Dear UR Team,

It is with a heavy heart that I announce Chuck Schnur’s retirement from Notre Dame, effective at the end of February. Chuck started at Notre Dame when development was still in its infancy and he was one of our first true fundraisers. As a tenured member of the UR team, he has spent 28 years in our fundraising office serving as a Regional Director of Development from April 1993 to January 2014 and then became a member of the Principal Giving Team. Chuck has been a part of three campaigns at Notre Dame and has been a significant leader in our fundraising efforts, collectively raising more than $350mm in total production throughout his career. Many of the professorships, EFEs, scholarships and buildings we have on campus today are a direct result of Chuck’s fundraising efforts and solid donor relationships. He was a donor-centric fundraiser and has truly been a trusted philanthropic advisor to over 300 benefactors during his tenure. Prior to coming to University Relations, Chuck was a key contributor at 3M Corporation.

Chuck and his wife, Mary, are both members of the Notre Dame Class of 1978. (Fun fact, they got married on their Commencement weekend!) Together, they have raised two children, Jenny (SMC’18) and Kevin (AL ‘20). Notably, Jenny is currently a research assistant at Notre Dame pursuing a PhD in Computer Science and Engineering.

The relationships that Chuck fostered–both internally and externally–over his tenure at Notre Dame are some of the deepest in our department and he will be sorely missed. On a personal note, I am deeply grateful to Chuck for his contributions to the recently formed Illinois Region. From its inception, he jumped right into the team and has been a leader in every sense of the word. He has constantly spent time mentoring and helping his teammates and he has exemplified collaborative fundraising at the highest level. Our team will miss him dearly–as will I–on both a personal and professional level. Chuck, you and your family will always be a part of our Notre Dame family, and for that, we are grateful.

-Jesse Meyer

Dear friends,

I am excited to announce that Lauren Brown will transition to the role of Advisor to the Vice President of UEE, effective March 1st. Lauren has been a trusted colleague for many years, beginning her career at Notre Dame in 2015. I had the privilege of working directly with Lauren when she served as a Development Associate from 2016 – 2018. Since 2018, she has served as an important leader in the Department of Special Events. Lauren has earned two degrees from Indiana University South Bend, including a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing and Advertising (2009) and a Master of Business Administration (2019).

Since fall 2020, Lauren has been playing a critical role in the COVID Response Unit (CRU), leading the University’s efforts in Day 4 and 7 testing. Over the next three weeks, Lauren will work closely with CRU to ensure a successful transition, with the University’s COVID response being of the utmost priority.

In all of her roles, Lauren’s raw talent, kindness, and humility are evident, inspiring, and contribute to a highly productive environment. Lauren is committed to the mission of Our Lady’s University in all that she does, and I could not be more excited for her to move into the Adviser role.

Please join me in congratulating Lauren!

In Notre Dame,
Micki

Hello,

I am thrilled and privileged to announce that Ellen Roof will be the Academic Advancement Director for the College of Arts and Letters, effective Wednesday, February 24, 2021. Ellen joins our team at an exciting and pivotal time in the evolution of the Academic Advancement profession here at Notre Dame; we are stronger with her as we prepare for Campaign 9.

Ellen came home to Notre Dame in 2016 and has held successive roles on our Annual Giving and Strategic Marketing team, most recently as Director of Alumni and Parent Giving, a role which put her in the lead of the record-setting Notre Dame Day 2020. Prior to joining Development, Ellen worked in Cincinnati as a research analyst with Nielsen. As a Moreau First Year Experience Instructor, she serves the University beyond her role in University Relations. Ellen’s fundraising leadership has been noticed beyond Notre Dame and in 2020 she was recognized by EverTrue as a 40 Under 40 Fundraising Professional. I encourage you to connect with Ellen to congratulate her, and think of her as your partner in driving fundraising.

A note of profound gratitude to everyone in Development and the College of Arts and Letters who contributed so generously to a rigorous assessment and selection process; your feedback was illuminating. Special thanks to Tara and Sheri for their meaningful and thoughtful contributions to the process, and to Brian Diss for his professionalism and ability to effectively develop his team members.

In gratitude,

Michael Loungo

Colleagues,

We wanted to follow up with everyone about facemasks for the Spring semester as mentioned in last week’s message from Marie Lynn Miranda and Shannon Cullinan. The set of three face masks were mailed out on February 4th. The face masks are the same colors and patterns as the sets received in August.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Lana Taylor (ltaylor1@nd.edu).

Start your new year off right with the newest episodes of “The Grace of Giving” podcast!

Shelby Carroll
The Grace of Giving welcomes Senior Regional Director of the Southwest Region, Shelby Carroll, to the show! In this episode we discuss leadership style, why Iowa is the greatest state in the union, and our first ever Domer Dog appearance in our Take Five segment. Thanks for being on the show Shelby, and Happy Birthday!

Michael Loungo
The Grace of Giving welcomes Senior Director of Global and Academic Advancement, Michael Loungo, to the show! In this episode we hear why we learn so much about the United States when we live abroad, why artificial intelligence will never be better than human beings in fundraising, and how a sip of whisky contains an entire history lesson! Thanks for being on the show Michael!

 

Fill out this form to appear as a guest. And don’t forget to follow us on Instagram!

Greetings University Relations family,

A huge thanks to everyone who attended our Discussion Group of 13th Documentary and Celebration of the 13th Amendment.

One of our University Relations values is “Feedback is a gift” and it is in that spirit that we encourage you to complete this very brief 4 question survey that will provide us with valuable feedback as we continue on our DEIU journey together.

With gratitude,

DEIU Task Force Co-Chairs
George West, James Riley, & Shelby Nerissa Carroll

DEIU Task Force Committee Chairs
Mike Brown, Communications & Impact
Shaheen Goldrick, Genuine Education & Engagement
Kathryn Valenti, Internal Equity

Colleagues,

Please keep Meghan Walsh and her family in your thoughts and prayers as her mother-in-law, Pat Walsh, passed away peacefully last weekend due to complications from COVID. She had a difficult time since being admitted to the hospital in December. When the doctors told her there was nothing more they could do, she decided to go into hospice. That change allowed local family members to visit with her in person (2 at a time). For Meghan, being able to say good-bye was such a gift. Pat was a wonderful woman whose family, faith and friends meant the world to her. She will be missed.

Meghan and her family have been so thankful for the wonderful (truly above and beyond!) care she received during all of this. Meghan is grateful as well for the prayers and support she has received from her Notre Dame family during this difficult time.

Pat’s obituary can be found here: https://memorials.countrysidefuneralhomes.com/patricia-walsh/4515540/

-Cindy Karpovs

Colleagues,

It is with mixed emotions I share officially what many of you have likely already heard—Dan Santucci will be leaving us at the end of the fiscal year to begin the next phase of his career, assuming the role of President at his alma mater, St. Patrick High School, an all-boy, Christian Brothers Catholic School on the northwest side of Chicago. This is a tremendous opportunity for Dan, and I am sincerely excited for him and the young boys for whom he will be a role model. That said, he will be sorely missed at Notre Dame as he has been a tremendous fundraiser, teammate, partner, and friend to so many in Development and at the University at-large.

In his new job, Dan will report directly to the Board of Trustees and will oversee all functions of the school including the Academy, Institutional Advancement, Admissions, Athletics, and daily operations. Please join me in congratulating Dan and celebrate him for the impact he has had during his time at Notre Dame.

Statement from Dan:
It is a bittersweet moment in my career to announce that I will be leaving Notre Dame at the end of this fiscal year. I can’t put into words how much I have enjoyed every minute of my time here. I have learned so much and grown in my professional life as well as in my personal life. I am forever grateful for all that Notre Dame has done for me and my family. The hardest thing to leave will be all of you, my colleagues and friends. Thanks so much for your unwavering support over the years.

In the end, I truly believe I was called away to help boys become young men. I am honored and blessed to have the opportunity to become the next President of my alma mater. Although I will miss everything about Notre Dame, I am excited to advance my career and begin this next chapter for my family.

-Sara Liebscher

Come join our team and walk with us! This month we’ll be highlighting the wonderful efforts of St. Margaret’s House whose mission it is to improve the lives of women and children by providing individual attention to their immediate needs, breaking the bonds of isolation and helping them acquire skills to better their lives.

Starting on Sunday, February 14th they will be having a Virtual Winter Walk to raise money for the women and children they serve. The cost is free to register but if you’d like to make a donation you are of course welcome. Use the link above to join the ND Development team, and let’s lace up our sneakers together for a great cause! If you are interested in other ways to volunteer check out their website here!

On Tuesday, February 16, from 7:00 – 8:30 PM ET, the Rockne Athletics Fund will be hosting a casual student-athlete networking event for our premier level members (ADC | JHC). A second evite was sent out on 1/28 from Shannon Longo, with an RSVP deadline of 2/12. Fundraisers will be notified if their benefactor signs up, we hope you will encourage them to attend. If you should have any questions, please contact William Mitchell or Shannon Longo.