Colleagues,

Please note the Morris Inn still has rooms available over Junior Parents Weekend, Friday, February 17, through Sunday, February 19. Please contact Molly Di Carlo (mschau@nd.edu) with any questions.

Team,

I’m excited to provide you with some information on the newest members of the NDAA Team…

Dani Elgas: Guest Experience Program Director (formerly Special Events Program Director) starting January 23, 2023

A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a graduate of Iowa State University, Dani Elgas has lived in the South Bend area for the last 11 years working in leadership roles for the YMCA and Junior Achievement of Northern Indiana. Outside of work, Dani is a mother of two (Tyler – 11 and Addie – 7). In her free time, she’s heavily involved at her church and Prairie Vista Elementary. Additionally, Dani plays slow pitch softball, participates in a women’s golf league and enjoys a variety of fitness-related activities.

Todd Lemons: IT Solutions Consultant starting Jan 17, 2023

Todd comes to Notre Dame from Bethel University where he spent the past 19 years, most recently serving as the Director of Infrastructure and Information Security. He brings a background in technology infrastructure, AV technologies, and even some audio engineering through a past career and his current volunteer work. He’s looking forward to the fun, change, and challenges that working in the NDAA will bring and is excited to get to know the team.

Mary Prebys: Alumni Groups Coordinator starting January 23, 2023

Mary Prebys is a proud member of the Notre Dame Class of 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Theology with a minor in Education. Some of you might remember Mary as a student worker for the Alumni Association all 4 years. After graduation, Mary returned to her home in the suburbs of Chicago as a Youth Minister at Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish in Darien, IL. Later, she moved on to be the Vice President of Marketing and Engagement at a small life insurance company before realizing her dream of returning to the Notre Dame Alumni Association. She loves spending her time with her puppy, Mr Curly Lambeau (go Pack go!), watching college and professional football, and traveling to visit family all over the country.

Amy Retartha: Professional and Alumni Education Coordinator starting January 17, 2023

Amy brings 5 years of experience supporting our local community through her work at the St. Joseph County Public Library where she coordinated 150+online programs during Covid-19 and a multitude of in-person programs. She will draw upon her front and back-of-house theatre training in this role supporting ThinkND. Hesburgh Lecture Series, Reunion programming, IrishCompass and more. Amy’s talents include her analytical, creative, people, logistical, and technical abilities. Amy is married to Ryan Retartha who engages Mendoza alumni for the University and together they have two sons: Ellis and Quinn.

Please join me in welcoming this incredible group to the NDAA!

All the best,

Dolly

OIT recently released information about their spring 2023 training courses. Read here for even more info. 

“The new year is here and it’s the perfect time to upgrade your skill set. Whether it’s learning valuable tips from a Time-Out for Tech session, taking an instructor-led class, or finding an online class in Udemy, technical training classes from the Office of Information Technologies (OIT) have something for everyone.”

• New Tableau Class: Publishing to Tableau Server
• Spring Time-Out for Tech Sessions
• Spreadsheets, Qualtrics & More
• View all training avenues offered by OIT

Join for us this year’s Walk the Walk Week Staff Unity Summit. The Unity Summit has been a recurring event for staff during the Walk the Walk Week and in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This event helps to build community by creating opportunities to meet and interact with other ND employees. Featuring small group facilitated dialogue, participants will explore societal challenges and discuss ways to make Notre Dame a more welcoming place where all employees can thrive. Lunch will be provided.

Registration is required.

Sponsored by the Office of Human Resources.

Notre Dame Investment Team Endowment Update
Please join us Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 11 AM ET, for the Notre Dame Endowment Update. This private, invite-only event is for participants in Notre Dame’s charitable remainder trust and donor advised fund programs. The event is an opportunity to learn more about the University’s Endowment and participate in a question-and-answer session with Mike Donovan and the Investment Office team.

The current list of participants for this event can be found here. This file is updated as registrations come in up until the day of the event.

To join this event, please contact Laura Walker

Badin Guild Naples Cocktail Reception
The Badin Guild will be hosting a stewardship reception in Naples on Thursday, March 2, 2023, from 5-7 PM ET at the Ritz-Carlton Naples. The Naples reception is hosted by George and Ginny Mammola and Tom and Bridget Black.

Invitations with event details will be sent on Thursday, January 26, 2023, via email to all Badin Guild members. Reminders will be sent in February.

If you have a prospective planned gift benefactor you would like to invite, please contact Laura Walker.

Badin Guild Mass of Thanksgiving
Please plan to join us on Friday, March 17, 2023, at 4 PM ET, for the Badin Guild Mass of Thanksgiving at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. will be the celebrant.
As this Mass will be live streamed and recorded, your presence, as we join in prayer for our Badin Guild members and their intentions, will be a powerful message to these benefactors.

A link to the live stream will also be available on the day of the event and a recording will be made available to Badin Guild members.

If you have any questions regarding any of these events, please contact Laura Walker.

Gift and Data Management will be closed this Friday, January 13 in recognition of our team’s work during the year end. The general phone and email will be covered to help donors who need assistance.

Thank you,
Amy Schell

The Office of Gift Planning will be closed this Friday, January 13 in recognition of our team’s work during the year end.

Thank you,
TJ Pillari

Colleagues,

Please help us welcome Laura Waltz, our new senior office coordinator on the Internal Engagement team. Laura’s first day is Wednesday, January 11.

Laura comes to us from Lippert Components Inc., where she worked as an Administrative Associate for the past 5 years. During her career, Laura has also held roles with Metropolitan Title Company Inc., Kruggel, Lawton & Co., LLC, and Integrity Title Agency. We’re so excited for Laura to bring her administrative and operational expertise to the ESC front desk.

Laura was born in New Castle, Indiana. She has been married to her high school sweetheart Mark for 41 years. In her free time, Laura enjoys crafting bead jewelry, going to the beach, and spending time with her family, including her daughter Liv, son-in-law Jacob, and 15-month-old grandson Arlo.

When you see Laura around the halls at ESC, please stop by and say hello.

Welcome to the team, Laura!

With gratitude,
Grace

Dear Friends,

I am excited to share that Meredith Sharwarko joins our UR Family as Senior Associate Director, Annual Giving Programs starting today, Monday, January 9, 2023!

Meredith joins us from Hope College where she served on their Annual Giving team for six years—most recently as Director of Annual Giving. Prior to her work in higher education, Meredith was an Account Executive at Inte Q, a provider of loyalty and subscription-based benefit programs, data analytics, and merchandise products.

Please join me in welcoming Meredith to Notre Dame and be sure to stop by and say hello to her.

God Bless and Go Irish,
Brandon Tabor

Colleagues,

I am delighted to announce the promotion of Caitlin Olivier as our new director for donor relations strategies, taking on the important role that Mary Fisher vacated last year. Caitlin has served on the Stewardship & Donor Relations team the last 4 ½ years, focusing on donor recognition, and I am thrilled to have an opportunity to promote from within.

Caitlin has been influential in pushing forward efficiencies, creativity, and technology in recent recognition projects. She was instrumental in the implementation of the digital donor display in the Hesburgh Library in 2020, has digitalized our ongoing capital reports, and has demonstrated incredible creativity when sourcing donor gifts in association with dedications. This demonstrated leadership in excellence will serve her well as she takes on this new challenge in donor relations strategies. With Emma Capannari, Caitlin will serve as the stewardship partner to all fundraisers, strategizing next steps in association with upcoming asks and stewardship plans. We look forward to communicating soon about updated guidelines for individualized stewardship touches and with fundraiser assignments.

Caitlin’s past experience includes serving as a CRM business analyst at Indiana University and enrollment work at Drexel University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Trinity University and anticipates becoming a “domer” this summer when she will earn her Executive Master of Nonprofit Administration degree from Notre Dame.

Please join me in congratulating Caitlin and also please help us find a new program director for donor recognition. Caitlin’s vacated position reports directly to Jessica Reasons. Please contact Jessica with interest and/or questions.

Grateful,
Katherine Lane
Sr. Director, Stewardship & Donor Relations