I am pleased to share the birth of Bobby (Robert Michael) Knapke on Wednesday, July 14. Bobby is a healthy baby weighing 9 lbs 9 oz, and is 20 inches long. Bobby is the third child of Kyle and Colleen Bailey-Knapke. Both Bobby and Colleen are doing great and will be welcomed home by big brother PJ and big sister Maggie.

-Amy Schell

Come join the UR (and friends) Softball team! If you would like to join “The Benchwarmers”, please email Maureen Daday. The Benchwarmers will play Tuesday June 13th at either 6:30, June 20th at 7:30, with playoffs to follow. We would love to add more players/substitutes to our roster. We are very inclusive, so please join us, even if just to watch! Questions, click to email Maureen Daday. Please spread the word!

If you are interested in joining us for our next UR Walks, please fill out this form. We will meet this Thursday, June 15th, at 11:45AM at Grace Hall by the 11th Floor Elevators. Brian Diss will be leading the walk. As there may be some non-pavement, trail walking, we advise that appropriate footwear be considered. Interested in learning more about the health benefits of walking? Check out this article.

Happy birthday to all our UR employees celebrating their special days in June! Time for some 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
6/8—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
6/21—Brigette Kinney
6/22—Annie Envall-Latowski
6/28—Monica May
6/29—Mark Witucki
6/30—Sara Aycock
6/30—Tarrez Clark
6/30—Jessica Witous

Colleagues,

I write to share bittersweet news that Kasey O’Connor ‘12 will leave Notre Dame on June 30 and return home to New York where she’ll be near her family and continue her career with the USTA Foundation.

Kasey is a 2012 graduate of Notre Dame and a four-year softball monogram winner who has served in roles in Athletics and Development, most recently as Director, Annual Giving.

Throughout her time with us, Kasey has consistently demonstrated qualities that have inspired us all: grit, optimism, and fearlessness in her commitment to serving Notre Dame’s mission. She has been a true warrior, tirelessly advocating for Notre Dame Athletics—especially female student-athletes—and putting our Leadership Annual Giving fundraisers in a position to win.

Kasey has made a lasting impact on our team, department, and Notre Dame. I speak on behalf of many who feel privileged to have been a small part of her incredible journey.

Please stop by Kasey’s office and wish her well as we close out the fiscal year!

-Brandon Tabor

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

Colleagues,

Often times it is difficult to see someone leave the University of Notre Dame, and this is one of those times. After 18 years of service, Lynn Hubert is leaving Our Lady’s University to pursue a new opportunity with Ave Maria University as the Vice President and Advisor to the President. She will help Ave Maria build out their development team and also manage a principal gift portfolio.

While it is difficult to see Lynn go, it is with a heart of gratitude that we wish her, Dan, and the entire family well in their new pursuit. The Hubert family has been an immense blessing to Our Lady’s University as well as to the St. Pius X parish family. We are grateful to Lynn for taking such fantastic care of her benefactors, deeply and authentically living her Catholic faith, and for simply being a great friend to us all. Lynn, we wish you all of God’s blessings and tremendous success. Lynn’s last day in the office will be Wednesday, May 24th.

Jason Scarlett
Senior Director

If you wish to leave a message for Lynn, you can do so here: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/1tm6JbUa

Dear Colleagues,

The third spring renewal mailing (renew #3) is dropping in mailboxes starting Friday, May 19 to all 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 5,200 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 Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to announce that Lynette Shunka joined the Information & Technology Services team on May 8. Lynette will be a Salesforce CRM Administrator for asceND.

We are excited to see the impact Lynette will have on our team. Her experience,
skillset, and commitment to the mission of Our Lady’s University will help advance our
team’s work and culture.

Lynette has her bachelor’s degree from Lamar University, and is a Certified Salesforce Administrator. She and her husband, Kyle reside in the Houston TX area.

Please join me in offering a warm welcome to Lynette as she joins the University Relations family.

– Carleen

Friends,

I am both proud and grateful to announce that Mary Bueno will be retiring from her role as Development Associate, Advancement Services effective June 30, 2023 after 10 loyal years of service to Notre Dame.

Mary joined the Development team in 2013 after a career in administrative support positions at both Attco Machine Products and Honeywell International. Mary quickly became a beloved member of the Annual Giving team, providing assistance with nearly every annual giving effort, from Notre Dame Day to donor experience support for Giving Society members. Above all, she served as a trusted advocate, cheerleader, counselor, and friend to so many of us who have been blessed to work with her. Whether with a high five, a hug, or simply a smile, Mary has the rare ability to make every day better just because you have the chance to work with her.

I personally am so grateful to Mary for joining the Advancement Services team this past year, bringing with her the same can-do and “how can I help” approach to a new role and team. Mary will be incredibly missed, but we are thrilled that she and her husband, Manny, will be jumping into this exciting new phase of life!

Please join me in thanking Mary for all she has done for Notre Dame and our team. We will miss you, Mary!

Brian