Dear Team,

It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of Bob Morton’s mother, Debra Morton Cook, on January 10, 2025.

Let us come together to extend our condolences to Bob, Heather, and their family, and continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

A visitation to honor Debbie’s life will be held on Friday, February 7, 2025, from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Brown Funeral Home, 521 E. Main Street, Niles.

Memorial contributions in Debbie’s memory may be made to the Debra Morton Cook Memorial Fund at the University of Notre Dame. Gifts can be made:

• Online: giving.nd.edu/morton-cook-memorial
• By Phone: (574) 631-5150
• By Mail: University of Notre Dame, Department of Development, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556

In lieu of a contribution, Debbie would have deeply appreciated your support for your local humane society.

To read the full, beautiful obituary written by Bob, please visit this site.

Thank you, for your prayers and support.

With gratitude,

Nadia

Below, you will find a personal note from Bob in memory of his beloved mother, Debra:

“Friends, It is with immense pride in a race well run that I share that at 11:50 PM on January 10th, my mother, Debra Morton Cook, crossed the threshold between Heaven and Earth and went home to Jesus. Her final breath came upon the end of the first verse of Go Rest High Upon the Mountain, fitting as she chose that very song to say goodbye to my father just over 18 years ago. She will be remembered as a loving wife, a devoted mother, a fun and rebellious grandmother, a rambunctious youngest sister, a doted-upon third child, and a special lady to all who met her. Just yesterday, she was visited by dozens of the staff at Brentwood, arriving on their days off or staying late after their shift, to share stories and express their profound love for her. In a life cut undeservedly short by the devastatingly long goodbye of dementia, she still found a way to leave her mark on friends, her family, and anyone else who found her as irresistible as the rest of us. And it was my absolute honor to help her transition from this life to the next.”

Dear Colleagues,

We hope this message finds you well. We write to inform you that Pier White is no longer with the University of Notre Dame. His last day was Monday, January 27, 2025.

Pier has served as a Regional Director since 2012. We are grateful for his 13 years of service to the mission of Notre Dame and the relationships he fostered with our incredible families.

We wish him well in this next chapter and in his future endeavors.

Thank you,

East Coast Region

Dear Colleagues,

Today, we will send 2024 Cumulative Statements electronically. This population is roughly 22,000. We have individually receipted all legal donors already, this cumulative statement is a courtesy. Questions or donor comments should be sent directly to givegift@nd.edu.

Details of the send:
Subject line: 2024 Charitable Giving Tax Statement: University of Notre Dame
Sender: givegift@nd.edu
To: Individual deemed head of household

FAQs can be found here.

This annual project is huge undertaking for my team. While we continue to improve every year, we welcome your feedback! Thank you for your partnership.

Thanks,
Alyssa

Please join me in congratulating Ben Nowalk on his promotion to Senior Director of Leadership Events. Ben succeeds Ashley Bennett who transitioned to a new role in the Keough School of Global Affairs late last year. Ben transitioned to this role at the beginning of January and definitely experienced “baptism by fire” as he led the execution of our events throughout the College Football Playoff!

In his new role, Ben will provide oversight of the Leadership Events team within UOES in the planning and execution of events across Development functions, in addition to events for the Board of Trustees and the Offices of the President, Provost, and Executive Vice President.

Ben has been a member of the Leadership Events team for three years and most recently has been the lead on events for Advisory Councils, Friends of Ted and Ned, Cavanaugh Council, and President’s Circle. A native of Culver, Indiana, Ben received his Bachelor’s Degree at Purdue University. He and his wife, Anna, have three children: Annemarie, Harrison, and Caroline.

I know Ben looks forward to working more closely with colleagues across Development in this new role. Please join me on congratulating Ben on this promotion and on a successful run through the CFP!

Best,
Brian

After nearly eight years working at Notre Dame, Paige has decided to return home to Detriot to pursue a new opportunity and be closer to her family. We are grateful for Paige’s impact on our team, our Law School and Graduate Business benefactors, and the University through her previous work in the Division of Student Affairs. Her last day will be February 3. Please join me in wishing Paige all the best!

If you have any ongoing projects with Paige, please contact me for assistance. We will post this role soon. In the meantime, please refer any potential candidates to me.

Thank you,

Conor

I am so excited to share that Brooke and her husband Mitch and big brother Joey welcomed Dylan Michael Speer on 1/11/25 at 5:38pm, 7lbs 10oz. Brooke and Dylan are doing well! Please join me in congratulating them on the wonderful addition to their lives!

-Conor Montijo

I am thrilled to share that Anneliese Hammer will be stepping into the Director of Marketing & Operations position on the Annual Giving team effective today.

Anneliese is a 2004 graduate of Saint Mary’s College with a BA in English Writing. She has over a decade of marketing-specific experience working with small and large organizations on strategic initiatives to drive revenue. She spent 9 years working at Pathfinders Advertising as an Account Director launching B2C crowdfunding campaigns, re-engaging dormant clients, supervising high-performing teams, and managing relationships with large clients. Most recently, she worked with SIREN Creative to launch 35 brands and campaigns across many industries. Anneliese brings a wealth of marketing, leadership, and operational knowledge to our team and we can’t wait to work alongside her.

Welcome to the team, Anneliese!

-Katie Kerby

The DC team is excited to welcome Josh Crudup to University Relations! As a recent graduate from Indiana University with a degree in Public Policy Analysis, Josh is returning home to the Notre Dame community. Josh grew up participating in the youth programs at the Robinson Community Learning Center and later served as an AmeriCorps member there prior to attending IU. Josh is looking forward to contributing to Notre Dame’s faith-based mission and connecting with everyone here in University Relations!

Josh will begin working as a Development Coordinator with Athletics starting today, January 13th.

Please join me in welcoming Josh!

-Michelle Jones

Hi UR team,

Brook will be joining the Alumni Association on Monday, January 13, as our digital marketing specialist. She will create compelling content and manage our digital presence with a special emphasis on social media. Over time, she will also serve as a strategic partner with all of you to advise us on best practices in digital engagement.

Brook comes to us after several years “behind the scenes” in the newsroom at WRTV in Indianapolis. There, she was a news producer responsible for all elements of the television news broadcast. I am excited to see her translate this valuable experience into new digital storytelling ideas for the NDAA.

A bit more about Brook: She has 2 cats, Kipper and Scout, who she found as stray kittens back when she was in eighth grade. She is originally from Petoskey, Michigan, and looks forward to the holiday season every year when family from around the country gather back up north. Donuts from the local bakery is a family tradition on Christmas morning! 🍩 As someone new to the South Bend area, Brook asked for recommendations on the best pizza place in town…I’ve warned her she’ll get a long list of conflicting opinions on this one!

Please join me in welcoming Brook to the team. Her email is: btracy2@nd.edu

-Ti Lavers

Friends,

I’m ​thrilled to share ​that Paul Hernandez and his wife, Kelly, welcomed ​their 4th baby​ boy into the world​ on December 30, 2024. ​Enzo James is 8 lbs, 9 ounces, 21 inches. Both Kelly and the baby​ are healthy and doing wonderfully. Please join us in congratulating Paul and his family on this joyful addition to their lives!

Jerry