service temporarily in order to replace these shutoffs. This temporary disruption will take place tomorrow morning, February 18th, between 6am-9am, with the goal to have water supply back on to the building by 8am.

We appreciate your understanding during this process. Thank you.

NDAA has an open position for a E-mail Campaign Specialist. If you are interested in exploring this position please visit jobs.nd.edu and/or contact Mark Welch.

Fr. Jim will be having hip replacement surgery next Tuesday, February 12th, and we would like to collect get well cards and notes of encouragement to send him from his friends in Development. As a treasured member of the Notre Dame community, Fr. Jim holds a very special place in all our hearts.

We will be collecting your cards at the Eddy Street front desk and will mail them collectively to Fr. Jim next Wednesday, February 13th to cheer him during his recovery. Cards and notes from Grace Hall staff may be given to Sara Wolfson and I will collect them on Tuesday afternoon, the 12th, to include with our mailing.

Thank you so much for your participation.  Now let’s stuff that envelope with well wishes for a speedy recovery!

Carolyn Hardman

Dear Colleagues,

A year ago we set out on an ambitious path to incorporate something brand new into our workflows that would ultimately add more accountability to our goal achievement. GrowthSport has now become a normal rhythm within our work week and has helped us to achieve many goals- everything from competing in triathlons to securing $10M transformational gifts to defining our essential qualities as a leader. In fact, there have been 34,374 KPAs entered to date since this time last year, with 30,027 of those being completed. That’s an 87% completion rate! Thank you for your willingness to adopt something new and disruptive into our strategy and goal-setting mindsets.

With that, the Internal Engagement & Execution team invites you to enjoy a sweet treat tomorrow, Friday February 8, to celebrate our GrowthSportversary! University Catering will be delivering sport-themed cookies to all of our Development locations on campus after 9:30am.

Again, many thanks to all for incorporating GrowthSport into your goal achievement which helps the entire department reach its goals. Lastly, feel free to add “eat a cookie” as a KPA this week. You deserve it!

All the best,
Your Internal Engagement & Execution Team

Due to the extreme weather conditions the Operations Office for Eddy Street Commons will be closed beginning Tuesday, January 29th 11am through Thursday, January 31st 11am.  This includes the property service personal, security, porters, janitorial, & maintenance staff. We apologize for any inconvenience; safety is an upmost priority. Andy Gilmour, Operations Manager, will be available for any urgent property related concerns via mobile phone (574) 250-9315 or email AGilmour@KiteRealty.com

Hello again.

Our colleague Taylor Rockafellow will soon leave Notre Dame to pursue humanitarian work in Puerto Rico, serving those communities impacted in 2017 by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. Taylor’s last day at the University is Friday, January 25, 2019.

After completing her degree in Sociology with a Minor in International Studies at Indiana University, Taylor joined the Development team in 2015 as administrative assistant for Global Advancement. Her energy, spirit, and commitment to our team grew over time, as did her scope of responsibilities and positive impact. In early 2018, Taylor was promoted to Academic and Global Advancement Team Coordinator, and became an even more integral part of our team’s work and culture.

At a recent retreat, we gave Taylor a token of our appreciation for her meaningful contributions to our team. We hope that Taylor will take this gift, and more importantly the individual anecdotes each of our team members shared with her, into this next chapter of her personal and professional life.

As we say goodbye and thank you to Taylor for her service to Notre Dame, please also remember her in your prayers of gratitude for those serving the vulnerable.

Michael Loungo