The ranking is based on academic reputation, employer reputation and research impact. Out of 150 universities, 91³Ō¹Ļ rose to the top with an overall score of 93.4 ā€” ahead of Harvard University, the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and Duke University.

ā€œThe key to our top ranking consistency is the combination of our rootedness in the whole historical breadth of the Christian intellectual tradition and our openness to engagement with contemporary culture and present-day concerns,ā€ said , the John A. Oā€™Brien Professor of Theology and chair of the department.

Guided by the ideal of ā€œfaith seeking understanding,ā€ the department has six principal areas of research ā€” , , , , , and .

In addition to offering , 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s theology department maintains a strong commitment to undergraduate education through more than 800 students who in theology and in the courses all 91³Ō¹Ļ students take as part of the Universityā€™s .

ā€œThe true sign that we are authentically a great department,ā€ Anatolios said, ā€œis our zeal to become even better."

Originally published by College of Arts and Letters at on April 08, 2025.

William H. ā€œBillā€ Leahy, professor emeritus of economics at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ, died Sunday (Aug. 11). He was 89.

Leahy was an indelible figure at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ and worked in the Department of Economics for 54 years before his retirement in 2020. Throughout his career, his research focused on labor economics, collective bargaining, arbitration and industrial relations. He also published six books and more than 30 journal articles, and he held departmental leadership positions such as chair and director of undergraduate studies.

Beyond his research, Leahy was known for his ability to connect with students. He was an incredibly popular instructor and taught courses including a social science University Seminar, Labor Law and Employee Relations Law. In 2004, he was recognized with the Sheedy Excellence in Teaching Award, the College of Arts and Lettersā€™ highest teaching honor.

ā€œBill's love of 91³Ō¹Ļ, and of our students, was unmatched,ā€ said Michael Pries, professor of economics and Arts and Letters associate dean for the social sciences. ā€œIt brought him joy to teach and mentor themā€‹ ā€” his face would light up whenever he spoke ā€‹of a student, whether it was a current student or someone from decades before.ā€

Born in Nyack, New York, Leahy came to 91³Ō¹Ļ in 1952 and received his bachelorā€™s, masterā€™s and doctoral degrees from the University. His commitment to 91³Ō¹Ļ was everlasting and, at one point, he and his wife Sharon lived on campus in apartments that were once located where the Hesburgh Library now stands.

Leahy joined the economics department as an assistant professor in 1966, was promoted to associate professor in 1969 and professor in 1975. Affectionately known as ā€œcoach,ā€ he was also heavily involved in the recruitment and advising of student-athletes and was recognized as an honorary member of the 1966 football team under coach Ara Parseghian.

ā€œBill's passion was students. He was not just interested in teaching them about economics, but in teaching them about life,ā€ said Eric Sims, the Michael P. Grace II Collegiate Chair, professor and department chair, and 2023 Sheedy Award recipient. ā€œBill's vocation as a teacher and mentor was a gift to all who encountered him.ā€

Leahy is survived by his wife, six children and many grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at 9:30 a.m. on Friday (Aug. 16). Leahy requested that everyone wear casual clothing (especially 91³Ō¹Ļ or kelly green apparel).

ā€œBillā€™s love for 91³Ō¹Ļ and the economics department was legendary ā€” he was a leader and anchor for decades,ā€ said Mary Flannery, Arts and Letters associate dean for undergraduate studies and a former director of undergraduate studies in economics. ā€œBut he most often spoke about his family, both their struggles and accomplishments. They were absolutely his top priority. His devotion to his faith, his family and 91³Ō¹Ļ was an inspiration to us all.ā€

Originally published by College of Arts and Letters at on Aug. 14.

Michael Desch, political scientist and director of the 91³Ō¹Ļ International Security Center, will participate in a panel discussion in Chicago.

Read more: https://al.nd.edu/events/2015/12/14/38532-foreign-policy-beyond-2016-2/.

Washington Post national writer , whose feature story provided the basis for the movie ā€œThe Butler,ā€ will discuss his career as a journalist and author Oct. 28 (Tuesday) at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ.

The conversation, which is open to the public and free of charge, will begin at 7 p.m. and take place in the auditorium of the Hesburgh Center for International Studies on 91³Ō¹Ļ Avenue.

Haygood developed the original article about Eugene Allen, who served on the staff of eight presidents, into a best-selling book, ā€œThe Butler: A Witness to History,ā€ which was published in conjunction with the popular 2013 film for which Haygood served as associate producer.

Before joining The Washington Post in 2002, he worked as a national and foreign correspondent at The Boston Globe for 17 years. In 1990, while covering the civil war in Somalia, he was taken hostage by rebels but eventually released. In 2005, he was one of the first journalists to arrive in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck, and he reported on the aftermath for 33 consecutive days.

Haygood is the author of six books, including prize-winning biographies of Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Sammy Davis Jr. and Sugar Ray Robinson, as well as a memoir, ā€œThe Haygoods of Columbus.ā€

Among his many awards, Haygood has received an honorary doctorate of letters degree from Miami University (Ohio), his alma mater, and heā€™s won fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Alicia Patterson Foundation.

He is visiting 91³Ō¹Ļ as this yearā€™s Journalist-in-Residence of the . During his time on campus, heā€™ll also speak in classes and talk to students and faculty about journalism and writing.

, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will speak at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ on Sept. 6 (Saturday) ā€” the morning of the home football game against the University of Michigan.

Dempsey will deliver the Jack Kelly and Gail Weiss Lecture in National Security. He will speak on ā€œAmericaā€™s National Security Challenges: The View from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs.ā€

As the 18th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dempsey serves as the principal military adviser to the president, the secretary of defense and the National Security Council. By law, he is the nationā€™s highest-ranking military officer.

ā€œ91³Ō¹Ļ has a long and close relationship with the U.S. military going back to Father Corby during the Civil War, and continuing today through hosting one of Americaā€™s most robust ROTC ±č°ł“Ē²µ°ł²¹³¾²õ,ā€ , professor and chair of the , said. ā€œGiven that, it is appropriate that our nationā€™s top soldier, Gen. Martin Dempsey, would come to South Bend to deliver a major address on the national security threats our country faces.ā€ The Rev. William Corby, C.S.C., served as a Union Army chaplain attached to the Irish Brigade in the Civil War and later became the president of the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ.

Prior to becoming chairman, Dempsey served as the U.S. Armyā€™s 37th chief of staff. He is a 1974 graduate of the United States Military Academy and a career army officer. All three of his children have also served in the U.S. Army.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 10:30 a.m. in the Hesburgh Library buildingā€™s William J. Carey Auditorium.

The three ROTC detachments on campus ā€” , and ā€” and the in the Department of Political Science are sponsoring Dempseyā€™s visit.

Contact: Michael Desch, 574-631-5189, mdesch@nd.edu

Four professors in the University of 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s have been awarded (ACLS) Fellowships for the 2013-14 academic year.

• , William J. and Dorothy K. Oā€™Neill Professor of Philosophy and director of the (HPS) graduate program in the , for ā€œ;ā€
• in the for ā€œ;ā€
• , assistant professor in the , for ā€œ;ā€ and
• , associate professor in the , for ā€œ.ā€

Sponsored by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Ford Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities, among other institutions, ACLS Fellowships serve as salary replacement for professors who wish to conduct six to 12 continuous months of full-time research.

ā€œThe competition for these fellowships is fierce,ā€ notes Ken Garcia, associate director for 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s . The ACLS received 1,121 fellowship applications nationwide and made only 65 awardsā€”a success rate of only 5.8 percent.

ā€œI am honored and thrilled to receive this tremendous help for my research,ā€ says HernĆ”ndez, who, in addition to the ACLS fellowship, has recently been awarded a Career Enhancement Fellowship from the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation and a fellowship from Harvardā€™s Loeb Classical Library Foundation.

The ongoing scholarship of the College of Arts and Letters faculty has a of attracting research funding from private foundations, corporations and the federal government. Over the past decade, the number of faculty who have received major national fellowships in the arts, humanities and social sciences places 91³Ō¹Ļ among the top six universities in the nation.

Originally published by Arts and Letters at on April 23, 2013.

Scholars from around the globe will gather at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ June 30 to July 4 (Wednesday to Sunday) for the meeting of the Colloquium on Violence and Religion (COV&R). The theme of the conference is ā€œTransforming Violence: Cult, Culture, and Acculturation.ā€ More than 150 scholars from 14 countries are expected to attend.

Founded in 1990, COV&R is an international organization of scholars that meets annually to explore, criticize and extend the mimetic theory of French historian and philosopher RenƩ Girard.

ā€œThe daily news media is filled with reports of violence,ā€ observes Ann Astell, professor of theology at 91³Ō¹Ļ. ā€œMimetic theory helps us to understand why, helps us to see and to address the root causes. Michel Serres has rightly called Girardā€™s theory ā€˜the most fruitful hypothesis of the age.ā€™ā€

The recipient of six honorary doctorates and the MLA Lifetime Award (2008), Girard was inducted into the AcadƩmie FranƧaise in 2005. Born in France in 1923, he earned his doctorate at Indiana University. He has spent most of his academic career in the United States. His most recent publications concern religious terrorism.

Conference participants will study the violent phenomena associated with cultural contacts between and among groups of different ethnic origins and religious beliefs and identify means for peace-making.

ā€œ91³Ō¹Ļ is an excellent site for this interdisciplinary exploration, given its rich immigrant heritage and the ethnic diversity of northern Indiana,ā€ remarks Margaret Pfeil, assistant professor of theology and co-organizer of the conference.

The COV&R 2010 meeting is co-sponsored by 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s Center for Religion and Society, Center for Social Concerns, Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, Department of Theology, Imitatio, Institute for Church Life, Institute for Scholarship in the Liberal Arts, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, Mendoza College of Business, Nanovic Institute for European Studies, 91³Ō¹Ļ Law School, Office of the Vice President for Research, Program of Catholic Social Tradition, Program of Liberal Studies, Raven Foundation, Journal of Religion and Literature, School of Architecture, and Snite Museum of Art.

More information, including a list of speakers, is available online at .

Contact: Ann W. Astell, (574) 631-3047