President of the University of Notre Dame

Last updated
President of
University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame seal (2).svg
Seal of the University
John Jenkins stadium.jpg
Incumbent
John I. Jenkins
since July 1, 2005 (2005-07-01)
University of Notre Dame
Residence Notre Dame, Indiana
AppointerBoard of Trustees
FormationJanuary 14, 1844 (1844-01-14)
First holder Edward Sorin
Website Office of the President

The president of the University of Notre Dame is the chief administrator of the university. The president is selected by the board of trustees of the university, which has the general power of governance of the institution, and is second only to the university fellows. The president of the university is ex officio member of both the board of trustees and the fellows. [1]

Contents

The first president was Edward Sorin, who was also the founder of the university, who started his term in 1844 when the university received its charter. [2] Since then, there have been 17 presidents, the current one being John I. Jenkins, whose term started in 2005. Throughout the history of the university, the presidents have spearheaded change expansion. [3] The longest serving president was Theodore Hesburgh, who first started enrolling women undergraduates, increased the financial endowment, expanded campus construction, and greatly increased the university's academic reputation during his 35 year long term. [4]

The president is selected for a renewable 5-year term by the trustees of the university among the priests of the Congregation of Holy Cross. [5] Many of the presidents have been Notre Dame alumni.

The president must be a priest of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, which founded the University. Holy Cross priests take a vow of poverty, so the presidential salary is paid directly to the order.

Presidents of the University of Notre Dame

The list of presidents of the university and their terms of service:

  1. Edward Sorin, C.S.C. (1842–1865)
  2. Patrick Dillon, C.S.C. (1865–1866)
  3. William Corby, C.S.C. (1866–1872, 1877–1881)
  4. Auguste Lemonnier, C.S.C. (1872–1874)
  5. Patrick Colovin, C.S.C. (1874–1877)
  6. Thomas E. Walsh, C.S.C. (1881–1893)
  7. Andrew Morrissey, C.S.C. (1893–1905)
  8. John W. Cavanaugh, C.S.C. (1905–1919)
  9. James A. Burns, C.S.C. (1919–1922)
  10. Matthew J. Walsh, C.S.C. (1922–1928)
  11. Charles L. O'Donnell, C.S.C. (1928–1934)
  12. John Francis O'Hara, C.S.C. (1934–1940)
  13. Hugh O'Donnell, C.S.C. (1940–1946)
  14. John J. Cavanaugh, C.S.C. (1946–1952)
  15. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C. (1952–1987)
  16. Edward Malloy, C.S.C. (1987–2005)
  17. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. (2005–2024)
  18. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. (Starting on July 1, 2024) [6]

Timeline

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">John I. Jenkins</span> American UND president (2005 to 2024)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basilica of the Sacred Heart (Notre Dame)</span> Church in Indiana, United States

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Notre Dame, Indiana, is a Catholic church on the campus of the University of Notre Dame, also serving as the mother church of the Congregation of Holy Cross (C.S.C.) in the United States. The neo-gothic church has 44 large stained glass windows and murals completed over a 17-year period by the Vatican painter Luigi Gregori. The basilica bell tower is 230 feet (70 m) high, making it the tallest university chapel in America. It is a contributing building in Notre Dame's historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The basilica is a major tourist attraction in Northern Indiana, and is visited annually by more than 100,000 tourists.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Edward's Hall (University of Notre Dame)</span>

St. Edward's Hall is one of the 32 Residence Halls on the campus of the University of Notre Dame and one of sixteen male dormitories. Saint Edward's Hall is located directly east of the Main Administration Building and is directly west of Zahm Hall and houses 162 undergraduate students. The dorm community and culture are not as old as Sorin College (1888) as it was established as an undergraduate residence hall 30 years later. However the building itself was built in 1882 to house the minims, Notre Dame's boarding school program. When such program was discontinued in 1929, the building was converted to an undergraduate residence hall, which it has been ever since. Together with other historical structures of the university, it is on the National Register of Historic Places. The coat of arms is the Cross of Saint Edward the Confessor on a green background.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sorin Hall (University of Notre Dame)</span> Student dormitory at the University of Notre Dame

Sorin Hall, nicknamed Sorin College, is the oldest of the 32 Residence Halls on the campus of the University of Notre Dame and one of the 17 male dorms. It is named after Fr. Edward Sorin, C.S.C., the founder of Notre Dame. Sorin is located directly north of Walsh Hall and is directly south of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Sorin houses 143 undergraduate students. Sorin Hall is, along with other buildings on the Main Quad of Notre Dame, on the National Register of Historic Places. Sorin Hall was the first Notre Dame residential hall established as such, although St. Edward's Hall is housed in an older building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walsh Hall (University of Notre Dame)</span>

Walsh Hall is one of the 32 Residence Halls on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Walsh is located on Main ("God") Quad, directly south of Sorin Hall and is directly north of the Knights of Columbus Building. It was built in 1909 and the architect was William J. Brinkmann. Among other buildings on the Main Quad of Notre Dame, Walsh Hall is on the National Register of Historic Places. The coat of arms is taken from the Walsh family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Badin Hall (University of Notre Dame)</span> Residence hall at the University of Notre Dame

Badin Hall is one of the 32 Residence Halls on the campus of the University of Notre Dame and one of the 14 female dorms. The smallest residence hall on campus, it is located on South Quad, between Howard Hall and the Coleman-Morse center. It was built in 1897 and hosted the Manual Labor School until 1917 before being converted into a men's dorm. During World War II, it was part of the United States Naval Reserve Midshipmen's School, and in 1972 it became one of the first two residence halls at Notre Dame to host women.

There are currently 33 undergraduate residence halls at the University of Notre Dame, including 32 active residence halls and Zahm Hall, which serves as a transition dorm when residence halls undergo construction. Several of the halls are historic buildings which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Each residence hall is single-sex, with 17 all-male residence halls and 15 all-female residence halls. Notre Dame residence halls feature a mixed residential college and house system, where residence halls are the center of the student life and some academic teaching; most students stay at the same hall for most of their undergraduate studies. Each hall has its own traditions, events, mascot, sports teams, shield, motto, and dorm pride. The university also hosts Old College, an undergraduate residence for students preparing for the priesthood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Main Building (University of Notre Dame)</span> Building in Notre Dame, Indiana, United States

University of Notre Dame's Main Administration Building houses various administrative offices, including the office of the President. Atop of the building stands the Golden Dome, the most recognizable landmark of the university. Three buildings were built at the site; the first was built in 1843 and replaced with a larger one in 1865, which burned down in 1879, after which the third and current building was erected. The building hosts the administrative offices of the university, as well as classrooms, art collections, and exhibition spaces. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the University of Notre Dame</span>

The University of Notre Dame was founded on November 26, 1842, by Father Edward Sorin, CSC, who was also its first president, as an all-male institution on land donated by the Bishop of Vincennes. Today, many Holy Cross priests continue to work for the university, including as its president. Notre Dame rose to national prominence in the early 1900s for its Fighting Irish football team, especially under the guidance of the legendary coach Knute Rockne. Major improvements to the university occurred during the administration of Rev. Theodore Hesburgh between 1952 and 1987 as Hesburgh's administration greatly increased the university's resources, academic programs, and reputation and first enrolled women undergraduates in 1972.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campus of the University of Notre Dame</span> Overview

The campus of the University of Notre Dame is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and spans 1,250 acres comprising around 170 buildings. The campus is consistently ranked and admired as one of the most beautiful university campuses in the United States and around the world, particularly noted for the Golden Dome, the Basilica and its stained glass windows, the quads and the greenery, the Grotto, Touchdown Jesus, its collegiate gothic architecture, and its statues and museums. Notre Dame is a major tourist attraction in northern Indiana; in the 2015–2016 academic year, more than 1.8 million visitors, almost half of whom were from outside of St. Joseph County, visited the campus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matthew J. Walsh</span>

The Rev. Matthew J. Walsh, C.S.C. was an American priest and President of the University of Notre Dame from 1922 to 1928, after having served has Vice President 1912–22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Morrissey</span> Irish-American priest and President of the University of Notre Dame

The Rev. Andrew Morrissey, C.S.C. was an Irish-American priest and President of the University of Notre Dame from 1893 to 1905, after having served previously as director of studies. He was born in 1860 in Ireland, and left for America at the age of twelve. He studied in the United States and was professed with the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1880. He taught at Sacred Heart College, Watertown, Wisconsin, and was ordained priest in 1884. Morrissey Hall at the University of Notre Dame was dedicated in his honor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Statue of Edward Sorin</span> Statue at the University of Notre Dame

A statue of Edward Sorin, sometimes called Edward F. Sorin, is an outdoor sculpture by Italian sculptor Ernesto Biondi. It is located on the campus of the University of Notre Dame near South Bend, Indiana. The eight foot tall statue depicting the founder of Notre Dame is placed on the main quadrangle of the University near the Main Building. The statue, made of bronze, was unveiled on its campus on May 3, 1906.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coat of arms of the University of Notre Dame</span>

The coat of arms of the University of Notre Dame is the assumed heraldic achievement of the University of Notre Dame. It was designed by noted American heraldist Pierre de Chaignon la Rose in 1931.

References

  1. "About the Office // President // University of Notre Dame". Archived from the original on 2014-02-15. Retrieved 2014-02-15.
  2. Report, Tribune Staff. "ND to celebrate Sorin's birthday". South Bend Tribune.
  3. "REACHING FOR GREATNESS". chicagotribune.com.
  4. Thayer, Kate. "Theodore Hesburgh a visionary president who transformed Notre Dame". Chicagotribune.com.
  5. Report, South Bend Tribune. "Notre Dame board elects Jenkins to third term". South Bend Tribune.
  6. "Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., elected 18th president of the University of Notre Dame". Notre Dame News. 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2023-12-04.