Alumni Magazine Issue 6

Q&A with the Vice Chancellor Alumni Magazine – Page 3 One year into the role of Vice Chancellor, what are your reflections on the Notre Dame community? The University has a wonderful community feeling informed by a strong Catholic ethos that gives you a strong sense that you’re part of something bigger. There is a tremendous amount of goodwill among Notre Dame’s staff and students, as well as a focus on pastoral care and putting students at the heart of everything we do – I believe this approach is part of the reason we have been able to overcome considerable challenges this year. What role do you feel alumni contribute to this unique community? Our alumni are such an important part of our University but also the wider community. At Notre Dame we aim to empower students to make positive change in the world and serve their communities, and this year I was especially proud of the contribution thousands of our graduates made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A student’s connection to their university should last a lifetime – our alumni are the University’s best representatives. They offer a wealth of knowledge for our current students to tap into, which is why we always welcome our graduates back for speaking opportunities throughout the year. Most recently the Alumni Insights Webinar Series gave us the opportunity to hear what some of our most successful alumni have been up to and learn from their experiences. What is your key takeaway from dealing with the challenges of 2020? I leave this year with a greater sense of hope and confidence in the strength of humanity. The way people have come together for a common cause to stop the spread of COVID-19, and how quickly people have adapted to overcome difficult personal and professional circumstances, has strengthened my belief in the resilience of the human spirit and our ability to tackle adversity. It has also made us less complacent about some of the simple joys of life, which we may have taken for granted, such as meeting friends and family and a good work-life balance. What message do you have for the next generation of Notre Dame alumni? Remember that the Notre Dame community is here to support you long after you graduate so I encourage you to keep in touch. Nurture the relationships you’ve built with your teachers and other students during your time at University; it’s these personal and professional networks that will help you thrive in your career and life beyond your studies. These are the best years of your life. What can we look forward to at Notre Dame in 2021? There are great things ahead for Notre Dame; we are working towards bringing the University’s research to the next level, building new international partnerships and I, personally, am looking forward to returning to dividing my time between all our three Campuses. I know many of our students and staff are eager to spend more time on campus, too.