, assistant professor of English, unexpectedly died Wednesday (May 6). He was 36.

An acclaimed novelist and beloved teacher, mentor and colleague, Navarro Aquino was a member of the and a faculty fellow of the and the .

“Xavier’s writing and artwork communicate with absolute clarity his humane and painterly care for the world in all its damage and beauty,� said , chair of the and former director of the Creative Writing Program. “His evident joy and commitment as a teacher inspired joy and commitment in his students, and his immediate legacy will be as an artist whose sense of beauty will be carried outwards to his readers, and to his students, and to their future readers. His loss is immeasurable.�

Navarro Aquino’s debut novel, “Velorio,� takes place in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria’s devastation in Puerto Rico. The novel earned high praise from a range of media outlets, with the New York Times Book Review calling Aquino “an incredibly talented young writer,� and the Chicago Review of Books describing it as a “complex, politically engaged work and deeply human story.�

“‘Velorio’ is a beautiful, poetic novel — reminiscent of William Faulkner’s classic ‘The Sound and the Fury,’� said , a professor of English and director of the Creative Writing Program. “His attention to language is the kind of writing we might associate with a poet.�

Navarro Aquino was awarded a Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference scholarship, a Tennessee Williams scholarship from the Sewanee Writers’ Conference, a MacDowell Fellowship and an American Council of Learned Societies Emerging Voices Fellowship at Dartmouth College. He was named a Fall 2021 Writer to Watch by Publishers Weekly. His fiction also appeared in Tin House magazine, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern and Guernica.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Navarro Aquino earned his bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, a master’s degree in English and Caribbean studies from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras and his Ph.D. in literature and creative writing from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He joined the 91³Ô¹Ï faculty in 2021.

“Despite all of the early acclaim, Xavier was very humble and self-effacing. Our conversations were more often about soccer, or running or tattoos than his writing,� said , a professor of English, professor and chair of the and director of IRR at the time Navarro Aquino was hired. “Xavier was a dedicated teacher, an enormously talented writer and a warm and caring human being. His fiction reflected his care for the world, as ‘Velorio’ can be read as a cautionary tale about how not to treat one another under the most trying conditions. He was dedicated to representing Puerto Rico and to supporting universal human rights.�

A devoted and enthusiastic presence in the classroom, Navarro Aquino taught courses on fiction writing, the American short story, literary debuts and the role of storytelling in addressing modern, pressing issues. He directed both MFA and undergraduate honors theses. In recent years, he had become exceptionally passionate about painting.

, a professor of American studies and director of the Institute for Latino Studies, fondly recalls a visit Navarro Aquino made this semester to his course, The Cutting Edge in Latino Studies Research. Amidst a lively conversation about his life and work, Navarro Aquino also shared his short story, “Two Young Kings,� which Ruiz described as “brilliant and devastating.�

“I already admired Xavier as a writer and teacher, but the class session really floored me, as he showed a wonderfully open, honest and intelligent approach to his work and his vision for Latino literature,� Ruiz said. “He was the kind of professor who elevated our ongoing conversations around Latinidad and inspired the students and me to be ever more thoughtful in our approach to a complex subject matter that touches the very cores of our identities.

“He was not in any way precious about his work but embraced just about anything that we, the readers, could find in it. Xavier was an irreplaceable member of our community and his loss will be felt for a long time to come.�

Navarro Aquino is survived by his wife, Jayleen Santiago Diaz.

A memorial Mass will be held at 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 18, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, with University President , presiding.

Condolences may be sent to the Department of English, 233 Decio Hall, 91³Ô¹Ï, IN 46556.

, the Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy at the University of 91³Ô¹Ï, has been elected to the , one of the nation’s oldest learned societies and independent policy research centers.

Campbell was one of the 252 leaders in academia, the arts, journalism, policy, and science as members of the newest Academy class. Other notable names among the group include actor and director Jodie Foster, writer Barbara Kingsolver, stage and screen legend Rita Moreno and novelist Colson Whitehead.

“It is truly an honor to be elected to the Academy — it is gratifying and humbling at the same time,â€� Campbell said. “I am thankful that 91³Ô¹Ï has provided such a supportive environment for my research and that I am surrounded by so many fantastic colleagues.â€�

A renowned scholar of civic and political engagement, Campbell’s work has advanced the understanding of how American attitudes toward religion have changed over the past 60 years, why secularization has rapidly advanced due to politics, and how women holding public office inspires political engagement among young people.

“We could not be more thrilled about David’s election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,� said , the I.A. O’Shaughnessy Dean of the College of Arts & Letters and a 2020 inductee of the Academy. “His research has transformed our understanding of how our social networks — our schools, neighborhoods and churches — shape participation in politics and, in turn, our civic life. His election recognizes and celebrates the importance of these contributions.�

Campbell is the author or co-author of five books, including “,� with Robert D. Putnam (Simon & Schuster, 2010), which won book awards from the American Political Science Association and the Religion Communicators Council. His other books include “� (Princeton, 2008) and “,� with John C. Green and Geoffrey C. Layman (Cambridge, 2020), the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion’s Distinguished Book Award and was runner-up for the APSA’s Hubert Morken Award for the Best Book on Religion and Politics.

His most recent book, with Christina Wolbrecht, is “� (University of Chicago, 2025). He has written or co-written 20 book chapters and 38 peer-reviewed journal articles and edited three collected volumes. In February, the Academy , titled “Preparing Students for Civic Life: A Guide for Higher Education Leaders,� developed by a group of university presidents faculty, and civic experts, led by Campbell.

Campbell will be inducted into the Academy at a ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in October. He will join the Political Science section, whose roster of current members includes university chancellors Andrew David Martin (Washington University in St. Louis) and Daniel Diermeier (Vanderbilt University) and noted scholars Hahrie Han (Johns Hopkins University) and Putnam (Harvard University).

Campbell holds a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University and a master’s and Ph.D. from Harvard University. He joined the 91³Ô¹Ï faculty in 2002 and has held multiple leadership positions on campus, including chair of the from 2015 to 2021 and director of what is now known as the from 2009 to 2015. He currently serves as director of the , an interdisciplinary research, education and policy effort focused on advancing solutions to sustain and strengthen global democracy, which launched in 2023.

“Election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is a remarkable honor, recognizing the significance of David Campbell’s scholarship in American democracy and his national leadership in civics education,â€� said , the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost at 91³Ô¹Ï. “We are proud to have such a superb scholar-teacher as founding director of our University-wide Democracy Initiative.â€�

Campbell is a go-to expert and op-ed author for major media outlets seeking perspective and commentary on American politics and religion, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press and The Conversation. He is the previous recipient of an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship, and his research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Templeton Foundation and the Spencer Foundation.

Since its founding during the American Revolution by John Adams, James Bowdoin, John Hancock and other scholar-patriots, the Academy has elected leading “thinkers and doers� from each generation, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century, Daniel Webster and Ralph Waldo Emerson in the 19th, and Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill in the 20th.

In addition to Campbell, more than 30 other members of 91³Ô¹Ï’s faculty have been previously elected to the Academy, including President Emeritus ; , the John A. O’Brien Professor of Philosophy; and , professor emeritus of English and Irish studies. Other 91³Ô¹Ï faculty elected to the Academy for their work in political science include Scheve; , the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Professor of Africana Studies and Political Science; and , the Eugene and Helen Conley Professor of Political Science.

, the Coyle Professor of Literacy Education at the University of 91³Ô¹Ï, died Wednesday (Feb. 4) after a long battle with cancer, surrounded by his wife and three sons. He was 54.

Morrell was a renowned literacy studies scholar who advocated for a radical reimagination of the relationship between students and texts. His work positioned literacy as a means of social justice, empowering young people to access information, exercise informed citizenship and participate fully in civic and cultural life. His scholarly interests also included critical pedagogy, postcolonial studies and global youth popular culture.

“On behalf of the entire 91³Ô¹Ï community, we mourn the passing of Ernest Morrell, a beloved faculty colleague, dedicated administrator and cherished friend to many,â€� said University President “As a renowned scholar who made significant contributions to his discipline, a superb teacher who inspired and challenged his students, and a visionary administrator, he enriched the 91³Ô¹Ï community and all who knew him.

“Ernest’s life reflected a deep integration of the life of the mind and matters of the heart. Our prayers are with his family, especially his wife, Jodene, and their three sons, Skip, Antonio and Tripp, and all who grieve his passing. We are grateful to God for Ernest’s life and presence among us, and his example will continue to inspire us.�

Father Dowd also announced that Morrell will posthumously receive the 2026 — which recognizes pioneering and visionary achievements in research, public impact, or creative endeavors that advance the University’s goals — in honor of his intellectually ambitious, socially consequential work centered on a humanistic vision of education.

At 91³Ô¹Ï, Morrell was a faculty member of the and departments and the director of the Center for Literacy Education in the (IEI), and he served five years as the ’ associate dean for the humanities and faculty development.

Acclaim for Morrell’s work was widespread in academic circles. He was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest learned societies, in 2024, and he was also an elected member of the National Academy of Education and an elected fellow of the American Educational Research Association.

For the past decade, he has been included in the , an annual listing published by Education Week that highlights academics with the greatest impact on educational practice and policy. Last year, he , a prestigious honor from the National Council of Teachers of English given only 31 times since 1967, for his long-lasting impact on English language arts education.

“Ernest lived his vocation with extraordinary generosity and purpose,� said , the Hackett Family Director of IEI. “His scholarship, leadership and friendship shaped our institute in profound ways. He believed deeply in the power of education to transform lives, and he modeled that belief through his teaching, mentorship and unwavering commitment to the common good.�

Morrell came to 91³Ô¹Ï in 2017 after faculty appointments at Columbia University’s Teachers College; the University of California, Los Angeles; and Michigan State University. Before pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of California, Berkeley, Morrell worked as a high school English teacher in Oakland, California, an experience that and shaped his lifelong commitment to supporting educators and students, particularly those historically underserved by educational systems.

Revered as a teacher and an adviser, Morrell approached mentorship as a collaborative partnership, frequently publishing with his doctoral students to help launch their careers before they even defended their dissertations.

“Ernest cultivated a true ‘family tree’ of scholars whose work began with his guidance,� said , a professor of the practice in Africana studies and education, schooling and society. “His former doctoral students are a testament to his efficacy as a mentor, as he allowed them to quickly become his peers, continuing the work of critical education studies and pedagogy at institutions across the country. They learned his lessons well about the importance of building and strengthening communities that support equity and justice.�

He is the author of more than 100 articles, research briefs and book chapters and he wrote or edited 17 scholarly books, including “Educating Harlem: A Century of Schooling and Resistance in a Black Community� (Columbia, 2019), “Stories from Inequity to Justice in Literacy Education: Confronting Digital Divides� (Routledge, 2021), “New Directions in Teaching English: Reimagining Teaching, Teacher Education and Research� (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015) and “Critical Media Pedagogy: Teaching for Achievement in City Schools� (Teachers College Press, 2013), which was awarded Outstanding Academic Title by the American Library Association’s Choice magazine. His work has garnered more than 11,000 scholarly citations.

“Frederick Douglass said that ‘education means emancipation, it means life and liberty. … It means the uplifting of the soul to the glorious light of truth.’ I can think of no one whose life better reflected those words,� said , the John P. Murphy Foundation Professor of Law. “Ernest was a truly exceptional scholar and a tireless advocate for policies that would benefit kids most in need of the light of learning. But, more importantly, he was a beautiful soul. His deep faith and love for his family, his friends and colleagues and Our Lady’s University touched so many.�

Morrell is survived by his wife, , a teaching professor and associate director of the Center for Literacy Education, and their three sons, Skip, Antonio and Tripp.

A wake will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at Kaniewski Funeral Home, 3545 N. Bendix Drive, South Bend. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on 91³Ô¹Ï's campus, with Father Dowd presiding.

Condolences may be sent to the College of Arts & Letters Dean's Office, 100 O'Shaughnessy Hall, 91³Ô¹Ï, IN 46556. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to literacy nonprofit .

“,� a colloquium celebrating Morrell’s scholarship, will be held April 7 at the UCLA James West Alumni Center in Los Angeles. The event’s title references a quote from Morrell’s latest book, “,� published last month with Nicole Mirra, Antero Garcia, Cati de los Ríos and Jamila Lyiscott

“We want to be engaged in revolutionary love and practice with beautiful and brilliant minds,� Morrell and his co-authors wrote, “that are in front of us to do something that is eternal.�

Through the department’s initiative, New Horizons: Educating and Forming Tomorrow’s Catholic Leaders, led by , an associate professor of theology, 91³Ô¹Ï seeks to establish a sustainable, collaborative effort to mentor and support emerging Catholic leaders. Over the next five years, the program plans to support 24 students entering the and 20 entering the , as well as guiding 100 other individuals through the church leadership discernment process.

In doing so, the program aims to enhance support structures, provide clearer pathways for study and alleviate financial barriers, particularly for promising leaders in underserved communities and mission dioceses. Program leaders hope that this new model will create an opportunity to reshape ministry formation at 91³Ô¹Ï well beyond the five-year funding period.

“This grant connects 91³Ô¹Ï’s world-class Department of Theology with leading partners where the Catholic Church is growing and in need of well-formed, dynamic Church leaders,â€� Grove said. “Together, we will work to recruit, form, educate, support and place these future ministers. We are exceptionally grateful to the Lilly Endowment for providing us the chance to reimagine how lay church leaders are raised up, formed and placed.â€�

The New Horizons program plans to target highly committed young adult leaders embedded in communities that represent potential future growth for the Church, including through outreach partnerships with theÌý; the (FOCUS); , a nonprofit focused on engagement with Latino Catholic young adults; and the dioceses and programs served by 91³Ô¹Ï's . It will then provide cohort-based discernment opportunities in which participants experience 91³Ô¹Ï’s M.A. and M.Div. programs as they consider pursuing graduate studies.

New Horizons will provide full tuition support for M.A. students and stipends for M.Div. students, making these programs affordable and accessible, then help participants develop robust networks to facilitate post-graduation job placements.

In addition to Grove, the New Horizons leadership team includesÌý, teaching professor of theology and director of the M.A. program; , assistant teaching professor and associate director of the program; and , teaching professor and assistant chair for graduate studies.

The New Horizons program is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. Launched in 2021, it has provided grants totaling more than $700 million to support theological schools across the United States and Canada as they respond to the most pressing challenges they face while preparing pastoral leaders. The grant to 91³Ô¹Ï is one of 45 that was approved in this competitive round of funding.

91³Ô¹ÏÌýpreviously received a $7.9 million grant through Pathways for Tomorrow in support of , a partnership with Boston College that includes 16 other Catholic institutions in efforts to identify and form the next generation of pastoral leaders to serve U.S. Catholics, while rooted in the Latino experience.

Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of diverse religious traditions by supporting fair and accurate portrayals of the role religion plays in the United States and across the globe.

Contact: Carrie Gates, associate director of media relations, c.gates@nd.edu or 574-993-9220

The new three-year program, called the St. Joseph County Universal Wellness Project, aims to help bridge the gap in local mental health care for young people through in-person or digital single-session interventions — evidence-based approaches that can make a meaningful difference in mental health in a short amount of time.

The program will train 75 local providers to offer a one-time, solution-focused meeting with youth in need of mental health support. It will also offer local youth access to an online platform that provides a self-directed experience, using videos, tips and suggestions on available resources to help create a plan for improving their mental health.

“We are taking evidence-based methods developed through rigorous research and creating a way to scale them so they reach the people who need them most,â€� said , a 91³Ô¹Ï professor of psychology and director of the , which will lead the project locally. “In addition to giving local youth free and anonymous mental health support tools, we believe this project will strengthen our community and serve as a national model for scaling county-level interventions.â€�

Developed by — a Northwestern associate professor of medical social sciences and founding director of the — and her team, the digital and provider-delivered single-session intervention programs have shown through dozens of clinical trials to reduce youth depression and anxiety symptoms for up to 12 months and increase motivation to seek further care. Collectively, these brief, barrier-free programs have helped more than 100,000 individuals and families improve their coping abilities and have proven effective across a diverse range of youth populations.

Schleider’s free digital intervention platform, , will be adapted for St. Joseph County youth by the Veldman Clinic and community partners, and its clinical and implementation effectiveness will be evaluated over the course of a year.

“This is a dream project for me, and precisely the sort of work I’m in this field to push forward,� Schleider said. “Single-session interventions, because of how scalable they are, really fill these untouched gaps in the mental health care system that high-intensity treatments like weekly psychotherapy delivered by professionals were never built to address.�

The Veldman Clinic, opening this spring at 501 N. Hill St. in South Bend’s East Bank neighborhood, will significantly enhance the research of faculty in 91³Ô¹Ï’s and offer immersive training for clinical psychology graduate students, who will be empowered to share pioneering evidence-based mental health practices with communities across the country. It is a key component of the in the University’s , which emphasizes a commitment to addressing the nationwide mental health crisis.

Schleider’s approach has already been effectively deployed through a program in Montana, and serves as an example of the effectiveness of implementation science — taking evidence-based methods developed through research and developing means of scaling them to maximize their reach and effectiveness.

“The St. Joseph County Universal Wellness Project is an incredible opportunity for the Veldman Clinic to implement evidence-based interventions and build strong community partnerships as it opens its doors,� said , the I.A. O’Shaughnessy Dean of the . “Dissemination work of this caliber will be a core component of the clinic’s efforts to enhance mental health care throughout the region and nationwide, and I can’t wait to see the transformative impact this program has for youth in our area.�

To tailor the program to the needs of the community and ensure its tools are accessible to and meet the needs of local populations, the Veldman Clinic will recruit four community advisory boards comprised of providers and leaders of local schools, community organizations, health care providers, parents and youth.

The program is actively seeking members for one-year terms on its community advisory boards. from individuals with lived, professional or community experience relevant to youth mental health — especially those connected to schools, pediatric/behavioral health, youth services and parent/caregiver networks.

Founded by Anita and Tom Veldman, the Valinhos Foundation is a private family foundation dedicated to improving the mental health and overall well-being landscape for youth, families and communities across Indiana.

Originally published by Josh Weinhold at on Dec. 22.

Contact: Tracy DeStazio, associate director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu

Inspired by the inscription over the east entrance to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart — “God, Country, 91³Ô¹Ïâ€� — the center seeks to play a catalytic role in matters of global policy through actionable research, teaching and programming guided by the University’s Catholic character. It connects policymakers and the public with top-tier scholarship on issues of international security, especially on grand strategy — where, when and how states consider using military force among other instruments of statecraft to achieve foreign policy goals.

“For nearly two decades, the 91³Ô¹Ï International Security Center has been an exemplary force both in impactful research and in shaping the lives and careers of future leaders,â€� said , the I.A. O’Shaughnessy Dean of the and a professor of political science. “This incredibly generous support from the O’Briens empowers us to expand our commitment to fostering critical conversations and forming influential voices on national security policy for generations to come.â€�

The O’Briens’ gift will sustain and significantly advance the research and curricular ambitions of the center, including endowing a newly created executive director position and launching the O’Brien Fellowship for two graduate students and two postdoctoral scholars.

It also provides sustainable funding for a research seminar and expands support for a doctoral program for active-duty officers, predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowship programs and collaborative partnerships on and off campus, as well as regular scholarly programming in Washington, D.C.

“Cynthia and Kevin not only talk the talk of public service in international security, they live it: Kevin is a decorated Gulf War veteran, and among Cynthia’s many charitable activities is one which supports active-duty military members and their families,� said , the Packey J. Dee Professor of International Relations and the Brian and Jeannelle Brady Family Director of the center. “My ONDISC colleagues and I are gratified by their support and honored to continue their family’s legacy of service.�

Since its inception, the center has focused on developing scholars and policy leaders in international security. Its , supported through the O’Briens’ benefaction, is home to the College of Arts & Letters’ minor in international security studies, a five-course sequence that includes coursework options across political science, history, philosophy and other disciplines, as well as an undergraduate fellows program that includes funding in support of students completing a yearlong senior thesis research project and an internship related to international security.

ONDISC also supports graduate students in many other ways, including sixth-year funding for doctoral students and research grants. The center’s supports doctoral candidates for one year in advancing their research while participating in seminars, a weeklong study trip to an international battlefield and a teaching workshop, while its hosts one scholar per year whose work involves innovative approaches to the study of U.S. grand strategy.

The center also offers targeted support for future military leaders, partnering with the to offer an accelerated three-year Ph.D. program for active-duty U.S. military officials, as well as a that brings senior officers from the U.S. Army or Marine Corps to campus for a year of advanced continuing education.

Since 2017, the center has hired three faculty and more than 10 postdoctoral fellows; appointed Jim Webb, a former U.S. senator from Virginia and secretary of the Navy, as its inaugural distinguished fellow; hosted more than 100 predoctoral fellows; and run a visiting faculty program.

Kevin O’Brien is a 1988 graduate of 91³Ô¹Ï who majored in economics and English and was a Navy ROTC midshipman. He served four years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy, including as a surface warfare officer on the USS Nicholas in combat operations during Operation Desert Storm, for which he earned a Bronze Star. After earning his Master of Business Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, he spent 21 years at private equity firms CCMP Capital and its predecessor, JPMorgan Partners, where he led the health care practice. He retired in 2021 and is now an investor and board member for several early-stage health care technology companies, serves on the board of the Special Operations Fund, and is an adviser to the Diplomatic Studies Foundation.

“Our country needs leaders with a holistic understanding of history and policy, and 91³Ô¹Ï is a place where students can uniquely develop this understanding with an eyeÌýtowards future service,â€� Kevin O’Brien said. “Professor Mike Desch and the team at ONDISC are a true force for good — taking on these critical topics and providing the mentorship and education to develop future leaders in a world that sorely needs them.â€�

Cynthia Craft O’Brien earned a bachelor’s degree from Pennsylvania State University and master’s degrees in business administration and environmental health from Temple University. She worked as a hazardous material specialist and professor of environmental engineering technology before devoting more than 20 years to service on nonprofit boards. She has been a member of the strategic planning, capital campaign and executive committees for the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas, as well as serving on the boards of the North Texas Military Foundation, the Alcuin School and the Crested Butte Land Trust.

“I vividly remember being a 23-year-old newlywed when Kevin, at age 24, was deployed to the Persian Gulf. I was hoping that the people deciding to send our troops to war had exhausted all forms of diplomacy and understood what a military member and their family sacrifices for our country,� Cynthia O’Brien said. “I believe that Professor Desch and his team are educating incredibly bright students who will then be making policy and advising decision-makers on international security, protecting the best interests of active duty military members and their families.�

Contact: Tracy DeStazio, associate director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu

°Õ³ó±ðÌý, formerly known as the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy, aims to advance 91³Ô¹Ï’s role as a national and global leader in democracy scholarship and as a convener of bipartisan conversations about the future of democracy.

Ìý“91³Ô¹Ï’s long tradition of cultivating civil discourse and our ability to convene prominent voices across a range of perspectives have enabled us to lead important conversations about democracy for decades,â€� said University President “Thanks to the extraordinary generosity and vision of Francis and Kathleen, generations of students and scholars will have the opportunity to engage with the political challenges and opportunities of their times in the context of both democratic principles and Catholic social teaching. We could not be more grateful to the Rooneys for advancing 91³Ô¹Ï's mission and expanding our capacity to serve as an authoritative and influential voice in strengthening democracy in America."

Established in 2008 through a gift from the Francis and Kathleen Rooney Foundation, the Rooney Center has advanced impactful research on a range of topics, including representation and politics in legislatures, democratic participation, democratic inclusion, religion and American democracy and political psychology. It also partners closely with the , the University’s public policy minor; and the , which has supported more than 500 students in spending a semester studying and interning in Washington, D.C.

ÌýThe Rooneys’ gift provides permanent support for the institute’s signature programs, including the annual and semi-annual , and expands and enhances its . It also ensures the sustainability of new programming launched through the support of 91³Ô¹Ï’s , including the Democracy Talks events series, a cohort of postdoctoral scholars and the Democracy Fellows Program, which supports and inspires the next generation of public servants.

ÌýEstablishing 91³Ô¹Ï as a leading institution for the study and preservation of democracy was a key priority outlined in “,â€� prompting the creation of the University’s Democracy Initiative, led by political scientist David Campbell, who served for six years as the Rooney Center’s founding director.

Ìý“The Rooney Democracy Institute is a bold step forward in strengthening 91³Ô¹Ï’s ability to influence the future of our democracy through rigorous research, education and bipartisan conversation on the questions that matter most,â€� said , the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost. “As early and essential supporters of 91³Ô¹Ï’s democracy-focused efforts, I am grateful to the Rooneys for their leadership as personal and professional exemplars of the kind of values-driven democracy defenders this institute will develop.â€�

ÌýIn future years, the Rooney Democracy Institute will build “dream teamsâ€� of senior and junior faculty, postdoctoral scholars and graduate students that will advance research on pressing issues related to democracy. The Rooneys’ gift will also support expansion of the institute’s staff to allow for further policy impact with lawmakers and engagement with the media and the public.

Ìý"As a leading Catholic university, 91³Ô¹Ï has a unique responsibility to address the social challenges of our time, including the health of our democracy,â€� said Matthew E.K. Hall, the institute’s director and the David A. Potenziani Memorial College Professor of Constitutional Studies. “By creating this new institute, we will strengthen our capacity to better understand American democracy, to share that understanding with the broader society and to instill that knowledge in the next generation of American citizens and leaders.â€�

ÌýFrancis Rooney served as a member of the U.S. House for two terms, representing Florida’s 19th District from 2017-21. He served as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See, appointed by President George W. Bush, from 2005-08. He was previously the chief executive officer of Rooney Holdings Inc., an investment and holding company based in Naples, Fla. He also served as the chairman of Manhattan Construction Company, whose projects include the construction of AT&T Stadium and Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas; NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas; and the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia. The company also built the Capitol Visitor Center addition to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.; the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library & Museum in College Station, Texas; and the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas.

ÌýKathleen Rooney has served on numerous museum, philanthropic and community boards in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Naples, Florida. The Rooneys have been active in Catholic, political and civic circles at the state and national levels. Other affiliations with Catholic organizations include the St. Francis Health System in Tulsa; Cascia Hall Preparatory School, an Augustinian middle and high school in Tulsa; and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Their other charitable giving includes the Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) Rooney Heart Institute and Georgetown University's Dahlgren Chapel. They are also both trustees emeriti of the Naples Children Foundation, which serves the at-risk and disadvantaged children of Collier County.

ÌýTheir past support for 91³Ô¹Ï includes endowing the Rooney Center and the chair of the dean of the .

ÌýThe Rooneys have three children, all 91³Ô¹Ï alumni — Larry ’04 (Porscha Radcliffe Rooney ’04), Michael ’06 J.D. ’09 (Frances Dayton) and Kathleen ’09.

Ìý“91³Ô¹Ï is the gold standard for trust in higher education, and that perspective is needed nowhere more right now than in American politics,â€� Francis Rooney said. “Ever since Kathleen and I set foot on this campus many years ago, we felt that 91³Ô¹Ï was blessed — and we are filled with hope for the way 91³Ô¹Ï can be a blessing to our nation in the years ahead.â€�

Contact: Tracy DeStazio, Associate Director of Media Relations, tdestazi@nd.edu, 269-769-8804

The , formerly known as theÌý, will rapidly advance 91³Ô¹Ï’s existing strength in humanities research through investments in innovative, creative work that will engage the public on the most pressing issues of the modern era.

“At the core of 91³Ô¹Ï’s identity as a leading global Catholic research university is a deep commitment to excellence in the humanities and the liberal arts,â€� saidÌý, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost and Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History.

“In a time when many institutions are divesting from these disciplines, we are uniquely positioned to lead — providing a home where faculty and students can dream up ideas and extend these conversations beyond the classroom. This generous gift empowers us to advance research excellence and public engagement, further strengthening our ability to uncover the truths, ideas and values that shape our world.�

The transformation of the Franco Institute reflects a key theme of the University’sÌý — strengthening areas of traditional excellence — and the humanities have consistently been disciplines in which 91³Ô¹Ï is world-renowned, McGreevy noted.

The Francos’ support significantly enhances a thriving research foundation at the institute, where funding for faculty scholarly pursuits increased by more than 15 percent this year. For 40 years, the institute has been a source of internal grants for research and creative projects; funding, planning and promotion of academic conferences and symposia; and support for developing applications for external funding. In large part due to guidance provided by the institute, 91³Ô¹ÏÌý in National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships won since 2000, and last year, three Arts & Letters faculty .

While maintaining and improving its commitment to funding faculty and student research across the arts, humanities and social sciences, the Franco Institute will now add a significant emphasis on public engagement, bringing humanities research to the world in a way that meaningfully shapes discourse on pressing challenges.

“At this moment of transition, the institute is poised to move Arts & Letters research more dramatically into the public view,â€� saidÌý, founding director of the institute, associate dean for research and strategic initiatives and the Thomas J. and Robert T. Rolfs Collegiate Chair in the . “By fostering collaborative research into the great, difficult and enduring questions of our time, the Franco Institute will ensure that the scholarship unique to 91³Ô¹Ï’s strengths and commitments reaches its full transformative potential.â€�

In spring 2026, the Franco Institute will launch a key component of its new commitment to public engagement — the Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton Culture and the Public Good Symposium. Named for two of the foremost socially engaged Catholic thinkers of the 20th century, the signature annual event will culminate a year of themed research support at the institute. It will gather speakers across a range of backgrounds — public figures, artists and scholars — to consider an urgent yet enduring question and engage in a dialogue that can guide public conversation on the topic.

The gift from the Francos also provides permanent support for the institute’sÌý program, which launched with five interdisciplinary projects last year and is for a second round of project funding. The collaboratives serve as research incubators, bringing together pairs of faculty members from across disciplines and departments to tackle major questions in a way that leads to innovative scholarship, pedagogy and outreach. The institute has also created a providing one-semester internal residencies for up to six faculty per year to devote full-time effort to research and writing while also providing a forum for sharing and discussing their work in progress.

Later this year, the institute will launch a Public Fellows Program, designed to ensure that scholarly expertise in the liberal arts does not remain isolated in the academy. Two fellows per year will be accepted from among the Arts & Letters faculty, providing them with time, resources and training to help them adapt, translate and transform their research in a way that reaches wider audiences through media commentary, public speaking opportunities and community engagement.

Thomas Franco — a 1974 alumnus of 91³Ô¹Ï’s great books major, theÌý — is a senior adviser at private equity firm Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) in New York City, where he served as a partner. He previously was chairman and CEO of Broadgate Consultants and was a founder of the global publishing business PEI Media. He serves on the Board of Governors of the New York Academy of Sciences and the board of the Private Capital Research Institute, and he advises several private investment firms and nonprofits, including Commonweal magazine. He holds a Master of Arts degree from Smith College and a J.D. from Fordham University, and he is currently enrolled in an M.A. program at Union Theological Seminary.

“We are living in a time that needs big ideas that can make a difference — and the liberal arts are the disciplines we must turn to to provide those ideas,â€� Tom Franco said. “Studying the great books shaped not just the course of my career but the course of my life, and I am exceptionally excited about the way humanities research forged at 91³Ô¹Ï can shape our society for the better.â€�

Allison Franco, an alumna of Queens College, earned a Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University and is a licensed clinical social worker. In addition to managing the family’s investment activities and charitable activities, she serves on the board of Nazareth Housing, a community-based nonprofit promoting housing stability and economic mobility among vulnerable families and individuals in New York City.

“Our hope is that the institute will help to ensure the humanities continue to be a discipline in which 91³Ô¹Ï remains world-renowned,â€� Allison Franco said. “We are especially excited about the Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton Culture and the Public Good annual symposium, which will bring together renowned thinkers, artists, writers and spiritual leaders to engage on the consequential issues of our time.â€�

Contact: Carrie Gates, associate director of media relations, 574-993-9220, c.gates@nd.edu

, the Coyle Professor of Literacy Education at the University of 91³Ô¹Ï, has been elected to the , one of the nation’s oldest learned societies and independent policy research centers.

Morrell — who is also theÌý associate dean for the humanities and equity, a professor of and , and director of the ’ — was one of the 250 members of the newest AAAS class announced today. Other notable names among the group include filmmaker George Clooney, Apple CEO Tim Cook, novelist Jhumpa Lahiri, and Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times columnist and 1993 91³Ô¹Ï alumnus Carlos Lozada.

“I am extremely honored and humbled to receive this recognition from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,â€� Morrell said, “and I am indebted to 91³Ô¹Ï for allowing me to do this work and for being a place that connects cutting-edge academic scholarship with its mission to be a force for good in the world.â€�

Morrell came to 91³Ô¹Ï in 2017 after faculty appointments at Columbia University’s Teachers College; the University of California, Los Angeles; and Michigan State University. His scholarly interests include critical pedagogy, English education, literacy studies, postcolonial studies and youth popular culture.

His recent research focuses on how the use of popular culture in the classroom can successfully engage urban youth and communities, with anÌý — the idea that students can maximize their learning by using the many different languages they use in their everyday lives.

Morrell will be formally inducted to the AAAS in a Sept. 21 ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as part of the Education Section, whose roster of current fellows includes Harvard University developmental psychologist Howard Gardner; Louisiana State University President William Tate IV; Na’ilah Suad Nasir, president of the Spencer Foundation; and Linda Darling Hammond, the Charles Ducommun Professor at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Education.

“This honor is reflective of my 30-year relationship with literacy studies,� Morrell said. “I’ve simply tried to learn from the ways that people use language every day to develop ways of teaching formal literacies that are pathways to academic gain, economic empowerment and social engagement for our most vulnerable populations.

“It has been an incredible journey so far, but there is so much left to be done.�

Morrell is the author of more than 100 articles, research briefs and book chapters and 15 scholarly books, including “Educating Harlem: A Century of Schooling and Resistance in a Black Community� (Columbia, 2019), “Stories from Inequity to Justice in Literacy Education: Confronting Digital Divides� (Routledge, 2021), “New Directions in Teaching English: Reimagining Teaching, Teacher Education and Research� (Rowman & Littlefield, 2015) and “Critical Media Pedagogy: Teaching for Achievement in City Schools� (Teachers College Press, 2013), which was awarded Outstanding Academic Title by the American Library Association’s Choice magazine.

An elected member of the National Academy of Education and an elected fellow of the American Educational Research Association, Morrell hasÌý the Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings, an annual listing published by Education Week that highlights academics who have the biggest impact on educational practice and policy.

“Election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences is a remarkable honor, and it is wonderful to see Ernest Morrell receive this well-deserved recognition for his superb scholarship and innovative leadership in literacy education,â€� saidÌý, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost at 91³Ô¹Ï.

Since its founding during the American Revolution by John Adams, James Bowdoin, John Hancock and other scholar-patriots, the academy has elected leading “thinkers and doers� from each generation, including George Washington and Benjamin Franklin in the 18th century, Daniel Webster and Ralph Waldo Emerson in the 19th, and Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill in the 20th.

Morrell is the . Other 91³Ô¹Ï fellows include 91³Ô¹Ï President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C.; R. Scott Appleby, the Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs; Robert Audi, the John A. O’Brien Professor of Philosophy; Declan Kiberd, the Donald and Marilyn Keough Professor of Irish Studies; George Marsden, the Francis A. McAnaney Professor of History Emeritus; Dianne Pinderhughes, the Rev. Edmund P. Joyce, C.S.C., Professor of Africana Studies and Political Science; Jean Porter, the John A. O’Brien Professor of Theology; and James VanderKam, the John A. O’Brien Professor Emeritus of Hebrew Scriptures.

Ìý

Democracy is in crisis at home and abroad. Polarization is high, trust is low and public discourse is toxic. The level of democracy experienced by the average person in the world today has regressed to the level of 1985, and more than 70 percent of the global population currently lives under autocracy, according to a 2024 report by theÌý.

“91³Ô¹Ï will leverage its position as a leading global Catholic research university to play a key role in responding to this crisis,â€� saidÌý. “We will do all we can as scholars, teachers and leaders to reverse these troubling trends and preserve democracy for generations to come.â€�

Father Jenkins designated “ as the theme for the 2023-24 91³Ô¹Ï Forum, bringing to campus national and international experts who were featured in University-wide keynote events. The 91³Ô¹Ï Democracy Initiative builds on those important conversations.

Emerging from the University’s and led by political scientist , the initiative will incubate and accelerate research on the health of democracy in the U.S. and worldwide, serve as a convenor for conversations about and actions to preserve democracy, and foster a model for the formation of civically engaged citizens and public servants.

“91³Ô¹Ï can — indeed must — be a global catalyst for strengthening faith in democracy,â€� said Campbell, the Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy.

The University is already a leader in two key areas of the study of democracy in theÌý, with a strong cohort of scholars of American government in the and a long legacy of the study of global democracy, especially in Latin America, in the , which is part of . American attitudes toward democratic principles are regularly assessed through the Rooney Center’s Health of Democracy Survey, and 91³Ô¹Ï political scientist has been a key contributor to the Varieties of Democracy Project, an annual assessment of the state of democracy across the world led by an international group of scholars.

91³Ô¹Ï’s new initiative seeks to foster deeper and more impactful collaboration between scholars of U.S. and global democracy in these and other 91³Ô¹Ï centers, institutes and programs, while also providing support for democracy-related research in a wide range of disciplines, from history to law to computer science. This will include interconnected research clusters focused on democratic institutions, democratic culture, and religion and democracy.

While the state of U.S. democracy appears to be on a dangerous precipice, Campbell said, it has weathered similar crises in the past thanks to scholar-driven democratic innovations that are now taken for granted. Ensuring the preservation of American government — and democracy around the world — demands that bright minds come together again to propose innovative solutions to pressing problems.

“Republicans and Democrats agree that there is something wrong with American democracy, and the simple recognition of a problem is the starting point,â€� Campbell said. “If things are going to change, it will require institutions like the University of 91³Ô¹Ï to bring brilliant people together to figure out what to do differently.â€�

The 91³Ô¹Ï Democracy Initiative will direct its work toward three areas:

• Research: The initiative will support scholarship that proposes solutions to democracy’s biggest challenges, not just by political scientists but by researchers from across the disciplines. It will have a focused interest in developing projects that identify and propose solutions that can be translated to policymakers and the general public.

• Education: By creating and enhancing curricular and co-curricular opportunities in South Bend and in Washington, D.C., the initiative will develop 91³Ô¹Ï undergraduates, graduate students and postdocs into the next generation of principled civic leaders.

• Convening: The initiative will serve as a platform through which the University hosts high-profile events with key figures in the fight to preserve and advance democracy, while also bringing together elected officials and policymakers from across the political spectrum to learn from the research done at 91³Ô¹Ï. The Kellogg Institute’s , being held on campus May 20–22, and the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy’s on May 8 are prime examples of the role 91³Ô¹Ï can play in facilitating and advancing vital conversations among scholars, policymakers and practitioners focused on key questions related to democracy.

“91³Ô¹Ï’s Catholic mission, with its ethical commitments rooted in faith that do not neatly align with any one party, gives us a unique platform to credibly engage voices and reach citizens across the political spectrum — a rare prospect in this bitterly divided era,â€� said John T. McGreevy, the Charles and Jill Fischer Provost. “We are prepared to take on the great responsibility of filling a critical gap in the current political conversation and sharing innovative insights from our research in order to explore how we can work together to strengthen democracy.â€�

For more information about the Democracy Initiative, visit .

Ìý

“The need for mental health resources has increased exponentially, in our nation, in the local community and on every college campus in the country,â€� said “Given our mission to be a force for good in the world, 91³Ô¹Ï has the opportunity to develop new models for the provision of mental health services and undertake groundbreaking research on how to treat mental illnesses, while also enhancing services for our students and helping to meet the overwhelming demand for more mental health resources in our local community. We are deeply grateful to the Veldman family for their support as we seek to bring hope and healing to those struggling with mental illness and build healthier and more compassionate communities.â€�

The Veldman Family Psychology Clinic will unite the work of 91³Ô¹Ï’s , the (SPIRIT), and a major new substance use initiative, while expanding the availability of affordable mental health counseling services to residents of the South Bend area.

The includes a commitment to addressing the nationwide mental health crisis as part of a new . The new clinic, a key component of that initiative, will significantly enhance the research of faculty in the and offer immersive training for clinical psychology graduate students, who will be empowered to share pioneering evidence-based mental health practices with communities across the country.

The Veldman family’s gift will fund a new building for the clinic, to be constructed at the site of the existing Psychological Services Center at 501 N. Hill St. in South Bend’s East Bank neighborhood. The facility will create a centralized hub for faculty and student collaboration as well as an easily accessible service-delivery center for South Bend community members to visit and receive care.

Once constructed and fully operational, the Veldman Family Psychology Clinic will significantly increase evidence-based mental health services available to residents of South Bend and the surrounding area. The need for these services was highlighted by recent research by Daniel Tadmon, assistant professor of sociology at 91³Ô¹Ï, which found that about 70 percent of Americans have better access to psychiatric care than those who live in the South Bend area.

The clinic will increase the number of senior psychology faculty, triple the number of clinical psychology graduate students and triple the experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate psychology majors.

The current counseling capacity of the clinic will double in the coming years, eventually serving more than 1,500 people in the South Bend community annually through mental health assessment, intervention and prevention services. The clinic will also foster partnerships with community organizations to advance access to mental health care throughout the region.

“Mental health is more than an urgent public health priority — it is a moral imperative that 91³Ô¹Ï is especially well suited to address,â€� said , the I.A. O’Shaughnessy Dean of the . “That work can and should start right here in South Bend as we care for our community while simultaneously developing new prevention, intervention and treatment practices that will inform innovative care across the nation.â€�

The expansion also marks an important step forward in a partnership between the academy and the Division of Student Affairs focused on a long-term goal of raising the level of mental health care provided to students.

Through the Veldman family’s support, the clinic will now be home to a significantly expanded presence for SPIRIT, accelerating its comprehensive and innovative work on suicide prevention. Led by co-directors Theodore Beauchaine, the William K. Warren Foundation Professor of Psychology and director of primary prevention, and Brooke Ammerman, an assistant professor of psychology and the Dr. Marsha Linehan Director of Secondary Prevention, SPIRIT pursues groundbreaking research on self-injury, suicide ideation and suicide attempts, and provides prevention services to children, adolescents, adults and families.

The clinic will unite these expanded efforts with 91³Ô¹Ï’s current strength in trauma-focused research housed at the Shaw Center. Led by directorÌý, a professor of psychology and the William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families Collegiate Chair, the center advances the well-being of children and families through basic and applied research, improving public understanding of how to improve the lives of children and families, especially those who have experienced trauma.

Born in the mid-1920s, Wilma and Peter Veldman grew up on farms in Holland and lived through the Nazi occupation during World War II. As young immigrants, the couple arrived in South Bend in the early 1950s. They eventually started and operated a variety of automotive-related businesses in South Bend, beginning with a two-bay Standard Oil service station and ending with Tire Rack, an online distributor of automotive and light truck tires and wheels. Over more than 40 years in business, the Edmonds, Joines and Veldman families led Tire Rack to become the largest online tire distributor in the United States. Their faith, family and community were always most important to Peter and Wilma, and their family seeks to honor those values and their parents through this gift.

“Our family sees the great need in our community for better access to mental health care, but we also see the tremendous opportunity to make a difference through supporting 91³Ô¹Ï’s mental health initiatives,â€� Tom Veldman said. “This is a moment where we can impact the course of our community by reshaping the trajectory of so many lives, and we hope others will join us in supporting this crucial endeavor.â€�

Ìý

, an associate professor of English at the University of 91³Ô¹Ï, has been named a finalist for the , the country’s most prestigious peer-juried prize for novels and short stories.

The honor is for Irving Bremyer’s short story collection “,â€� which follows the lives of Jamaican women — immigrants or the descendants of immigrants — who have relocated all over the world to escape the ghosts of colonialism.Ìý

“I feel humbled and grateful to be a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award. The imagined lives in 'The Islands' carry forward the stories of my community, of my culture and of my life,� she said. “I spent too long wondering if anyone else might even be interested in reading such stories, so this acknowledgment by the PEN/Faulkner judges is a gift of recognition that, to me, bespeaks a hopefulness about how stories of immigration and migration can permeate our cultural and artistic imaginations.�

A trio of judges considered more than 500 novels and short story collections published in 2022 from American authors. Other finalists for the award are Jonathan Escoffery (“If I Survive You�), Kathryn Harlan (“Fruiting Bodies�), Yiyun Li (“The Book of Goose�) and Laura Warrell (“Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm�). The winner will be announced in early April, with all five finalists being honored at a May 11 ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Irving Bremyer is 91³Ô¹Ï’s second PEN/Faulkner Award finalist in the past four years — , an associate professor of English, for her novel “Call Me Zebra.â€� Other past winners of the award include John Updike, Philip Roth, Michael Cunningham, Deesha PhilyawÌýand Annie Proulx.

“To have 'The Islands' honored in this way suggests a more hopeful future in part by amplifying stories emanating from places confronting existential threats of environmental obliteration,â€� Irving Bremyer said. “Perhaps these stories can help save those places, these people and this culture. It is a profound honor to be listed among the other finalists whose work I deeply respect and admire, and I am beyond grateful to the judges of the PEN/Faulkner Award for their attention to and care for my work.â€�Ìý

“The Islands� has received an array of positive reviews — the called it “an electric collection� that “teaches us what kinds of respites can be found in diaspora — fleeting, begrudging, but real nonetheless,� while the praised Brymyer’s stories for the way they “sing in their lyricism and complexity—a hallmark of an exciting new voice in literature.

Originally from Toronto, Ontario, Irving Bremyer teaches in 91³Ô¹Ï's and is a faculty fellow of the . She writes fiction and nonfiction that investigates and questions personal, cultural and national hybridity emergent in a postcolonial world.

Her work has appeared in Story, Boulevard, LitHub, Missouri ReviewÌýand New Delta Review, among other journals and magazines. Two essays, “Treading Waterâ€� and “Do You Like to Hurt,â€� were notable essays in Best American Essays 2017 and 2019. She is the author of the novel “Quintâ€� (7.13 Books), a fictional retelling of the true story of the Dionne quintuplets.Ìý

Irving Bremyer has been nominated for multiple Pushcart Prizes and has been awarded two Tennessee Williams scholarships from the Sewanee Writers’ Conference and a scholarship and residency from the Voices of Our Nation Writers Conference.

Originally published by Josh Weinhold at on March 10.

Born and raised in South Bend, Gunty majored in English with a concentration in creative writing. In the novel’s acknowledgments, Gunty thanks 91³Ô¹Ï faculty , , Steve TomasulaÌýand .

“My writing professors from 91³Ô¹Ï uprooted my literary preconceptions and planted far better ideas in their place,â€� Gunty wrote. “I cherished their generosity as an undergraduate, and I continue to cherish it now.â€�

Gunty will return to South Bend and 91³Ô¹Ï for two public events in the coming weeks — “â€� at the Eck Center Auditorium on Nov. 30, and “â€� at theÌýSt. Joseph County Public Library’s main branch on Dec. 1.

Described asÌýsurreal, haunting, wickedly funny and full of heart, “The Rabbit Hutchâ€� weaves together the lives of people residing in a low-income apartment complex in the fictional Indiana rust belt town of Vacca Vale, which has never recovered from the collapse of the Zorn Automobile factory. Gunty’s novel explores contemporary malaise, dives into medieval Catholic mysticism and loops through multiple narratives with verve, acuityÌýand deep care.

Leah Greenblatt of the New York Times called “The Rabbit Hutch� “mesmerizing� and “a novel of impressive scope and specificity.�

“One of the pleasures of the narrative is the way it luxuriates in language, all the rhythms and repetitions and seashell whorls of meaning to be extracted from the dull casings of everyday life,� Greenblatt wrote. “[Gunty] also has a way of pressing her thumb on the frailty and absurdity of being a person in the world; all the soft, secret needs and strange intimacies. The book’s best sentences — and there are heaps to choose from — ping with that recognition, even in the ordinary details.�

While at 91³Ô¹Ï, Gunty spent her sophomore year in Angers, France, studying French language and culture at l’Université Catholique de l’Ouest. On campus, she tutored at the , and her playÌý“Taxidermyâ€�Ìýwon an ND Theater Now Award. During her senior year, the Ìýnominated her for four awards; her poetry collection “Radish Bedsâ€� won the Ernest Sandeen Award.

Gunty has written forÌý both as a student and as an alumna, including an interview with McSweeney, a 91³Ô¹Ï professor of creative writing, after the faculty member .

Upon graduating from 91³Ô¹Ï, she began an MFA in creative writing at New York University, where she was a Lillian Vernon Fellow. There, she taughtÌýundergraduates, helped coordinate the Emerging Writers Reading Series and received a graduate research fellowship to develop her novel in Paris. Throughout graduate school, she volunteered as a mentor at , a reading and writing sanctuary for children in Bushwick, Brooklyn.

After earning her MFA, she worked alongside her former professor Jonathan Safran Foer, providing research and writing for his book of nonfiction about the climate crisis,Ìý“.â€�ÌýAs a freelance writer, editorÌýand research assistant, her experience also includes documenting the history of the 91³Ô¹Ï ; contributing a history of an area of Atlanta to an urban revitalization plan by Thadani Architects + Urbanists; creating science content for the American Museum of Natural History; editing Bruce Rits Gilbert’s debut book, “,â€�a tribute to the folk musician written in the wake of Prine’s death; and working as a fact-checker on “,â€� a PBS docuseries about the history of psychiatry in America.

Originally published by Josh Weinhold at on Nov. 17.

Kenneth M. Sayre, a University of 91³Ô¹Ï professor emeritus of and an early leader in the study of artificial intelligence, has died at age 94.

Sayre, a member of the 91³Ô¹Ï faculty for 56 years, was known for his teaching and research across a broad range of areas, including cybernetics, information theory, philosophy of mind, environmental philosophy, Plato and epistemology. He authored 14 books, edited or co-edited five more, and published more than 50 articles in scholarly journals.

“With Ken’s passing, we in the Department of Philosophy lost a remarkable friend and colleague,â€� , the Glynn Family Honors Professor of Philosophy, said. “Despite a teaching load that would seem almost unbearably heavy 50 years on, Ken was a prolific publisher from the outset, and was at the leading edge of a cohort of scholars who began to transform the department into the leading center of philosophical work that it is today.Ìý

“Those of us who teach philosophy at 91³Ô¹Ï now owe an incalculable debt to those who effected that transformation, of whom Ken was among the very first.â€�

Born in 1928 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Sayre spent two years in the U.S. Navy before graduating from Grinnell College in Iowa with a joint major in philosophy in mathematics. His interest in AI began while earning his doctorate at Harvard University, when he worked in MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory on an air-defense system.

He joined the 91³Ô¹Ï faculty in 1958, and four years later he won a National Science Foundation grant for research on the simulation of mental processes that would blend science with philosophy.Ìý

After he received a second grant in support of this research, the University established the Philosophic Institute for Artificial Intelligence in 1965, with Sayre serving as director. That same year, he published “Recognition: A Study in the Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence,â€� and began lecturing and making media appearances discussing issues related to cybernetics and automation.Ìý

For many years, his research involved developing computer software that could recognize handwriting, based on his theory that “understanding of a type of human behavior and our ability to simulate it go hand in hand." His work led to him recognizing a key problem that became known as “Sayre’s paradox� — a cursive word cannot be recognized without being segmented and cannot be segmented without being recognized — that continued to be a focus of handwriting recognition technology in subsequent decades.

After the Vietnam War, Sayre shifted his focus to ethical and social issues. Sayre led an NSF-funded interdisciplinary team that included 11 91³Ô¹Ï faculty from all five colleges, a nuclear engineer, philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre and others in a deep study of energy companies’ decision-making processes and values. The work resulted in a book on the subject, as well as another volume, “Ethics and Problems of the 21st Century,â€� containing essays from moral philosophers.ÌýÌý

He continued teaching and researching until his retirement in 2014, the same year he published “Adventures in Philosophy at 91³Ô¹Ï,â€� a book detailing the history and development of his department.

Sayre married Lucille M. Shea in 1958, and they had three children together — Gregory, Christopher and Jeffrey. Lucille died in a car accident in 1980. In 1983, he married Patricia A. White, with whom he had a son, Michael.

Condolences may be sent to Patti Sayre, 910 W. Weber Square, South Bend, IN 46617.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to St. Margaret’s House, 117 N. Lafayette Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601, or to Our Lady of the Road Catholic Workers, 744 S. Main St., South Bend, IN 46601.

Originally published by Josh Weinhold at on Oct. 13.

Gürel will spend this fall researching in Turkey and take an additional trip to Iran to complete her second book project, “America’s Wife, America’s Concubine: Turkey, Iran, and the Politics of Comparison.� While abroad, she will delve into the Center for Islamic Studies archives in Istanbul, the national archives in Ankara and a Turkish cultural center in Urmia, an Iranian city that borders Turkey.

The book will detail the history of comparisons made between Turkey and Iran, but Gürel also intends to critique the intellectual valorization of comparison itself. Sharp distinctions about areas of the world are often made, she said, despite the relatively arbitrary nature of borders between countries — not to mention the ways in which subjectively comparing one thing to another permeates other aspects of life.

“I hope the book will make us realize that the comparisons we make — whether every day or scholarly — are not natural and objective,â€� said Gürel, who is also a concurrent associate professor of .Ìý“They’re informed by social constructs, multiple cognitive operations and the element of strategy. I hope we can pause and denaturalize comparativism in our day-to-day lives when assigning merit.â€�

The title of Gürel’s book is inspired by a 1962 meeting between President John F. Kennedy and Muhammad Reza Shah. The autocratic leader of Iran complained that “America treats Turkey as a wife, and Iran as a concubine.â€�Ìý

It’s but one example of what Gürel calls the “uneven political triangle� between the U.S., Turkey and Iran — American politicians have often compared the two West Asian nations to one another, and leaders of Turkey and Iran themselves make strategic comparisons to their neighboring state to advance their own unpopular policies.

Much scholarship, Gürel said, often focuses on the relationship between “the West� and “the East� — including her first book, “� (Columbia, 2017), which explored how gendered stock figures and tropes associated with the concept of “westernization� in Turkey intersected with U.S.-Turkish relations in the 20th century.

But in her new book, she seeks to examine how the language used by a major player like the U.S. can affect the relationship between two neighboring middle-power states.Ìý

Gürel — whose 2019 American Quarterly article, “Amerikan Jokes: The Transnational Politics of Unlaughter in Turkey,â€� from the American Humor Studies Association — has also received support for her research from a number of 91³Ô¹Ï organizations.Ìý

The helped her learn Persian at an advanced level and meet Iranian researchers and scholars. Grant funding from the and the allowed her to visit the National Archives in Maryland, the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the Women’s Library and Information Centre Foundation in Istanbul and the Tehran University archives in Iran.Ìý

“That tells you what a great place 91³Ô¹Ï is for doing transnational scholarship,â€� she said. “Plus, my colleagues in the department, across campus and across the disciplines have been very supportive, reading multiple drafts and listening to me rant about comparativism at random moments.â€�

Beyond just analyzing the relationship between the U.S., Turkey and Iran, Gürel hopes her critique can provide academics in a range of fields with a new perspective on the perils of constantly seeking to compare one thing to another.

“Ultimately, the book demonstrates how scholars in the humanities and social sciences can approach comparative methodologies more critically and creatively,� she said, “highlighting the importance of multilingual, interdisciplinary inquiry.�

Originally published by Josh Weinhold at on April 14.

Partnering with historian of the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, Deak’s three-year grant will support significant archival work across Europe as the scholars explore how the wartime imposition of martial law crushed local political authority and ultimately wiped a 600-year empire off the map.

“This collaboration is full of boldness, and this grant makes all of it possible,� Deak said. “Without it, we’d just be writing about a smaller part of the empire, which is what is normally possible. To write about this monarchy as a real state, falling apart, requires a lot of travel, and we’re grateful for the NEH allowing us to do that.�

Encompassing Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia and other Eastern European nations, the Habsburg Empire dated back to the 13th century but came to an end after its defeat, along with Germany and Turkey, in World War I.Ìý

For decades, Deak said, the conventional historical narrative — including school texts, both in the U.S. and even in former Habsburg Empire countries — has been that the Austrian-Hungarian system of government was rife with internal conflict and on its last legs by the early 20th century, and the war was simply the strong wind that blew the crumbling house down.

Deak and Gumz, however, believe the empire was not doomed to fail — except for a fatal flaw in the constitutions of its member-states allowing a wartime declaration of emergency and military takeover of the court system. As the empire went to war, the military began trying civilians and local officials under martial law in order to eliminate opposition or settle petty political scores.Ìý

“When you disrupt politics, you disrupt the means by which people can talk to one another and work things out — and the military had extreme ideas about how things should be run and forced voters back in a box where they just follow orders,â€� Deak said. “Austro-Hungarians put the state in the hands of the military, which even bullied the emperor and essentially overran him.Ìý

“What the military did while they were in control of much of civilian life actually delegitimized the constitutional state in many corners of the empire. These are important facets of the experience of the First World War that need new attention paid to them.�

To get a better sense of the impact that the military takeover had on public life, Deak and Gumz will explore archives in several of the successor states of the former Habsburg Empire. Public administration and court records from the time,Ìýmany still sealed and not opened for nearly a century, were scattered far and wide after the empire fell. Poland, for example, requested all documents relating to the administration of the provinces that became part of Poland after the war.Ìý

Knowing where documents like these are and how to find them has been part of the fun but also the difficulty of doing research on this subject, Deak said.Ìý

Military files, court decisions and planning documents will give the historians a better sense of where these emergency wartime laws came from, how they were implemented and what happened when civilian officials tried to object and push back.Ìý

In some cases, opponents were conscripted and sent to the front lines. In others, a protracted battle ensued between civilian officials, local politicians and their military counterparts. All of it was disruptive and added to the already significant sacrifices the peoples of the empire made to the war effort.

The research pair are dividing up the record-hunting based on the languages they know or can learn — Deak reads Czech and Polish and is brushing up on his Italian. Beginning in May, he will spend as much time abroad as EU visa regulations and COVID-19 protocols allow.

The initial phases of Deak’s research project were supported by grants from the and the . That funding allowed him to spend eight weeks getting a sense of what records exist in archives in Vienna, Ljubljana, Warsaw, Innsbruck and Trieste, where he will now return for longer and more focused research.

As Deak and Gumz seek to disrupt and reframe the modern understanding of the Habsburg Empire in a new book and journal articles, their research also offers an opportunity to shed new light on the civilian-military relationship —Ìýa tension Deak says has plagued countries throughout the 19th and 20th centuries across multiple continents.

“This is a story about what happens when a constitution is suspended and the military is given sweeping control of the administration of justice, of people and of police,� Deak said. “It’s amazing how this stuff can happen in a constitutional state — and even a lot of people who work in this area will think what we’re finding is incredible.�

Originally published by Josh Weinhold at on March 28.

Preacher first came to 91³Ô¹Ï in 1985, teaching in what was then the for six years, then serving as director of the for three years. From 1993 until her retirement in 2018, she served in the ’ Office for Undergraduate Studies as an assistant dean, advising hundreds of undergraduates every year, including students from across campus who were pursuing law school.

“I can’t think of anyone who has had a direct and positive impact on the lives of more undergraduates than Ava did,â€� said , an assistant dean and director of advising in the Office for Undergraduate Studies. “As one of our colleagues noted, Ava couldn’t go anywhere without a former student recognizing her and stopping to thank her for her advice, guidance and care during their time at 91³Ô¹Ï.â€�Ìý

Born in Washington, D.C., Preacher grew up in Iowa, graduating as valedictorian from St. Katharine's School in Davenport. She spent a year at Vassar College before earning her bachelor’s degree at the University of Iowa. She studied for a year in Paris at the Centres des Etudes Cinematographiques, and obtained her master’s degree in comparative literature, also at Iowa. She taught there and at Wayne State University before joining the 91³Ô¹Ï faculty.

Preacher was the recipient of numerous campus and outside awards throughout her career, including the 91³Ô¹Ï Presidential Award, the Kaneb Center Teaching Award, the Dockweiler Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Advising and the for outstanding and exemplary contributions to law-related education.

“Ava is one of those amazing individuals who always leaves you feeling optimistic and excited for the future,� one of her advisees, accountancy major Andrea Kochert, . “She helped me with the entire law school application process — studying for the LSAT, dealing with my score, writing my personal statement and, most importantly, choosing the school that best fit me. Words do not do justice to the high regard that I hold for Ava.�

In addition to her published scholarly work, Preacher was a frequent contributor to and coordinator of national and regional pre-law advisers events, a 91³Ô¹Ï Academic Council member, Faculty Senate member, Gender Studies Executive Committee member and Truman Scholarship interview committee member.Ìý

“Ava had tremendous influence on the advising of undergraduates in the college. She possessed a wealth of knowledge about the college, which was greatly appreciated by everyone who worked with her,â€� said , a professor of Romance languages and literatures who served as associate dean for undergraduate studies from 2010 to 2017. “She was a warm and intelligent adviser who cared passionately about the welfare of her students, and they, in turn, did not fail to profess their admiration and affection for her.â€�Ìý

Preacher is survived by her wife, Coleen Hoover; daughters Nell (Max Tolomei) and Ava Collins; stepsons Nathan (Laura) and Dane Hoover; grandson Dashiell Collins; step-grandchildren Lydia, Steven and Samantha Hoover; siblings Mary Ann Beck (David) and Robert Preacher (Joy); and numerous nephews.

At her request, there will be no funeral or memorial service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Planned Parenthood, the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Heart to Heart Hospice. To send private condolences to the family, visit mcgannhay.com.

“Ava was such a generous, kind person who always had time for anyone – students or colleagues – in need of comfort, understanding and direction,� said , an associate professor emeritus of English and Africana studies who was associate dean for undergraduate studies from 2005 to 2010. “I know I am a better person having known her.�

Originally published by Josh Weinhold at on July 20.

Philpott, the section’s awards committee noted, is a key figure in the first generation of scholars to incorporate religion into the study of international relations. His research focuses on the relationship between religion and democracy, ethics, peace-building, reconciliationÌýand religious freedom.

A quarter-century ago, Philpott said, few political scientists were studying religion and global politics — a theory of secularization was dominant, arguing that religion was exiting the stage of history. The 9/11 terrorist attacks changed all of that, he said, and brought religion back to the forefront of the study of world affairs.

“My research, however, has not focused on religion’s capacity for violence, though I have looked at that. Rather, I study religion’s capacity for peace and justice, particularly in the areas of peacebuilding, reconciliation, religious freedomÌýand democratization,â€� Philpott said. “There is much evidence that religious leaders and communities have made a big difference in all of these ways over the years.â€�

Beyond research, Philpott has pursued service work and activism around the globe, including working with religious leaders in Kashmir and Central Africa on peace and reconciliation, and he conducted a major study of forgiveness in the wake of armed violence in Uganda.

“The selection committee has high hopes about Professor Philpott’s intellectual influence into the future, on the next generation of [international relations] and religion scholars,� the committee wrote. “The [international relations] discipline is now global, [and] interreligious dialogue on global political issues is a part of a globalizing world.�

Philpott earned his doctorate in 1996 from Harvard University, then spent five years on the faculty at the University of California, Santa BarbaraÌýbefore coming to 91³Ô¹Ï in 2001. His monographs include “Revolutions in Sovereigntyâ€� (Princeton, 2001), “God’s Century: Resurgent Religion in Global Politicsâ€� (Norton, 2011, co-authored with Monica Duffy Toft and Timothy Samuel Shah), “Just and Unjust Peace: An Ethic of Political Reconciliationâ€� (Oxford, 2012) and “Religious Freedom in Islam: The Fate of a Universal Human Right in the Muslim Worldâ€� (Oxford, 2019).Ìý

Philpott was honored by the ISA section at its annual conference earlier this month, which included a panel discussion on Philpott’s work and influence by eight other scholars from the field.Ìý

“Receiving an award such as this makes me reflect on all those on whom my studies have depended so thoroughly — parents, family, friends, teachers, students, colleagues, and indeed the grace of God,â€� Philpott said. “I am immensely grateful to have worked at 91³Ô¹Ï over the past two decades, an ideal setting in which to study religion and global politics.â€�

Originally published by Josh Weinhold at on April 21.

A sociologist whose research centered on the dynamics of international migration, Bustamante’s work advanced public and academic discourse regarding circumstances at the U.S.-Mexico border. His devotion to advocating for human and labor rights for immigrants worldwide led to his native Mexico nominating him for the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

Bustamante wrote more than 200 scientific publications on issues of international migration between Mexico and the United States and on the Mexican population living in the U.S. His research was published in sociology magazines and journals in the United States, Germany, France, Switzerland, Japan, Venezuela, Argentina, SpainÌýand Mexico. He was quoted as a leading expert in the field of international migration by most major U.S. newspapers and made TV appearances on “Nightline,â€� “60 Minutesâ€�Ìýand the “MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.â€�Ìý

“Professor Bustamante’s scholarship was informed by the experiences of the vulnerable and pointed to ways of making society more welcoming, inclusiveÌýand generative,â€� said , 91³Ô¹Ï’s assistant provost for internationalization, a Kellogg faculty fellowÌýand an associate professor of political science. “At the heart of his work was the recognition of the inherent dignity of each and every human being regardless of ethnicity, race, religionÌýor immigration status. He had a caring heart and a commanding intellect that together made him a powerful force for good.â€�Ìý

After receiving his law degree from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México in 1959, Bustamante came to 91³Ô¹Ï to study sociology and anthropology, earning his doctorate in 1975. He joined the 91³Ô¹Ï faculty in 1986 and was a faculty fellow at the and served as associate director of the .

“For more than 40 years, Jorge Bustamante was the major scholar and public intellectual helping us understand migration from Mexico to the U.S. and migration around the world,â€� said , ILS director and the Joseph and Elizabeth Robbie Professor of Political Science. “He was an active presence at the Institute for Latino Studies. Students loved his seminars. He lived his values of justice, human dignityÌýand human rights. I will dearly miss my friend and colleague.â€�Ìý

Over the course of , Bustamante received the American Sociological Association’s Cox-Johnson-Frazier Award, one of the two highest honors granted to a sociologist in the U.S., and the National Jurisprudence Award, presented by the Mexican Bar Association to honor his work for the human rights of migrants. He was honored twice by presidents of Mexico — in 1988, his research on international migration earned the Premio Nacional de Ciencias, the highest national award the Mexican government grants to scientists,Ìýand in 1994, he received the National Demography Award.

In 1997, Bustamante was appointed to a new, five-member United Nations committee to study the relationship between international migration and human rights worldwide, and he was subsequently elected the committee’s president. In 2001, he was named to the advisory group on immigration and population policy by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also served as the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur for the Human Rights of Migrants from 2005 to 2011.

Bustamante was also a professor emeritus of El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, a research and degree-granting institute in Tijuana, Mexico, which he founded in 1982.

, a 91³Ô¹Ï professor emeritus of sociology, recalled Bustamante sharing his commitment to create that border research center in 1971, when they shared an office in the library while working for sociologist Julian Samora.

“Jorge’s contribution to migration and border studies has made a tremendous impact in the entire field of study since that time,� Cardenas said. “It has been an incredible experience for me to have collaborated with Jorge on a wide range of border projects, including sponsorship of arts and cultural programs in Mexico and throughout the United States. Jorge’s leadership throughout the years enabled the development of opportunities for transnational connections between organizations and government institutions in Mexico with the Mexican origin population in the United States, the likes of which were among the first of many that worked to close the gap across borders.�

Originally published by Josh Weinhold at on April 13.

The honor comes in recognition of McSweeney’s double poetry collection “� (Nightboat Books, 2020) — the first part written in the years leading up to the birth of her third daughter, Arachne; and the second part written in the spring following Arachne’s brief life and death.

“This double-book is like a double-self-portrait of my mind at its most exuberant and most dismayed, most centrifugal and most collapsed,� McSweeney said. “It reflects everything I've ever learned — though ‘everything I ever learned’ didn't help me when I needed it. It makes an engine from opposites, like all true poetry, and like the universe itself.�

Established in 1992 and based at Claremont Graduate University, the Kingsley Tufts Award both honors poets and aims to provide resources that allow them to continue working toward the pinnacle of their craft. Other finalists this year are Mei-mei Berssenbrugge, T’ai Freedom Ford, John MurilloÌýand Tommy Pico.

“Toxicon� engages with Plato’s notion that writing must be distrusted because it is a poison and a cure. Containing McSweeney’s most formally ambitious poems, she said she wrote “works of such lyric intensity that they would feel almost like toxins, and to formally hone them like poison arrows.�

In the wake of her daughter’s death from an unexpected birth defect, McSweeney reflected on her poems’ thematic concerns with plagues, contaminants, mutationsÌýand unintended effects. She wrote the poems of “Arachneâ€� over the span of a few weeks, as she took walks along the St Joseph River in South Bend, filled with anger and grief.

“Springtime returned to South Bend, but Arachne did not return with it,� McSweeney said. “It seemed that ‘Toxicon’ prophesized Arachne, but it's also true that Arachne rewrites ‘Toxicon’ by rendering it a work of prophecy. That's ultimately why the publisher and I decided to publish the two books together — because they co-author or almost co-gestate each other, bring each other to (dark) light.�

The author of six books of poetry and prose, many of which also contain plays, McSweeney for Innovative Women Playwrights for her 2013 playÌý“Dead Youth, or, the Leaks.â€� With Johannes Göransson, she founded and edits Action Books, an international press for poetry and translation focused on modern and contemporary works from Latin America, Asia, the United StatesÌýand Europe.

“The Kingsley Tufts prize is a major award that is designed to recognize and support a poet who is no longer at the outset of her career and yet still has many years of writing ahead,� said , chair of the Department of English. “This makes the Kingsley Tufts prize truly distinctive, and the English department is very proud that Joyelle McSweeney is a finalist for this award.�

Originally published by Josh Weinhold at on April 1.