°Õ³ó±šĢż is a preeminent prize within the field of European studies. It is awarded each year to the book that best transcends a focus on any one country, state or people, stimulating new ways of thinking about contemporary Europe as a whole. This yearā€™s award cycle considered books in the humanities published in 2024 and 2025. A of finalists was previously announced in November 2025.

2026 Laura Shannon Prize final jury statement

Each year, the prize recipient is selected by a jury of accomplished scholars. The 2026 jury included , professor and chair of the Department of the History of English and Translation Studies at John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin;Ā , the John Stewart Bryan Professor at the University of Virginia; , professor of Spanish at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ;Ā , professor of German studies at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ; andĀ , the George Steiner Professor of Comparative Literature at the Queen Mary University of London.

In its statement, the final jury commended Calderwood for setting a ā€œnew standard for interpreting the ongoing relevance of our foundational political and cultural histories.ā€Ā 

The jury also lauded Calderwood for his eloquent historiographical achievement for a range of fields, as well as the bookā€™s ability to remain strikingly relevant to our current historical crossroads.

ā€œIt represents the very best of the critical perspectives from the peripheries of Europe: a story emerging from the Western edge of Europe, traveling around the Mediterranean, only to rearticulate its cultural and political challenges in the space-in-between Europe and its essentially migrant history,ā€ they wrote.

ā€œIn this, it amply offers, in the words of the Shannon Prize, ā€˜new ways of thinking about contemporary Europe as a whole,ā€™ decentering the continent as the provenance of any single cultural, aesthetic or religious tradition. ā€¦ At a moment when powerful voices are agitating in favor of univocal, hierarchical and ultimately fictional ā€˜shared traditionsā€™ of Europe, Calderwood provides a response of literal and material shared histories whose contemporary expressions demonstrate multiplicity and defy any neat historical or geographical unities,ā€ the jury stated.

The jury concluded by saying that the book is ā€œEuropean studies at its best in that it aligns effortlessly and traces in admirable depth cultural, political and religious histories, while at the same time examining their relevance for a wider Europe.ā€

Prize lecture to be held next academic year

The prize will be officially conferred during a public lecture and award ceremony, which will be scheduled during the 2026-27 academic year. The Nanovic Institute will share this date when it has been finalized.

The Laura Shannon Prize has a 17-year history of recognizing high-quality scholarship in European studies. It was made possible by a generous endowment from Laura Shannon (1939-2021) and her husband, Michael, a member of the 91³Ō¹Ļ class of ā€™58. Laura Shannon joined the Nanovic Instituteā€™s advisory board in 2003 and faithfully served for many years. Her professional career involved work in social services and family court mediation, and she was a frequent visitor to Europe, where she developed her French language skills. Her daughters, Claire Shannon Kelly and Katie Shannon, continue their parentsā€™ legacy as current members of the instituteā€™s advisory board.

In recent years, the prize has become a critical way to promote ongoing academic partnerships between the institute and leading scholars in European studies. A few key examples include:

• 2019 and 2020 recipients and joined the instituteā€™s graduate workshop in Ireland on academic storytelling in August 2022.

• 2021 recipient keynoted the instituteā€™s in March 2023 and returned to a seminar on storytelling from the margins in August 2025.

• 2022 recipient co-led a working group with the Nanovic Institute beginning in 2025.

• 2023 recipient served as a Nanovic Institute research affiliate and external reviewer.

• 2024 recipient returned to 91³Ō¹Ļ for its in March 2025 and as a visiting professor in the 2025-26 academic year.

are currently open through March 31 for the 2027 Laura Shannon Prize, focused on books within history and the social sciences published in 2024 or 2025. Authors and publishers may submit nominations.

The Nanovic Institute for European Studies is part of the University of 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s Keough School of Global Affairs. The Laura Shannon Prize is one way it contributes to the intellectual, cultural and research aims of the school, bringing renowned scholars from around the globe to campus and integrating them into coursework, public events and research projects. It forms a critical bridge between 91³Ō¹Ļ and Europe, enriching the reach of this global University.

For more information about the Nanovic Institute and the Laura Shannon Prize (including ), visit .

Originally published by Keith Sayer at on March 4.

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

Founded in 2024, the coalition aims to ā€œunite the efforts of universities and research institutions from around the world to better understand Ukraine and develop Ukrainian studies.ā€

Olena Zelenska, Ukraineā€™s first lady and founder of the coalition, described the 20-member organization as ā€œa real, living network. It is a space of trust and dialogue.ā€ During her remarks at the event, Zelenska went on to say, ā€œWe are creating opportunities for the study of Ukraine worldwide in all its dimensions ā€” not only history and culture, but also digital innovation, resilience and the experience of a society defending its freedom.ā€

, professor of social ethics at the and director of the Keough Schoolā€™s , and , professor of Ukrainian studies at the University of Cambridge and visiting professor at 91³Ō¹Ļ for the 2025-26 academic year, attended the formal meeting and accompanying panel event. As part of the panel, Finnin served as a featured speaker, discussing the importance and urgency of establishing Ukrainian studies programs and underscoring the many ways universities (and the world) can learn from Ukraine. , vice president and associate provost for internationalization, served as the signatory from 91³Ō¹Ļ.

The partnership will involve the promotion and exchange of experience, resources and ideas to strengthen the academic environment surrounding Ukrainian studies across the University. It will promote cooperation to deepen mutual understanding and promote Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar studies.

A critical component of these efforts will be the initiative, inaugurated by the Nanovic Institute in March at a global conference titled ā€œ.ā€ Full details and reflections on this conference are available in the instituteā€™s .

Speaking on behalf of the Nanovic Institute, Sedmak said, ā€œWe are particularly excited to see the further collaboration that will be generated by becoming part of the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, which is a key part of our mission to support and enhance the level of scholarship about Ukraine ā€” learning with and from our Ukrainian partners ā€” across campus and around the world.ā€

Another important initiative is the ongoing joint research cooperation between 91³Ō¹Ļ and Ukrainian Catholic University, supported by grant programs through both the Nanovic Institute and .

Pippenger said, ā€œ91³Ō¹Ļ is honored to join the Global Coalition of Ukrainian Studies, standing alongside colleagues from around the world in a shared commitment to advancing scholarship that deepens our understanding of Ukraine. This partnership reflects our commitment to be a force for good by strengthening dialogue, resilience and global solidarity.ā€

More information and photos of the signing in New York can be found in the .

Originally published by Keith Sayer at on Oct. 1.

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

Elizabeth Nanovic, a founding benefactor and advisory board member of the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, part of the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ, passed away on March 30. She was 90.

Elizabeth, along with her husband, Robert Nanovic, founded the institute as the Nanovic Center for European Studies in 1992 under its first director, J. Robert Wegs.

She grew up in Long Island, New York, was a graduate ofĀ Hofstra University, and had a successful career for many years as an editor with McGraw-Hill. She had lifelong passions for nature, the arts and culture, which inspired her later philanthropy.

Speaking about why she personally wanted to invest in the institute at 91³Ō¹Ļ, Elizabeth said, ā€œ[My daughter] had graduated, and I was so impressed with the care that they took of her coming in as a freshman; she was my first to leave home.ā€ She concluded, ā€œI was just impressed with the way they took care of the kids and so I became a fan.ā€

For more than 30 years, she was a vibrant part of the institute's life, attending an array of Nanovic Institute events, taking a pivotal role in the advisory board and being a source of inspiration and wisdom for the institute team. In addition to these roles, she and her husband are the namesake of Nanovic Hall, the administrative center of both the Keough School deanā€™s office and the Nanovic Institute. This building offers classroom and office space for many 91³Ō¹Ļ units. She is individually commemorated in this building with the Elizabeth E. Nanovic Seminar Room, Room 1050.

ā€œElizabeth and her husband, Bob, have been invaluable supporters of the Nanovic Institute, the Keough School and the broader 91³Ō¹Ļ community for decades,ā€ said Mary Gallagher, the Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs. ā€œTheir unwavering generosity and dedication have made a lasting impact. We, alongside the countless 91³Ō¹Ļ students whose lives have been enriched by their support, are forever grateful for their steadfast commitment. Liz will be deeply missed.ā€

Elizabeth is fondly remembered among many of the institute staff and faculty fellows, as well as her three children and seven grandchildren.

Family and friends will gather on Sunday (April 6), and a funeral service is scheduled for Monday (April 7) at 11 a.m. at St. Pius X Church in Portland, Maine. To express condolences, please visit

An official obituary may be read in the .

Originally published by Keith Sayer at on April 3.

Before being named ambassador to the European Union, Gitenstein served as partner and counsel for Mayer Brown LLP for more than 30 years. He also held previous government roles, including serving as U.S. ambassador to Romania (2009-12) and working with the U.S. Senate Judiciary and Intelligence committees.

He will serve as the second Nanovic Forum Diplomat in Residence, following Catherine Arnold OBE, master of St. Edmundā€™s College at the University of Cambridge, and former British ambassador to Mongolia. This residency allows students to interact on a much deeper level with experts in diplomacy and enriches the course content.

Sedmak said, ā€œWe were so impressed by how much our students learned from classroom and one-to-one conversations with Ambassador Arnold last year that we could not wait to welcome our next Nanovic Forum Diplomat in Residence.ā€

He added that ā€œAmbassador Gitensteinā€™s perspective and ability to bring in additional guest speakers in the field today will give students a very comprehensive picture of the international diplomatic landscape, especially with regard to Europe. These lessons are more timely than ever for our diplomacy students and the campus community at large, who will have a chance to hear from the ambassador at his public lecture.ā€

This public lecture will be co-sponsored through both the Nanovic Forum and the 91³Ō¹Ļ Democracy Initiativeā€™s series.

All 91³Ō¹Ļ students, faculty and staff, as well as the general public, are invited to this event. Participants will be offered lunch before the event, beginning at 12 p.m. and while supplies last. The event will be recorded and published afterward on the , as well as archived on its where previous Nanovic Forum addresses may also be found.

Generously established by Robert and Elizabeth Nanovic, the Nanovic Forumā€™s mission is to bring Europeā€™s leaders from many fields to 91³Ō¹Ļ to explore, discuss and debate the most pressing questions about Europe today.

Past Nanovic Forum visitors have included, among many others, , former president of Georgia; , former president of Croatia; and , Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Polish-American journalist.

Originally published by Keith Sayer at on March 24.

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

The , part of the at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ, will host a March 6 (Thursday) through March 8 (Saturday). This international and interdisciplinary conference, titled is presented in collaboration with the and is dedicated to the ethics and politics of hope in contemporary Ukraine.

The keynote event for the conference will welcome , president of Ukrainian Catholic University and Metropolitan-Archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, who spoke at 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s 2022 Commencement. He will return to the University to present along with Rory Finnin, professor of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Cambridge and recipient of the 2024 Laura Shannon Prize in Contemporary European Studies. This event, which will take place on March 6 at 5 p.m. in McKenna Hall 215, is part of the 2024-25 91³Ō¹Ļ Forum focused on the theme

will offer opening remarks followed by an opening program featuring distinguished guests: Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Ukraine Mission to the U.S.; Bishop Kevin Rhoades, bishop of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese; Taras Dobko, rector of Ukrainian Catholic University; and Mary Gallagher, the Marilyn Keough Dean of the .

Rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition of integral human development ā€” a core commitment of the Keough School ā€” the event will examine how hope serves as a powerful counterforce to what has been described as ā€œintegral human destruction,ā€ including war, misinformation and the erosion of trust.

, director of the Nanovic Institute and professor of social ethics at the Keough School, said this conference captures a pivotal moment for Ukraine and the study of Ukraine globally. He noted that both the conference and keynote will take place just weeks after the three-year anniversary of Russiaā€™s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. ā€œIn that context, Ukraine needs our best scholarship, thought and solidarity,ā€ he said.

Ukraine is relevant for a global audience, Sedmak added. ā€œWe also need to learn from Ukraine, a unique country that can teach us a lot about humanity as a whole.ā€

This public event welcomes all members of the 91³Ō¹Ļ community and the general public to discuss the institute's ongoing work with Ukraine through its Ukrainian Studies Hub. This interdisciplinary initiative coordinates Ukraine-related scholarship and research across all 91³Ō¹Ļ colleges and schools.

ā€œThe Nanovic Institute is committed to participating in this vital work,ā€ Sedmak concluded. ā€œWe look forward to hosting this conference and growing the life of the Ukrainian Studies Hub at 91³Ō¹Ļ, its research, scholarship and our partnerships in Ukraine, particularly with UCU.ā€

In addition to this keynote event, the conference will host several cultural events (an art exhibition, a poetry and music event, and a screening of the award-winning documentary film ), as well as public keynote sessions. to attend panel discussions is free and open to all and closes on Friday, Feb. 28, at 3 p.m.

The conference is supported and co-sponsored by the , the , the , the , , the , the and .

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

Rev. Msgr. Anthony Onyemuche Ekpo, undersecretary of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, will deliver the on Monday (Feb. 10) at 5 p.m. at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ. Msgr. Ekpo will speak in 1050 Jenkins Nanovic Halls and University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., will introduce him. All students, faculty, staff and the general public are invited to attend.

The , part of 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s , will host this lecture and facilitate his visit with students, faculty and administrators. Msgr. Ekpoā€™s message is titled ā€œThe Reform of the Roman Curia and the Promotion of Integral Human Development.ā€

, founded by Pope Francis in 2016, frames its mission as ā€œserving the Church in the world, for the development of each person and the whole person.ā€ These concepts of ā€œeach personā€ and ā€œthe whole personā€ lie at the heart of the Keough Schoolā€™s commitment to integral human development. Because of this synergy, the address is expected to produce a fruitful dialogue about how the Keough School and the University as a whole may engage with this critical component of Catholic Social Teaching.

ā€œMsgr. Ekpo not only has a unique perspective to connect the 91³Ō¹Ļ community with the Vatican, but even more excitingly, he directly engages with integral human development, something we all focus on at the Keough School,ā€ said , director of the Nanovic Institute and professor of social ethics at the Keough School. ā€œWe look forward to engaging with him to learn how we can more fully integrate this core value into our work and what the Holy See is doing directly through the Dicastery.ā€

Msgr. Ekpo will participate in class discussions and meetings throughout his campus visit. The public lecture will be free and open to all. but not livestreamed. Everyone is invited to join a small reception after the presentation in the forum of Jenkins Nanovic Halls.

Msgr. Ekpoā€™s visit marks the 20th anniversary of the Nanovic Instituteā€™s series, which aims to connect Church leaders with the 91³Ō¹Ļ community. Established in 2005 through the generous support of 91³Ō¹Ļ alumnus Terrence R. Keeley, class of ā€™81, the Keeley Vatican Lecture series brings lecturers to campus for several days, allowing them time to join classes, celebrate Mass with students and converse with faculty members.

The mission of the Keough Schoolā€™s Nanovic Institute for European Studies is to strengthen 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s presence in Europe, deepen the understanding of Europe within the 91³Ō¹Ļ community, and contribute to academic discourse and research on European studies. The institute seeks to enrich 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s intellectual culture by creating an integrated, interdisciplinary home for students, faculty and visiting scholars to explore the evolving ideas, cultures, traditions, beliefs, moral challenges and institutions that shape Europe.

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

The , part of the at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ, has awarded the 2025 Laura Shannon Prize in Contemporary European Studies to , associate professor of history at Swarthmore College, for her book published by Harvard University Press.

One of the preeminent prizes for European studies, the is awarded each year to the best book that transcends a focus on any one country, state or people to stimulate new ways of thinking about contemporary Europe as a whole. This yearā€™s award cycle considered books in history and the social sciences published in 2022 and 2023.

In its statement, the final jury recognized Brownā€™s book as a groundbreaking exploration of the role of Algeria in the European Economic Community.

ā€œā€˜The Seventh Member Stateā€™ is an exciting and original book presenting a careful case study of the complex relationship between European integration, imperial ambitions and decolonization in the post-World War II era," they stated.

The jury also lauded Brown for her focus on Algeriaā€™s role as a temporary member of the European Economic Community due to its status as a French colony until it reached independence in 1962. The book's narrative spans from the French insistence on including Algeria in the Treaty of Rome in 1957 ā€” which aimed to mitigate anti-colonial sentiments during the Algerian Revolution ā€” to the Cooperation Agreement of 1976, which formalized Algeriaā€™s exclusion from the European Community.

ā€œBrown analyzes the political and socioeconomic implications, legal issues and moral challenges that the emerging European Community faced while being confronted with Europeā€™s colonial past," the jury wrote. "She explores the delicacies of negotiating future relations with nations that had suffered centuries of oppression and exploitation, aiming for equality and mutual respect. Brown skillfully avoids oversimplification and refrains from any black-and-white painting. Her narrative captures the competition among European nations for resources and leadership, as well as the ambiguous attitudes toward race and religion that effectively excluded Muslim Algerians from European integration.

ā€œā€˜The Seventh Member Stateā€™ is an exemplary multifaceted case study of Europeā€™s decolonization problems because it shows how the ideas of empire and colony, of metropole and periphery, of Eurafrica were all crucial for the birth of the European Union as we know it today.ā€

Brown will give a public talk and accept the prize at 91³Ō¹Ļ during the 2025-26 academic year. The date will be announced in a future communication.

The 2025 prize jury included an accomplished group of scholars from history and the social sciences: , the Stepan Family College Professor of Economics at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ; , the Heiden Family College Professor of History at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ; , professor and chair of Russian and East European studies at the University of Pennsylvania; , the C. Grove Haines Professor of History and International Studies at Johns Hopkins University; and , the Gladstone Professor of Government and a fellow of All Souls College at the University of Oxford.

Now in its 16th year, the Laura Shannon Prize is made possible through a generous endowment from Laura Shannon (1939-2021) and her husband, Michael, 91³Ō¹Ļ class of ā€™58. Laura Shannon joined the Nanovic Instituteā€™s advisory board in 2003 and served for many years. As well as her work in social services and family court mediation, she was a regular visitor to Europe, particularly to France where she honed her language skills and explored libraries and cultural centers. Claire Shannon Kelly and Katie Shannon carry on their parentsā€™ legacy as members of the instituteā€™s advisory board.

The 2026 Laura Shannon Prize is now. Books in the humanities published in 2023 or 2024 are eligible, and nominations are due Feb. 28.

The Nanovic Institute seeks to enrich 91³Ō¹Ļ's intellectual culture by creating an integrated, interdisciplinary home for students, faculty and visiting scholars to explore the evolving ideas, cultures, traditions, beliefs, moral challenges and institutions that shape Europe. The Laura Shannon Prize contributes to this mission by connecting the most groundbreaking scholarship in European studies to the 91³Ō¹Ļ community.

For additional information about the Nanovic Institute and the Laura Shannon Prize, visit .

Originally published by Keith Sayer at on Jan. 22.

Since 2020, McGuinness has served as the European commissioner for financial stability, financial services and the Capital Markets Union. Before her appointment to this post, she was elected to several terms in the European Parliament from 2004 to 2020, also serving as its first vice president from 2017 to 2020. She has the distinction of being Irelandā€™s longest-serving member of the European Parliament.

From this unique vantage point, McGuinness will explore the challenges and opportunities in the evolving relationship between the EU and the United States. She will also discuss how Ireland can position itself to further this critical partnership.

Clemens Sedmak, director of the Nanovic Institute and professor of social ethics at the , said, ā€œCommissioner McGuinness, owing to her role and experience, stands at the nexus of economic policy and the EUā€™s global relationships, much like Ireland itself.ā€

He also noted that ā€œfor us, as a European studies institute, what the future holds for Europe is at the forefront of our mindsā€ and points to how McGuinnessā€™ insights can add to the instituteā€™s understanding of the ā€œeconomic, social and political factors that are influencing this future, as well as the possible role of the United States in it.ā€

This timely lecture will address several central issues and questions in Europe and globally, including the EUā€™s strategic autonomy;Ā the impact of populism, militarism and Putin on the Western world;Ā regulatory convergence on issues such as climate change, sustainability and AI;Ā the interplay between economic advancement and green initiatives; andĀ the role of the Republic of Ireland in bridging European and American interests.

In addition, McGuinness will examine the productive role that the EU and U.S. could play in creating a shared future for Northern Irelandā€™s divided communities. These foci will add insights to several of the Nanovic Instituteā€™s research priorities, includingĀ  and .

The Nanovic Institute and are jointly organizing this event, which is being hosted in Iveagh House by the Department of Foreign Affairs with partnering organization . Since its formation in 1954, EM Ireland has sought to ā€œdevelop the connection between Ireland and Europe, and to achieve greater public understanding of and engagement with the European Union and with [its] European partners.ā€

Noelle O Connell, CEO of EM Ireland, said, ā€œAs both EU and U.S. citizens head to the polls this year in an increasingly uncertain world, it is important to reflect on the key challenges and opportunities for the EU-U.S. relationship into the future. As an EU member state, Ireland has a pivotal role to play in this relationship given its history and strong ties with the United States of America. We at European Movement Ireland are delighted to be involved in this timely lecture with Commissioner McGuinness.ā€

The was established through the generous support of R. Stephen and Ruth Barrett and aims to bring prominent leaders in the fields of business, politics and the arts to 91³Ō¹Ļ Dublin and to share their views on significant issues related to contemporary Europe with 91³Ō¹Ļ students, faculty and staff, as well as the wider community.

Previous speakers in this series include (2022), Lord Patten of Barnes and Chancellor of the University of Oxford;Ā  (2018), former secretary-general of the European Commission; andĀ  (2015), then special representative of the secretary-general of the United Nations for migration and president of the International Catholic Migration Commission.

Originally published by Keith Sayer at on April 23.

Catherine Arnold, master of St. Edmundā€™s College at the University of Cambridge, joined the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ between March 18 and April 5 as the Nanovic Forum Diplomat in Residence at the . While she devoted most of her stay in residence to class visits, meetings and similar private events, she will also offer a at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday (April 3) in 1050 Jenkins Nanovic Halls. Combining her unique perspective as a leader in higher education and diplomacy, Arnold will demonstrate how diplomatic thinking can help educate thinkers and leaders for the future.

Before being named head of St. Edmundā€™s College, Arnold served with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in the United Kingdom with posts in Oman, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan. In 2015, she was appointed the British ambassador to Mongolia where she served until 2018. Following her ambassadorship, she led units within the FCO, including the Illegal Wildlife Trade Unit, and helped the U.K. secure its bid to chair the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Because of her extensive diplomatic experience, the Nanovic Institute invited her to teach and advise its Diplomacy Scholars students during her stay. Clemens Sedmak, instructor of this course, director of the Nanovic Institute and professor of social ethics at theĀ  said, ā€œAmbassador Catherine Arnold has not only the experience of a world-class diplomat but the heart of an educator, researcher and journalist, making her an excellent choice for both our Diplomacy Scholars program and as a speaker for the Nanovic Forum, which focuses on bringing leaders from Europe to 91³Ō¹Ļ to engage with our students, faculty and community.ā€

Sedmak added that Arnold knows 91³Ō¹Ļ well, as the partnership between St. Edmundā€™s College and 91³Ō¹Ļ is important for the entire University. ā€œWe are pleased to deepen this connection,ā€ he said. ā€œAmbassador Arnoldā€™s visit will be a boon to students within the Keough School and across campus who are interested in global affairs, diplomacy and foreign policy.ā€

The lecture, ³Ł¾±³Ł±ō±š»åĢż is open to all 91³Ō¹Ļ students, faculty and staff, as well as the general public. Participants will be offered lunch before the event, beginning at noon and while supplies last. The event will be recorded and published afterward on the Nanovic Instituteā€™s YouTube channel, as well as archived on its website.

Generously established by Robert and Elizabeth Nanovic, the Nanovic Forumā€™s mission is to bring Europeā€™s leaders from many fields to 91³Ō¹Ļ to explore, discuss and debate the most pressing questions about Europe today.Ā Past Nanovic Forum visitors have included, among many others,Ā , prime minister of Slovakia (1998-2006);Ā , former president of Georgia;Ā , former president of Croatia; andĀ , Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Polish American journalist.

Previous Nanovic Forum addresses may be watched on the or .

Originally published by Keith Sayer at on March 28.

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

The $10,000 , one of the preeminent prizes for European studies, is awarded each year to the best book that transcends a focus on any one country, state or people to stimulate new ways of thinking about contemporary Europe as a whole. This yearā€™s cycle of the award considered books in the humanities published in 2021 and 2022.

In its statement, the final jury praised Finninā€™s work as a major contribution toward understanding the history and mechanisms of imperialism and resistance in the Black Sea region.

ā€œRory Finninā€™s extraordinary study forges breakthrough integrations between Slavic and Middle Eastern studies to open up and adroitly explore a largely understudied ā€˜contact zoneā€™ of imperial politics central to the ongoing reshaping of European conflict today: Stalinā€™s 1944 forced deportation of Crimean Tatars, a small Sunni Muslim nation, from its ancestral homeland,ā€ they stated.Ā 

ā€œApproaching Black Sea imperial politics in ways that draw upon and extend more familiar studies of cultural strife throughout the Mediterranean Rim, Finninā€™s deeply researched and eloquently written study tracks the historical record of Black Sea contact zone experience among Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and Crimean Tatar cultures from the eighteenth century up to the 1944 atrocity ā€” which cost the lives of great numbers of Crimean Tatars, mostly women, children and the elderly ā€” and its aftermath in more recent revisions of Soviet history.ā€

The jury lauded Finninā€™s impressive range of linguistic skills that enable him to examine the subtleties of original poetry and prose writings from each of these cultures that ā€œresist the tyrannies of imperial domination and inspire sympathy and understanding for ethnic ā€˜Others.ā€™ā€Ā 

The jury also noted that Finnin ā€œdemonstrates the catalytic power of a ā€˜poetics of solidarityā€™ to enact social reform and justice. ā€˜Reading,ā€™ as Finnin concisely puts it, ā€˜stops bleeding.ā€™ā€

ā€œThe relevance of this book for the current war in Ukraine, as well as ethnic conflict zones throughout Slavic Europe and the Middle East, makes it essential reading for anyone engaged with the history, past and present, of resistance to imperial domination within and throughout the borders of Europe,ā€ the jury stated.

The final jury also awarded a Laura Shannon Prize Silver Medal, which carries a monetary prize, to , the B. E. Bensinger Professor of Comparative Literature and Slavic Languages and Literatures at Yale University, for her work ā€œEurasia without Borders: The Dream of a Leftist Literary Commons,ā€ published byĀ Harvard University Press.

The jury also awarded an honorable mention to , assistant professor of Italian at the Fashion Institute of Technology-SUNY, for her book, ā€œThe Best Weapon for Peace: Maria Montessori, Education, and Childrenā€™s Rights,ā€ published by University of Wisconsin Press.Ā 

The 2024 prize jury was composed of an accomplished group of scholars from the humanities at both American and European universities: Eliot Borenstein, professor of Russian and Slavic studies at New York University; Nicola Gess, professor of German literature at the University of Basel; Gregory Kucich, professor of English at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ; Heather Hyde Minor, professor of art history at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ; and Susan Stewart, the Avalon Foundation University Professor in the Humanities, Emerita, at Princeton University.

Now in its 15th year, the Laura Shannon Prize is made possible through a generous endowment from Laura Shannon (1939-2021) and her husband, Michael, class of ā€™58. Laura Shannon became a member of the Nanovic Instituteā€™s advisory board in 2003, where she served skillfully for many years. As well as her work in social services and family court mediation, she was a regular visitor to Europe, particularly to France where she honed her language skills and explored libraries and cultural centers. Claire Shannon Kelly and Katie Shannon carry on their parentsā€™ legacy as members of the instituteā€™s advisory board.

The Laura Shannon Prize is now for its 2025 prize in history and social sciences. Books published in 2022 or 2023 are eligible, and nominations are due March 1.

The Nanovic Institute, as part of the , seeks to enrich the intellectual culture of 91³Ō¹Ļ by creating an integrated, interdisciplinary home for students, faculty and visiting scholars to explore the evolving ideas, cultures, traditions, beliefs, moral challenges and institutions that shape Europe. The Laura Shannon Prize serves an integral role in this mission by connecting the most groundbreaking scholarship in European studies to the 91³Ō¹Ļ community.

For additional information about the Nanovic Institute and the Laura Shannon Prize, visit .

Originally published by Keith Sayer at on Jan. 30.

The at the University of 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s will welcome MikulĆ”Å” Dzurinda, who served as prime minister of Slovakia from 1998 until 2006, to deliver the Nanovic Forum lecture at 11 a.m. Nov. 30 (Thursday) in the Hesburgh Center Auditorium.Ā 

His address will consider the context of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, terrorist activities in Africa and other factors causing global destabilization before offering a perspective on how democratic nations can respond in a united way.

Clemens Sedmak, director of the Nanovic Institute and professor of social ethics at the Keough School, said,Ā ā€œThis Nanovic Forum topic, offered by MikulĆ”Å” Dzurinda, a leader who continues to play a key role in European political life, could not be more timely. We are clearly in a period of destabilization and, in some cases, violence, and that reality requires a response from us. We know that Mr. Dzurinda will help us continue thinking about the content of that response and how we can counter the ā€˜integral human destructionā€™ we see in Ukraine, Israel and many other places with ā€˜integral human development.ā€™ā€

Today, Dzurinda serves as president of the , a think tank based in Brussels.Ā Its mission is to ā€œoffer decision makers and opinion leaders assistance in formulating new and effective policy options. These will help the European Union become a strong global player, a reliable transatlantic ally and a better democracy promoter.ā€

In addition to Dzurindaā€™s lecture, the Nanovic Forum and the Nanovic Instituteā€™s advisory board will host a panel discussion on on the same day at 5 p.m. in Room 215, McKenna Hall.

, chair of the advisory board, and her husband, Tom Heiden, chief architect and moderator of this program, will welcome former hockey players who resisted and, in some cases, defected from Soviet bloc countries during the late Cold War era. Invited panelists include Dmitri Khristich, ā€‹VĆ”clav NedomanskĆ½, Anton Å Å„astnĆ½ and ā€‹, who is also a member of the Nanovic Instituteā€™s advisory board.

Jane Heiden said, ā€œToday, we (all of us) face the most acute threat to the post-WWII values-based, rules-based order ā€” Putinā€™s war on Ukraine and the reassertion of Russian imperialism. Today, people at 91³Ō¹Ļ, in the U.S., throughout Europe and around the world ought to learn of and reflect on what it was like to live under the heel of the boot of the Russian totalitarian bear ā€” and to recall the courage of those who resisted then.ā€

By bringing together a group of elite athletes of that era to share what it was like to resist, the organizers aim to provide insights and urgency to the need to resist imperialism in our current geopolitical climate. This opportunity will also allow those who know these players from their time in the National Hockey League the opportunity to hear from them directly, embodying what Heiden referred to as ā€œthe intersection ā€” here at 91³Ō¹Ļ ā€” of academics and athletics.ā€

Both events are free and open to the public. All 91³Ō¹Ļ faculty, students and staff are invited to attend. Dzurinda will also be visiting several classes and meeting with key stakeholders during his visit to 91³Ō¹Ļ.

The mission of the Nanovic Forum, generously established by Robert and Elizabeth Nanovic, is to bring Europeā€™s leaders from many fields to 91³Ō¹Ļ to explore, discuss and debate the most pressing questions about Europe today. Past speakers have included, among many others: , former president of Georgia; , former president of Croatia; , Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Polish American journalist; and , Professor Lord Alton of Liverpool, former British parliamentarian.

Previous Nanovic Forum addresses may be watched on the or .

Originally published by Keith Sayer at on Nov. 20.

Sister Petrini is the secretary general of the Vatican City State, appointed by Pope Francis in November 2021 as the first woman to hold this office. The , part of the at 91³Ō¹Ļ, will host this lecture and facilitate her visit to campus, which will include class visits and daily Mass.

Inspired by the cultural, social, political and economic transformations of the ā€œsocial questionā€ over the years in Catholic teaching and history, Sister Petrini will present a set of principles for exercising a style of leadership driven primarily by concern for the well-being of people. At the heart of this model is the commitment to preserving both the socio-relational and spiritual dimensions of human existence. This address will be of interest to leaders within the Church, as well as those who seek to build a leadership of care in their own lives and work.

ā€œWe are truly honored to welcome Sister Petrini to 91³Ō¹Ļ. As the second most powerful person in the Vatican and the first woman to hold the office of secretary general, we look forward to her reflections on the future of the Church,ā€ said University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. ā€œAs a leader rooted in her faith and with a deep commitment to human flourishing, Sister Petrini has much to teach us.ā€

ā€œWhen Sister Petrini accepted our invitation to speak, we were thrilled to welcome her to 91³Ō¹Ļ to share her experiences leading in the Vatican City State,ā€ said Clemens Sedmak, director of the Nanovic Institute and professor of social ethics in the Keough School. ā€œWe were even more delighted to learn that her lecture will focus on integral human development, one of the core principles of Catholic social teaching and the central focus of the Keough School. We believe that Sister Petriniā€™s visit will spark long-lasting, impactful discussions about the ways in which faith, leadership on a global scale and our efforts to be a force for good in the world intersect.ā€

This public lecture is open to anyone in the 91³Ō¹Ļ community. Members of parishes in surrounding dioceses are also invited to attend. In addition to the in-person event, Sister Petriniā€™s address will be .

Established in 2005, the Keeley Vatican Lecture series is made possible by a gracious gift from 91³Ō¹Ļ alumnus Terrence R. Keeley, class of ā€™81, and intends to deepen the connection between the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ and the Holy See. Previous distinguished guests included:

• , the apostolic nuncio to Great Britain and the titular archbishop of Rebellum.

• , founding president of the Institute of Anthropology: Interdisciplinary Studies on Human Dignity and Care.

• , director of the Vatican Museums.

• , secretary for relations with states of the Holy See.

The Nanovic Institute maintains a database of past lectures, including event briefs and recordings, on its .

As part of the , the seeks to enrich the intellectual culture of 91³Ō¹Ļ by creating an integrated, interdisciplinary home for students, faculty and visiting scholars to explore the evolving ideas, cultures, traditions, beliefs, moral challenges and institutions that shape Europe. It also facilitates an association of Catholic centers of higher education throughout Central and Eastern Europe known as the , which will celebrate its 20th anniversary next year.

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

Originally published by Keith Sayer at on Oct. 25.