Friends,

Join me in sending best wishes to Eric Atkins, who will be leaving the University on July 5th to return to Baltimore to spend more time with his immediate and extended family and to pursue opportunities closer to home.

Eric has been an incredible teammate who brought passion and humility to our team on a daily basis. He’ll be missed, but we couldn’t be more supportive of his decision, and he’ll always be a part of our Athletics and Development family.

Thank you,

Riley

Dear Colleagues,

We want to take the opportunity to welcome our newest member of the East Region. It is with great pleasure that we share that Katy Orenchuk will be joining our team as a frontline fundraiser, effective July 1. Many of you know that Katy has made the decision to serve the mission of Notre Dame as a Regional Director after fearlessly leading our Academic Advancement team as a Senior Director. Prior to her time at Notre Dame she spent 13 years as a fundraiser in the DC and Chicago markets. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Katy.

Thank you,
Nadia

Team,

Please join me in welcoming Deanna Gumpf, who will serve as Regional Director on the Southwest team, working primarily with families in southern California. Deanna’s first day is Monday, July 1 (please feel free to pop in at Eddy Street to keep her company!)

Deanna joins us after 23 years of leading the Notre Dame softball program as head coach, where she amassed 882 wins, making her the winningest head coach in Notre Dame athletics history. Beyond her success on the field, Deanna is known as a servant leader, devoted to her players, coaches and the University.

Deanna and her husband John are longtime residents of South Bend, and the proud parents of Brady (ND’24) and Tatum, who will enroll as a freshman at the University of Kentucky next month. Please join me in welcoming Deanna to the team!

All the best,
Ryan Brennan

Colleagues,

I write to share the news that Beth Pritchard will be leaving the University as of June 28 to pursue other opportunities. Beth has served as a Regional Director since 2021, working with families in the DC market. We are grateful for her work with benefactors over the last few years and wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Best,
Nadia

Please join me in welcoming Abby Utterback to Regional Development as a Development Coordinator (DC). Her first day is Monday, June 24th.

Growing up in Michiana, Abby was a frequent visitor to Notre Dame. She graduated from IUSB with a degree in Sustainability and most recently worked at the Kalamazoo Nature Center as a conservation technician. Previous to that, Abby worked to alleviate local hunger with her efforts as a Garden Education Coordinator with Church Community Services.

Interestingly, she is certified in the handling of pesticides, wildland firefighting (loves the practice of prescribed fires) and the handling of rattlesnakes! Abby spends most of her free time with her tortie cat named Kitty Girl, practicing fiber art, gardening, and hiking.

Welcome to Development, Abby!

-Deena Chamberlin

Dear Colleagues,

Please join me in welcoming Grace Van Handel to Regional Development as a Development Coordinator (DC).

Hailing from central Wisconsin, Grace recently celebrated the completion of her MS degree in Management at Notre Dame with a focus in Finance. During that time, Grace served as an Admissions Ambassador for the program. She received her undergraduate degree in Health Science from the University of Wisconsin in 2023 and is passionate about nutrition and trying new healthy recipes.

Professionally, Grace served as the Executive Assistant to the manager of the Minocqua Country Club in Wisconsin where she recruited, trained, and led a staff of more than 30 employees. She loves watching college football, especially Notre Dame, and outdoor hiking. Her first day is Monday, June 24th.

Welcome to Development, Grace!

Angie Dennig

I am thrilled to announce that Rob Weilert will join our team as an Associate Regional Director, starting June 17th.

Rob earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education from SUNY Cortland and a Master’s Degree in Athletics Administration from Canisius University.

Rob has spent the last 15 years in the Osceola County School District in Central Florida as a teacher, where he was affectionately known as “Coach Weilert.” He has always valued developing meaningful relationships and creating lasting memories for people

Two years ago, Rob decided he wanted to be more than a “Subway Alumni” and began to pursue his dream of becoming a more integral part of Notre Dame. Accompanied by his amazing wife, Lori, and their two kids, Leah and Callan, Rob is ready to bring his passion and energy to Notre Dame every single day.

-Indi Jackson

Fun facts:

– Shortly after graduating from college, Rob (a believer in trying anything) learned professional wrestling and put on several shows for his students as fundraisers for his teams.

– Rob and his family enjoy going on cruises.

– Rob’s dad owned an Irish Pub while he was growing up. It was deemed Rochester’s Notre Dame Bar in the early 90s.

-The first gift Rob ever gave Lori when they were dating? A Notre Dame t-shirt of course.

– Rob thrives on opportunities to entertain and bring joy, whether he’s holding a microphone, speaking to a crowd, or appearing on camera

 

Team,

Join me in sending best wishes to Lilly Yun.

Lilly and her husband, Alex JD ’24, are relocating to Washington DC as Alex begins his professional career. Lilly joined the Gift & Data Management team in September 2023. She has been an incredible teammate and partner hallmarked by a positive attitude and excellence in customer service. Her last day with us is August 15. As further proof of her dedication to the team, she’ll be onboarding our newest hire, Shakir. Though we will miss her, we wish her and her husband the best in their new endeavors!

Please also join me in welcoming Shakir Carr. Shakir will serve as the Gift Management Program Coordinator. His first day is Monday, June 17.

He comes to us with experience in customer service, talent acquisition, teamwork, DEIU, and process improvement. Shakir is a South Bend native who earned his degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Michigan in 2017 while starting for the football team all 4 years. We are excited to add his talents to our team!

Thank you,
Alyssa

Dear friends and colleagues,

I write to share the exciting news that Shelby Carroll has accepted the position of Sr. Associate Athletics Director for Media, Brand & Communications at Notre Dame, starting July 9. Shelby’s new responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, growing relationships with key media partners, developing and implementing brand standards for athletics, and overseeing and directing Fighting Irish Media.

Shelby’s contributions to our development team have been numerous in the nearly ten years since she joined our team, initially serving as the Associate Director for the Cavanaugh Council and President’s Circle, then subsequently as its Director and, most recently, as the Senior Director for the Southwest region, a position she has held since 2020. Shelby’s impact on our team is unmistakable, from our growth in unrestricted fundraising, the hiring and development of talented colleagues who have moved into leadership roles, and her championing of our DEIU efforts.

While Shelby’s leadership will be missed in University Relations, we are fortunate that she is not moving far, taking on this critically important role for Notre Dame Athletics. We will be in touch in the coming week with next steps to identify the next leader of the Southwest team.

Please join me in thanking and congratulating Shelby!

All the best,
Ryan

Dear Colleagues,

Please give a warm welcome to Colin McNamara who joins regional development today as a regional director. Colin has spent the last five years working in the admissions office at Holy Cross College, Notre Dame, Ind. During the last two and a half years, Colin served as the Director of Admissions. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Indiana University South Bend. He is currently pursuing a master’s in business administration from the University of St. Francis. Colin is married to Claire. They, along with their sons Joseph and (soon-to-be-born) John, call South Bend home. Rooted in the community since childhood, Colin possesses a passion for both the University of Notre Dame and the South Bend Community.

Colin’s regional development team will be determined soon. Please be sure to say “hello” to him this week.

Thank you.
Jerry Barca