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ND Expert: Brilliant IPO strategy by Facebook

2012-02-03T16:00:00-05:00

Facebook yesterday (Feb. 1) filed its plans to raise $ 5 billion in an initial public offering (IPO) of stock, and University of Notre Dame Finance Professor Timothy Loughran, a recognized IPO expert, calls it a “brilliant move.”

“Facebook has had numerous opportunities to go public since its founding in 2004,” Loughran says. “Delaying the offering until now has ensured that investors will pay top dollar. I think it was a brilliant move by Facebook managers to delay the offering until much of the uncertainly relating to their business model has evaporated.”

Loughran shared the following reaction to Facebook’s S-1 filing:

• “Facebook has annual revenue of only $4.39 per active user. That is a surprisingly low number. Right now they have 845 million active users. If it gets 3 billion active users (a hard to imagine number), keeping the assumption of $4.39 revenue for each user, Facebook would have revenue of only $13.17 billion. Facebook needs to find more ways to get revenue from its users.”

• “Assuming a market value of $100 billion, Facebook would trade at a price- to-sales ratio of 27. That strikes me as a bit expensive given that Facebook already has a sizeable percentage of the earth’s population as active users.”

• “Given a float of only $5 billion, I would guess that they could be a very hot IPO in terms of first-day returns. Investors demand in the IPO might be huge. $5 billion is not much to spread around to both retail and institutional investors (regardless of the offering price).”

• “The $5 billion float will create a scarcity of shares once the firm goes public, thereby raising the market value. Further, their low float should make it hard to short the shares (since relatively few shares will be public). I would imagine Facebook having a follow-on offering after the IPO. Follow-on offerings have lower gross spreads and leave less money on the table compared to IPOs. Having a follow-on offering would enable institutional players to take more meaningful positions in Facebook.”

• “Management has clearly learned the lesson of the values of diversification. They have both Democrats (Bowles) and Republicans (Ullyot) on their board of directors. Management clearly wants to keep both parties happy.”

Notre Dame’s C.R. Smith Professor of Finance, Loughran’s work has been published widely in the top journals of the field, including the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, Review of Financial Studies and Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis. His research areas include the long-run performance of new issues, payment form in corporate acquisitions, value versus growth investment strategies, and the relationship between a firm’s location and its liquidity and capital structure.

Contact: Loughran, 574-631-8432 or Loughran.9@nd.edu

Originally published by Shannon Chapla at newsinfo.nd.edu on February 02, 2012.

Notre Dame reaches No. 10 on Peace Corps’ college rankings

2012-02-02T13:00:00-05:00

For the twelfth year in a row, the University of Notre Dame has placed on the Peace Corps’ list of top universities nationwide producing Peace Corps volunteers, and its rank is steadily rising.

This year, with 35 alumni currently serving as Peace Corps volunteers, Notre Dame moves up to the No. 10 spot among medium-sized universities (with between 5,001 and 15,000 undergraduates), from last year’s No. 18 ranking with 25 volunteers in service. In 2011, Notre Dame moved up to No. 18 from the 2010 No. 23 spot. Since Peace Corps was founded in 1961, 858 Notre Dame alumni have served in Peace Corps.

“Colleges and universities prepare thousands of talented undergraduate and graduate alumni for Peace Corps service every year,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams (Dominican Republic, 1967-70). “These alumni go on to serve as Peace Corps volunteers, applying the skills and knowledge they acquired during their studies to promote world peace and friendship and improve the lives of people around the world. Every day, volunteers make countless contributions to projects in agriculture, education, the environment, health and HIV/AIDS education and prevention, small business development, and youth development.”

Michael Hebbeler, director of student leadership and senior transitions for Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns, said, “We are extremely grateful for our continued partnership with the Peace Corps. This ranking reflects the formation of our undergraduate students as they learn and develop in a classroom that extends well into the community. These experiences often deepen their desire to serve the common good for justice, and the Peace Corps provides incredible opportunities for our students to live out the mission of our university beyond graduation and across the globe.”

This past fall, in commemoration of the Peace Corps’ 50th anniversary, Peace Corps Deputy Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet visited campus to pay special tribute to Notre Dame and to University President Emeritus Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh. C.S.C., for his significant role in Peace Corps history. Father Hesburgh worked closely with President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps’ first director Sargent Shriver and associate director Harris Wofford in its development and invited the first Peace Corps volunteers to train on campus before traveling to assignments in Chile. He continued to mentor and advise these early volunteers throughout their service.

In 2010, Notre Dame introduced a new Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows graduate program in the area of nonprofit administration within the Mendoza College of Business. This unique graduate program offers Peace Corps volunteers who have completed their service the opportunity to attend Notre Dame to earn an advanced degree (master of nonprofit administration), with financial assistance and the chance to use their knowledge and skills in community internships as part of the program’s requirements.

Peace Corps recruiter Rok Teasley, who served in Moldova, will participate in the Winter Career and Internship Fair on Wednesday (Feb. 1) from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Joyce Center Field House at Notre Dame, and will host a public Peace Corps Information Session on Thursday (Feb. 2) at 7 p.m. in the Don McNeill Library, of the Center for Social Concerns. Teasley will hold office hours for walk-ins on Feb. 2 between 9 and 11 a.m., and again from 3 to 6 p.m. in the Don McNeill Library.

Teasley can be reached at the Chicago Regional Peace Corps Office at 800-424-8580, Option 1, or rteasley@peacecorps.gov.

About the Peace Corps:
Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive order on March 1, 1961, more than 200,000 Americans have served in 139 host countries. Today, 9,095 volunteers are working with local communities in 75 host countries. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age, but there is no upper age limit to serve. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment, including three months of comprehensive culture, language, program, and safety and security training. The agency’s mission is to promote world peace and friendship and a better understanding between Americans and people of other countries. Visit www.peacecorps.gov for more information.

Contact: John M. Guimond, director, communications, Center for Social Concerns John.Guimond.2@nd.edu, 574-631-3209

Originally published by John Guimond at newsinfo.nd.edu on January 31, 2012.

Woo named honorary Notre Dame alumna

2012-01-03T09:00:00-05:00

The Notre Dame Alumni Association has named Carolyn Y. Woo, the Martin J. Gillen Dean of the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, as an honorary alumna.

Woo is planning to leave the University on Jan. 1, 2012, to serve as president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

The presentation was made Dec. 16 by Dolly Duffy, executive director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Representing the association’s board of directors were Notre Dame alumni Chris Putt, the regional director for Indiana; and Dick Nussbaum, a past board president.

“Dean Woo encapsulates all of the achievements and qualities we hope our alumni aspire to once leaving Notre Dame,” Duffy said. “Her enduring faith and dedication to educating each student deserve this recognition from the alumni family.”

Woo is the 37th recipient of honorary alumni status. She assumed the deanship of Mendoza College in 1997 and the undergraduate business program has been ranked No. 1 by Bloomberg Businessweek for the second consecutive year. During her tenure, the college has also received top rankings for its MBA and Executive MBA programs.

“There are no words to describe the depth of gratitude that I feel for the experiences that I and my family have gained during our years at Notre Dame,” Woo said. “Foremost is the growth in faith and a sense that God is very real as He blesses, guides, and empowers us on our journey to serve and honor Him. Contributing to this growth are my wonderful colleagues and friends who oftentimes remind me of how very good God is, because I see Him in them and how they live their commitments and care for each other.

“For me, I move forward to follow the mission and mandate of Notre Dame: to trust in God, to share our blessings, and surrender ourselves for bringing about the kingdom of God here and now.”

As the head of CRS, Woo will lead the official international humanitarian agency of the United States’ Catholic community. Woo served on the CRS Board of Directors from 2004 until 2010 and will become the seventh chief executive of the organization since it was founded in 1943. She will succeed Ken Hackett, who is retiring after leading CRS for the past 18 years.

Woo was born and raised in Hong Kong, educated by the Maryknoll Sisters of Ossining, and immigrated to the United States to attend Purdue University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics with highest distinction and honors, a master of science in industrial administration with recognition as Krannert Scholar, and her doctoral degree.

Woo previously served as associate executive vice president for academic affairs at Purdue University. She joined Purdue as assistant professor in 1981, became full professor in 1991, and directed the Professional Master’s Programs in the Krannert School of Management from 1993 to 1995.

Originally published by Liam Farrell at newsinfo.nd.edu on December 21, 2011.

2011: The Year in Review

2012-01-03T09:00:00-05:00

The calendar year 2011 was filled with numerous moments of accomplishment, celebration and reflection at the University of Notre Dame. Here are some of the highlights.

ACADEMICS

For the second consecutive year, the Mendoza College of Business was ranked No. 1 in Bloomberg Businessweek’s 6th annual survey of “Best Undergraduate Business Schools.” The College also garnered the No. 1 spot in ethics, the No. 2 spot in sustainability and top 10 spots in nine other categories, becoming the most decorated school in the survey. The MBA program also won accolades from the Aspen Institute, ranking No. 4 in the world for ethics and social impact.

The 2011-12 Notre Dame Forum, “Reimagining School: To Nurture the Soul of a Nation,” brought to campus prominent speakers including former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. The year-long discussion of the profound and challenging questions that shape the national debate about K-12 education will continue with more events planned for the spring.

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates urged the class of 2011 to continue Notre Dame’s rich tradition and strong commitment to public service at the 166th University Commencement Cermony on May 22. Edward A. Larkin, a biological sciences major from East Lansing, Mich., delivered the valedictory address and the Laetare Medal was awarded to Sister Mary Scullion, R.S.M., and Joan McConnon, co-founders of Project H.O.M.E., an organization devoted to ending homelessness in Philadelphia.

Notre Dame continued its record success in National Endowment for the Humanities fellowships with two professors, historian Thomas F.X. Noble and theologian Eugene Ulrich, becoming the latest faculty members to receive the honor. Notre Dame has been awarded 44 NEH fellowships between 1999 and 2011—more than any other university in the country.

Ten faculty members were named fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in honor of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications. The AAAS is the world’s largest scientific society and publishes the prestigious journal Science.

RESEARCH

Construction began in October on a new nuclear accelerator in Notre Dame’s Nuclear Science Laboratory (NSL). The first accelerator the National Science Foundation has funded in nuclear physics in nearly a quarter century, the machine represents a major equipment upgrade for the University and is expected to be completed in January 2012.

Breakthrough research on Niemann-Pick Type C (NPC) was published by Notre Dame and Cornell scientists in March. NPC is an inherited cholesterol metabolism disorder that strikes one in every 150,000 children. It has been referred to by the National Institutes of Health as “childhood Alzheimer’s” because of similarities in the brains of NPC and Alzheimer’s disease patients. There currently is no treatment available in the U.S.

Notre Dame astronomer David Bennett co-authored a paper describing the discovery of a new class of planets — dark, isolated Jupiter-mass bodies floating alone in space, far from any host star. This discovery not only confirms that free-floating planets exist in space, but also indicates that they are quite common.

Some of the world’s leading scholars across a variety of relevant disciplines visited the University for a week-long Workshop on Adult and Non-embryonic Stem Cell Research, held on campus in July. Notre Dame faculty members Carter Snead and Phillip Sloan led the workshop and hosted the week’s public events, which are part of a University-wide effort to develop a center for high-level interdisciplinary work on the various dimensions of human developmental biology.

Former Notre Dame head football coach Lou Holtz is once again taking a leadership role at the University – this time in an arena outside of athletics. He and his wife, Beth, are serving as Notre Dame’s first ambassadors for research by taking a prominent role in increasing awareness of the University’s mission to pursue research that aims to heal, unify and enlighten a world deeply in need.

COMMUNITY

The University was selected as one of 115 institutions in higher education to receive the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement. The classification, designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, recognizes “the collaboration between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.”

The Robinson Community Learning Center celebrated its tenth year of service to the Northeast Neighborhood. “The Robinson Community Learning Center has been a bright light in the community for a decade, and Notre Dame remains committed to the educational opportunities offered there,” said Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame’s president. “I’m confident the next 10 years will continue the momentum for the center’s students and their families.”

Law School faculty member Michael Jenuwine received the 2011 Rodney F. Ganey, Ph.D. Faculty Community-Based Research Award for his research into Indiana’s guardianship laws. Working closely with the Indiana Adult Guardianship State Taskforce, Jenuwine helped to design and implement investigations aimed toward the ultimate goal of improving guardianship laws for the state of Indiana.

Notre Dame was selected as a finalist by the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll as one of six institutions in higher education with an outstanding commitment to general community service. The Honor Roll is released annually by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Hundreds of institutions are listed, but Notre Dame is among only 17 to receive special recognition.

CAMPUS NEWS

The University established a scholarship fund in memory of Declan Sullivan, the Notre Dame junior who died on Oct. 27, 2010 when the aerial lift on which he was videotaping football practice fell in high winds. In conjunction with the one-year anniversary of Sullivan’s death, Father Jenkins invited members of the Notre Dame family to contribute to the scholarship fund and/or to the Declan Drumm Sullivan Memorial Fund that has been established by the Sullivan family.

In April, Notre Dame released a comprehensive report containing the findings of a nearly six-month investigation into the accident that took Sullivan’s life. The report included eight recommendations, all accepted by Father Jenkins, to improve the safe use of elevated scissor lifts and general safety on campus. In addition, the University installed a remote video system for the Notre Dame football practice fields that will eliminate the need for elevated scissor lifts in those locations, and launched a national awareness campaign aimed at improving aerial lift safety.

A dedication ceremony for Harper Hall, the new home of the Mike and Josie Harper Research Institute, a novel collaboration between Notre Dame and the Indiana University School of Medicine, was held in March. Carole Sandner Hall was dedicated in September and will house the Alliance for Catholic Education and Institute for Educational Initiatives. October saw the opening of the Compton Family Ice Arena, which is not only the new home for Notre Dame Hockey, but also serves the Notre Dame and South Bend community as a place for the Irish Youth Hockey League and local figure skating groups.

Notre Dame became the first university without the powerful gift-giving attraction of a medical school to surpass $2 billion in a traditional seven-year capital campaign. Titled the “Spirit of Notre Dame,” the campaign raised $2.014 billion in the seven-year span that ended June 30 – 134 percent of the $1.5 billion goal. The fund-raising effort also was the largest in the history of Catholic higher education, surpassing the $1.061 billion raised in the University’s “Generations” campaign that ended in December 2000.

“The Word of Life” mural on the Hesburgh Library (known to many as “Touchdown Jesus”) underwent preventive maintenance this summer and fall. The stones from the 134 feet high and 68 feet wide mural were washed with water and a light detergent and the elastic urethane adhesive in the stone seams was replaced.

For the third consecutive year, Notre Dame received honor roll distinctions as one of the top 10 higher education workplaces in the country in the Chronicle of Higher Education’s annual “Great Colleges to Work For” survey.

For the first time since 2000, the University was closed on Feb. 2 due to severe winter weather.

SUSTAINABILITY

Two new buildings on the Notre Dame campus were LEED certified by the United States Green Building Council. Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center received LEED Gold certification and Innovation Park at Notre Dame achieved LEED Silver certification.

The University received a STARS Silver Rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. STARS, the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System, is a new program that measures and encourages sustainability in all aspects of higher education.

Entrepreneur magazine ranked the Notre Dame MBA program as one of the best in the country for MBA students seeking careers in “green” industries. The program was honored for its sustainability courses focused on topics such as “greening” the supply chain and improving environmental accounting.

In December, Father Jenkins signed the St. Francis Pledge to Care for Creation and the Poor, making Notre Dame a partner in a national movement to respond to Pope Benedict’s and the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ call for faithful action on climate change.

The Hesburgh Library is shining a little more brightly these days thanks to new LED lights installed in May to illuminate the “Word of Life” mural on the south side of the building. The lights replaced the old mercury vapor fixtures that previously illuminated the 134-foot tall mural.

ADMINISTRATION

Father Jenkins received a number of honors and appointments in 2011, including being named to a national commission that will examine how to bolster teaching and research in the humanities and social sciences, and election to the board of directors of the Commission on Presidential Debates, the non-partisan, non-profit organization that has sponsored and produced all U.S. presidential and vice presidential debates since 1988.

Notre Dame vice president and chief investment officer Scott C. Malpass was named Large Endowment Manager of the Year by Institutional Investor magazine. The award recognizes U.S. institutional advisors whose “innovative strategies and fiduciary savvy resulted in impressive returns” over the past year.

Carolyn Y. Woo, Martin J. Gillen Dean of the Mendoza College of Business, announced in June she will leave the University at the start of 2012 to serve as president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services. During her tenure as dean, the college has received top rankings for its undergraduate business, MBA, EMBA and Master of Science in Accountancy programs, as well as business ethics and accountancy.

ATHLETICS

Eighteen of 22 Notre Dame athletics programs compiled graduation rates of 100 percent, and none were below 93 percent, according to the seventh year of Graduation Success Rate measurements developed by the NCAA and released in October. In addition, five Notre Dame student-athletes received Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-America honors during the 2010-11 academic year, helping the Irish stay among the leaders in the nation in honorees.

The Notre Dame women’s basketball team made it to the NCAA Divison I championship game, falling to Texas A&M in a 76-70 thriller. Head coach Muffett McGraw was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame during a gala ceremony in Knoxville, Tenn., in June.

The Notre Dame fencing team claimed its eighth NCAA National Championship in March.

Irish Hockey made its second trip to the Frozen Four in April, ending a stellar season with a 4-3 defeat against Minnesota-Duluth.

Notre Dame once again took the football weekend experience on the road, traveling to Washington D.C. for a home-away-from-home game against Maryland in FedEx Stadium. The Irish football team ended the season with a 8-4 record and earned an invitation to the Dec. 29 Champs Sports Bowl against Florida State.

The Notre Dame Band was presented with the Sudler Trophy — considered the Heisman trophy of college bands — at halftime of the Notre Dame vs. Air Force game on Oct. 8 in Notre Dame Stadium.

FAITH & SERVICE

The Notre Dame community gathered in prayer to observe the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks. A Mass of remembrance for the victims was held on Sept. 11 on the Hesburgh Library Mall.

On July 1, an historic union officially took effect when the former Eastern Province of Priests and Brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross merged into the Indiana Province to form the new United States Province of Priests and Brothers. The merger was approved at the Congregation of Holy Cross’ general chapter meeting in Rome in the summer of 2010. The Congregation of Holy Cross is Notre Dame’s founding order.

Notre Dame welcomed a number of high-ranking Church leaders to campus, including Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop emeritus of Los Angeles, who spent a month at the University to discuss the reform of the nation’s immigration policy; and Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York, who inaugurated the University’s Project on Human Dignity in November with a lecture entitled “Modern Questions, Ancient Answers: Defining and Defending Human Dignity in Our Time."

Notre Dame alumni volunteers to the Peace Corps were recognized for their service in campus events commemorating the organization’s 50th Anniversary during an October weekend. For the 11th year in a row, the University also was ranked among the nation’s top 25 medium-sized universities (those with undergraduate enrollments between 5,000 and 15,000) producing Peace Corps volunteers.

Originally published by Julie Hail Flory and Paul Murphy at newsinfo.nd.edu on December 22, 2011.

Notre Dame research attracts new business start-up to Indiana

2011-12-02T10:00:00-05:00

Pharmaceutical systems company Triskell has announced its intention to relocate its headquarters from Sarasota, Fla., to South Bend to take advantage of the research and commercialization benefits associated with the University of Notre Dame. The company will lease office and lab space in the University’s commercial accelerator, Innovation Park.

Triskell provides multi-functional solutions for the rapid and efficient development of tablet and capsule formulations. The company plans two product lines, known as the MultiProcessor and the MultiAnalyzer. The MultiProcessor will perform the process and characterization tasks associated with developing solid dosage forms.

The MultiAnalyzer includes a variety of probes that will monitor the processes in real-time, so as to provide Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) that ensure the high quality of products. The FDA is encouraging the use of PAT throughout the industry.

As envisioned, a core part of the MultiAnalyzer will be new terahertz technologies for spectroscopy and imaging being designed by Lei Liu, research assistant professor in Advanced Diagnostics & Therapeutics (AD&T) and the Department of Electrical Engineering; Scott Howard, assistant professor of electrical engineering, and collaborators at Purdue University’s Department of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and School of Chemical Engineering.

“Moving our headquarters is a big decision for a young company,” says Triskell Founder Jean LeFloch, a 1975 Notre Dame graducate. “I found this region to be the best environment for my company to establish itself and grow. In addition to the perfect suitability of Innovation Park and the availability of a crucial research program on campus, the strong synergy that exists between the Michiana business community, the University of Notre Dame, and AD&T clearly elevated South Bend to the top of the sites I was considering.”

“The commitment of AD&T’s faculty and leadership made the final argument for the move,” he adds. LeFloch spent more than 20 years designing and marketing automated tableting systems for the global pharmaceutical industry.

Triskell will focus on smaller scales to address the cost and space-sensitive needs of smaller manufacturers and researchers, especially those in emerging pharmaceutical markets in Latin America, the Pacific Rim and Asia, most notably China.

“Research into the applications of terahertz energy is relatively new, but Notre Dame is a leader in the field,” adds Kirk Reinbold, managing director of AD&T. “We are excited to see our technologies act as catalysts for economic development activities.”

There may soon be other companies coming out of the University that follow Triskell’s path into terahertz markets. For example, LeFloch, Liu and Reinbold are currently mentoring Dina Imbabazi, a student in Notre Dame’s Engineering, Science, and Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence Masters Program (ESTEEM), as she prepares a business plan for a terahertz spectrometer company that also builds on Liu’s research.

Triskell intends to start work at Innovation Park in early 2012.

Contact: Kirk Reinbold, 574-631-1470, kreinbol@nd.edu

Originally published by Arnie Phifer at newsinfo.nd.edu on November 30, 2011.

Design professor wins pair of national awards

2011-11-15T15:20:00-05:00

Robert Sedlack, an associate professor in the University of Notre Dame’s Department of Art, Art History and Design, recently won two American Graphic Design Awards for University-related projects.

Graphic Design USA magazine honored Sedlack, a 1989 Notre Dame graduate, for his work on the “Parallel Currents” exhibition catalogue for the University’s Snite Museum of Art and for “Words for Painting,” an artist’s monograph showcasing the work of Notre Dame Assistant Professor Jason Lahr.

To design Lahr’s book, Sedlack says he drew on elements of the artist’s technique, including his use of typography and the blue masking tape he employs when stenciling and airbrushing.

“The publisher, Stepsister Press, wanted a book that wasn’t the standard glamour shot of the finished product, page after page,” Sedlack explains. “What they wanted was a book about his process and a book about his writing and how those things lead to these great paintings.”

The end result did exactly that, Lahr says.

“Throughout the process of working on the book I was constantly impressed by Robert’s vision and innovation,” he says. “He truly created a book that embodied both my writing and studio practice. I am thrilled that his hard work has been recognized at the national level.”

Sedlack says he particularly enjoyed the project because it was a collaboration with two colleagues from the Department of Art, Art History, and Design: Lahr and Michael P. Grace Professor of Painting Maria Tomasula, who wrote the introduction.

For the dual-language “Parallel Currents” catalogue, Sedlack was designer and production coordinator and served as art director for a three-day photo shoot at the Florida home of the collector, Ricardo Pau-Llosa.

The catalogue, he says, does more than showcase the exhibit pieces. It illustrates how the Latin American art collection “is central to Ricardo Pau-Llosa’s professional endeavors as poet, critic and curator—and integral to the extraordinary domestic space that he has created over the past 30 some years.”

The design work for both winning projects was done through Sedlack Design Associates, a business endeavor he says is integral to his work at Notre Dame.

“Particularly as a teacher, I want to keep my hand in the professional game,” Sedlack says. “I want to continue to practice my craft professionally, so when I walk into the classroom I can talk about what I did last week, not ‘here’s what I did 15 or 20 years ago.’ That’s extremely important to me.”

In addition to receiving recognition for his design work from HOW, Graphis, Print and the American Association of Museums, Sedlack won two American Graphic Design Awards in 2006 and was included in the magazine’s list of “People to Watch” in 2007.

He teaches both undergraduate and graduate design students in Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters, and his course work includes projects that tackle various social issues, including discrimination, gun control and voter participation. Sedlack, who spent fall break in South Africa, is currently working with advanced students to develop a campaign to address xenophobia in that country.

“My area of academic research is based in the social model for design,” he says, “the idea that graphic design, in particular visual communications, can make a demonstrable difference in society and can get people to understand things differently.

“Projects like these—where my teaching, my academic research, and my experience in professional practice overlap—are the most exciting.”

Originally published by Kate Cohorst at al.nd.edu on November 07, 2011.

Alumni conference in NYC to explore “Investing Like A Champion”

2011-11-01T14:20:00-04:00

The world needs strong, ethical business leaders now more than ever. In today’s turbulent economic times, corporate executives and institutional investors are faced not only with daunting challenges, but also with golden opportunities to impact the global business climate for the better.

University of Notre Dame alumni have a long, proud history of positively impacting Wall Street. Notre Dame has educated more CEOs at top financial firms than any other university. With the nation’s No. 1 ranked undergraduate business program within its Mendoza College of Business, it continues to educate tomorrow’s leaders to use business as a force for good.

To explore the multitude of issues facing the global capital markets today, some 600 Notre Dame alumni in the money management business have been invited to converge on Wall Street for the first Notre Dame Investments Conference, to be held Nov. 1 (Tuesday) at the Hilton New York.

The “Invest Like A Champion Today” conference, sponsored by the Notre Dame Wall Street Leadership Committee (WSLC) and the Notre Dame Investment Office, will bring together thought leaders in the investment management profession, coming from leading institutional investors, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital firms. They will be discussing the challenges and opportunities today’s global economy presents to institutional investors.

The conference will be co-chaired by Scott Malpass, Notre Dame’s vice president and chief investment officer, and John Coyle, a 1988 Notre Dame alumnus and head of North America for Permira Advisers LLC. Among others addressing the conference participants will be John W. (“Jay”) Jordan, a 1969 alumnus, member of Notre Dame’s board of trustees, and chair of its investment committee.

“This the first such event in our history, and it reflects the success and reputation of our Investment Office and endowment management reputation, the Mendoza College of Business number one ranking by Bloomberg Businessweek, and the increasing influence of Notre Dame alumni on Wall Street,” Malpass said. “Over the past 25 years, I have watched Notre Dame’s presence at the top firms on Wall Street grow dramatically and this is good not only for the future placement of our students in top firms and the mentoring of young alumni in financial services, but also for the quality of leadership being brought to the Street today.”

While maintaining its strong commitment to ethics in business, Notre Dame also has established itself as a top investment institution, experiencing a 12.1 percent annualized return on its endowment pool during the past 15 years. Under the leadership of Malpass, who has served since 1989 as chief investment officer, the University has been recognized for its innovation in international, private capital and alternative investing, and its philosophy of building relationships with leading edge investment management organizations around the world.

Notre Dame’s WSLC is a group of Notre Dame alumni in senior positions at various Wall Street firms, and is chaired by Tripp Smith, a 1987 Notre Dame graduate and co-founder of GSO Capital Partners and a senior managing director of the Blackstone Group. The committee seeks to increase Notre Dame’s presence, profile and influence on Wall Street through the efforts of Notre Dame students, faculty, staff, alumni and other professionals in the financial services industry.

Originally published by Michael O. Garvey at newsinfo.nd.edu on October 25, 2011.

Notre Dame among top producers of Fulbrights

2011-11-01T14:00:00-04:00

University of Notre Dame students were awarded 12 Fulbright grants for 21.4 percent of its total number of applicants for the 2011-12 academic year, placing them among the top 15 universities in the nation.

The U.S. government’s flagship international educational exchange program, Fulbright recently announced the complete list of colleges and universities that produced the most 2011-2012 U.S. Fulbright students. The success of the top-producing institutions is highlighted in the Oct. 24 edition of The Chronicle of Higher Education.

“Our students are well-equipped to shape their professions and disciplines internationally,” says Deb Rotman, director of Notre Dame’s Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE), the office that administers the Fulbright competition. “Our Fulbright scholars illustrate one of the many ways in which the University is cultivating global citizens and world leaders who will successfully address the significant challenges of the 21st century.”

Almost 1,700 American students, artists and young professionals in more than 100 different fields of study have been offered Fulbright Program grants to study, teach English, and conduct research in over 140 countries throughout the world beginning this fall.

Of the 1,700 Fulbright recipients, 19 percent are at the Ph.D. degree level, 17 percent are at the master’s level, and 65 percent are at the bachelor’s degree level. Students receiving awards for this academic year applied through 600 colleges or universities. Lists of Fulbright recipients are available here.

Since its inception in 1946, the Fulbright Program has provided more than 310,000 participants—chosen for their academic merit and leadership potential — with the opportunity to study, teach and conduct research, exchange ideas and contribute to finding solutions to shared international concerns. In the past 65 years, more than 44,000 students from the United States have benefited from the Fulbright experience.

Contact: Deb Rotman, CUSE director, 574-631-7125, rotman.1@nd.edu

Originally published by Susan Guibert at newsinfo.nd.edu on October 28, 2011.

Business thinking meets social innovation

2011-10-13T15:00:00-04:00

University of Notre Dame students in a College of Arts and Letters course called Foundations of Business Thinking are part of the only class in the nation invited to participate in the inaugural gathering of ConvergeUS, a new nonprofit initiative dedicated to social innovation through technology.

Chaired by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and TechNet CEO Rey Ramsey, the organization connects leading entrepreneurs, scholars, nonprofits, corporations, and technology experts in an attempt to find innovative solutions to pressing social problems.

In a presentation to students in the class, ConvergeUS Executive Director Patrick Gusman, a 1984 Notre Dame graduate, outlined the organization’s plan to select up to three social issues each year and hold an annual summit where participants will develop a “Technology Innovation Blueprint” to tackle those challenges.

The inaugural event, taking place today (Oct. 6) in Sausalito, Calif., will focus on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, the literacy gap among 0 to 3 year olds, and health literacy.

The Notre Dame students in the Business Thinking course—part of the College’s Computer Applications Program (CAPP)—received the same background materials ConvergeUS fellows were given and will participate in this week’s summit via video conference, says CAPP Director Charles Crowell, an associate professor in the Department of Psychology, who also will serve as a ConvergeUS fellow at the summit.

Jeff Sucec, who teaches the Business Thinking course, says the students will have the opportunity to take part in “ongoing, interactive discussions…not just initially, but throughout the year.

“They’re going to find out very quickly that they can have some substantive input.”

Business Thinking is designed to help Arts and Letters students develop a working knowledge of fundamental business disciplines while providing hands-on opportunities to apply their creative thinking, analysis and problem-solving skills.

The course, Sucec says, is “perfectly aligned with how the business world is moving now. Linear, left-brain oriented thinking needs to be augmented with more expansive, adaptive, flexible thinking.”

In today’s rapidly-changing environment, students with a liberal arts background “are uniquely positioned” to be successful in business, he adds.

Sucec enhances the coursework each semester with a real-world business opportunity that allows students “to take it from the theoretical to the practical.” The new partnership with ConvergeUS is a chance to do just that, he says, while learning from and interacting with cutting-edge technology experts and successful entrepreneurs.

Earlier this fall, Gusman and Karen Proctor, a 1985 Notre Dame graduate and a ConvergeUS advisor, met with the Business Thinking students to discuss trends in corporate responsibility, social innovation, and the ways in which they will be able to contribute to ConvergeUS.

“A lot of this is evolving,” Crowell says. “But the idea of our students having an ongoing role and being the only [student] representatives at this inaugural event, in my opinion, is a pretty big deal.”

The organization, he adds, has a particular appeal to Notre Dame students and alumni because “it is directed at solving some very important, pressing problems that confront the nation.

“My hope is that this University, among all other universities, is one of the main focal points for channeling power into ConvergeUS,” Crowell says. “I think that this is an important movement and something that Notre Dame should be involved in.”

Originally published by Chris Milazzo at al.nd.edu on October 05, 2011.

Employers seek Arts and Letters talent at “What’s Next?” Week

2011-09-22T11:00:00-04:00

“What’s Next?” That thought lurks in the back of every undergraduate mind as the years at Notre Dame fly by. To help students in the University of Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters explore the many and disparate ways they can answer that question, the Career Center will host its annual What’s Next?" Week Sept. 26 to 29 (Monday to Thursday).

The event, designed just for students in the College, provides information about internship, career and service opportunities available both before and after graduation.

Regardless of major or area of study, says Rosemary Kopec, the Career Center’s associate director for early career outreach, “there’s something for everyone.”

“What’s Next?” Week kicks off on Sept. 26 (Monday) with a workshop on how to land a summer internship and capitalize on funding available for a broad range of summer experiences.

The next event, on Sept. 27 (Tuesday), features information about graduate school, including how to design a powerful graduate school application, what students can expect in post-graduate education, and the factors to consider when selecting which graduate school is the right choice.

The third event in the week is a post-graduate service fair on Sept. 28 (Wednesday). Hosted by the Center for Social Concerns, this event is open to all majors.

“What’s Next?” Week concludes on Sept. 29 (Thursday), with a networking event to help students who are looking for internships or jobs. The Career Center has invited representatives from almost two dozen employers, Kopec says.

“We target companies that want to hire Arts and Letters students,” she says, including businesses as such as Groupon, Google, Abercrombie & Fitch, Target, JP Morgan, Coca-Cola, Leo Burnett, E.&J. Gallo Winery, and the U.S. Department of Justice. “It’s a great way to find out about companies that are Arts and Letters friendly.”

As an example, she points to media communications company Starcom, which asked to be re-invited this year after seeing the talent at Notre Dame last fall. Epic, a Washington, D.C.-based research center, is another example, she says.

“They really like Arts and Letters students, and they’ve been hiring them in droves.”

Employers say they value Notre Dame’s liberal arts students for their versatility and excellent communication, analytical and writing skills, Kopec says.

“And they keep coming back,” she adds. “They keep calling us—which is really encouraging in this economic climate.”

In addition to connecting students with potential employers, Kopec says one of her goals is to raise awareness about all the resources available to undergraduates. Starting in their first year, students are encouraged to explore not only the wide variety of majors the University offers but special opportunities such as study abroad, service projects, research grants and internships.

“Being successful means coming in early and doing a self-assessment,” Kopec says. “It means figuring out what you like or don’t like, and mapping out your four years so you have a plan.”

One of the key resources the University offers students is the Career Center itself. “Hopefully they will learn more about the Career Center,” she says, “that we’re here to help them if they’re confused or need help writing a resume or cover letter.”

In fact, Kopec recommends that students attending the 2011 “What’s Next?” Week events update their resumes and research participating companies ahead of time. Students should also prepare a brief statement about their skills and how they could benefit a future employer, as well as a list of any questions they would like answered.

But most importantly, she says, students should reflect on their talents, values and interests. “Figure out where you feel passionate.”

Chances are, there will be an opportunity at “What’s Next?” Week to pursue those passions.

Originally published by Eileen Lynch at al.nd.edu on September 20, 2011.

Notre Dame alumni honored

2011-09-12T13:00:00-04:00

The Notre Dame Alumni Association recognized three Notre Dame graduates last week for their accomplishments and notable achievements.

Haley Scott DeMaria ’95, was honored for her distinguished involvement in civic and University initiatives with the Harvey G. Foster Award. As a freshman on the Notre Dame women’s swim team, DeMaria was paralyzed from the waist down in a bus accident and told she would never walk again. But after months of difficult physical therapy and surgeries, she was able to return to the team and win her first race back. Her extraordinary recovery has been recognized with multiple awards, including the inaugural Gene Autry Courage in Sport Award, Women of Distinction, National Institute for Sport Fellow, and the Honda Award for Inspiration.

As the recipient of the Rev. William Corby, C.S.C., Award, Lt. Cmdr. Robert L. Miller, Sr. ’42, ’47 J.D. USNR (Ret.) was recognized for his distinguished military service and dedication to serving his country. A former Superior Court Judge, Miller was a Naval officer in World War II and received the Purple Heart for wounds received in the battle of Okinawa. After earning his law degree at Notre Dame, Miller remained involved in veterans’ issues during a career as a lawyer and judge. He founded “Miller’s Vets” in 2009 to assist impoverished veterans, giving them housing, military uniforms, “boot camp” refreshers, and chances to participate in parades and community events.

Rev. David Garcia ’74 M.T.S., ’84 M.S.A. was honored for his exemplary commitment to Catholic values and his outstanding contributions in the field of public service with the Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, C.S.C., Award. Garcia is the senior advisor for Clergy Outreach for Catholic Relief Services, working with clergy leaders in the United States and on efforts to help the developing world. He serves as the archdiocesan director of the Old Spanish Missions and is pastor of St. Agnes Church in San Antonio, Texas. Garcia has produced an award-winning televised bilingual Mass, “La Santa Misa,” shown throughout North and South America. A recipient of the 2011 Excellence in Media Award for Catholic Television of San Antonio, Garcia has produced, co-produced, and been featured in national and local television specials.

Originally published by Liam Farrell at newsinfo.nd.edu on September 06, 2011.

Flying bosses: New study highlights why CEO pilots make good leaders

2011-08-12T15:46:00-04:00

The kind of risk-seeking behavior that motivates certain people to fly personal aircraft may also make them effective corporate leaders, according to a new study co-authored by professors from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Oregon.

Merging finance and psychology research to explore the role that genetics plays in CEO behavior, finance professors Matthew Cain of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business and Stephen McKeon from the University of Oregon’s Lundquist College of Business document a persistent relation between genetic personality characteristics of CEOs and the types of corporate policies adopted by their firms in their study, “Cleared for Takeoff? CEO Personal Risk-Taking and Corporate Policies.”

“Firms led by CEOs who are pilots exhibit corporate policies that differ substantially from those led by non-pilots,” Cain says. “For example, CEO pilot-led firms are more likely to engage in mergers and acquisitions, have more debt in their capital structure – meaning higher leverage and greater overall stock return volatility. Thus, thrill-seeking CEOs bring a certain element of this personality trait into the executive suite, as reflected by more aggressive corporate policies.”

Cain and McKeon focused on small aircraft pilots. They were able to systematically determine which CEOs like to fly airplanes by conducting searches on the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) airmen certification database, public records, and other sources. “We identified 179 CEO pilots and more than 2,900 CEO non-pilots,” Cain says.

Their research was inspired by the Sensation Seeking Scale, originally developed by psychologist Marvin Zuckerman in the 1970s and since used in hundreds of psychology studies to measure the types of behaviors exhibited by sensation seekers, including habitual drug use, sexual activity, psychopathy, risk-taking, and cognitive innovation. One component of the scale, Thrill and Adventure Seeking, is measured by survey responses that indicate a preference for activities such as flying airplanes, surfing, skiing, sky-diving, scuba diving, mountain climbing, and driving motorcycles.

“Piloting small aircraft as a hobby is more risky than driving a motorcycle, flying a helicopter, or even crop-dusting,” Cain says. “Thus, the research shows, these CEOs exhibit a clear willingness to engage in risky activities for the sake of pleasure.”

So how well do these firms perform? One might wonder if CEOs who possess a personality trait that can be linked with psychopathy and criminal activity, as the Sensation Seeking Scale indicates, would drive suboptimal firm performance. In fact, Cain and McKeon found no such evidence of value destruction at the corporate level.

The research shows many of the undesirable behaviors often exhibited by sensation seekers tend to manifest among individuals who lack adequate stimulation and outlets for creativity. Therefore, Cain and McKeon say running a large, public company may serve as an outlet for creativity and help to draw out certain cognitive abilities of CEOs to the benefit of their firms and ultimately shareholders.

“These CEOs tend to complete acquisitions that are more successful than those completed by non-sensation seeking CEOs,” Cain says. “Their creativity and novelty seeking characteristics lead them into deals that improve the growth prospects of their firms.”

Contacts: Matthew Cain, 574-631-1492 or mcain2@nd.edu; Stephen McKeon, 765-413-4277 or smckeon@uoregon.edu

Originally published by Shannon Chapla at newsinfo.nd.edu on August 08, 2011.

ND LEAD program aimed at developing University’s future leaders

2011-08-03T14:28:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame is launching a new professional development program aimed at helping its next generation of leaders gain a fuller understanding of the University’s Catholic mission and the critical skills necessary for values-based leadership.

ND LEAD aims to prepare faculty members and others who could one day take key leadership positions at the University. This includes, but is not limited to, positions such as department chairs, and directorships of centers and institutes.

“Given the uniqueness and importance of the Notre Dame mission, it is essential that we consider and prepare leaders well in advance of the need actually arising,” said Don Pope-Davis, the vice president and associate provost who is heading the development of ND LEAD. “This program will not only strengthen the Academy’s leadership pipeline, but will be an opportunity for participants to further develop their self-awareness as leaders and management capabilities.”

Initiated by the Notre Dame Office of the Provost, the inaugural nine-month program will begin this month with a cohort of up to 16 participants. These participants are members of the University community who have been identified as potential leaders by college deans, department chairs and directors of centers and institutes.

Individuals at the University are also able to self-nominate for ND LEAD. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Aug. 3 (Wednesday)

The program is sponsored by the Office of the Provost in collaboration with the Executive Education Department in the Mendoza College of Business. They have worked together for more than a year in designing and developing ND LEAD. The program incorporates feedback received from deans and potential participants.

ND LEAD’s parallel goal is to strengthen academic leadership across the University through greater self-awareness, a deeper understanding of the University’s mission and operations, and enhanced complex decision-making and communication skills essential for management. The ND LEAD experience aims to support these individuals in further connecting them to the University’s mission, developing their leadership and management capabilities, and stewarding resources.

“The ND LEAD Program is an opportunity for individuals to explore and strengthen their management and leadership capabilities,” said Sharon Keane, director of Executive Education at the Mendoza College of Business. “Carefully selected faculty, facilitators and presenters will provide key frameworks, tools and methodologies that participants may apply in their professional life. The program represents a very pro-active effort to prepare individuals for leadership.”

Participants attend seven sessions, which integrate a number of educational approaches, from classroom instruction and individual study, to small-group and panel discussions. They also will have the opportunity to hear from current senior Notre Dame leaders about their leadership experiences and stewardship perspectives.

To apply for the ND LEAD program, click here.

Contact: Don Pope-Davis, dpd@nd.edu; or Sharon Keane, keane.11@nd.edu

Originally published by Carol Elliott at newsinfo.nd.edu on August 03, 2011.

Notre Dame voted #1 in social media by USA Today

2011-06-30T08:30:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame tops the list of colleges that have become “influencers and brainstormers” online through the strategic use of Facebook, Twitter and You Tube, USA Today announced yesterday in its list of top 20 colleges making the best use of social media.

“This is a recognition for the entire University,” said Todd Woodward, associate vice president for marketing communications at Notre Dame. “Many areas on campus are successfully engaged in social media, including athletics, the Alumni Association, development and individual schools and colleges. We are thrilled to be recognized as a leader in this rapidly changing and important field.”

According to USA Today, Notre Dame “greatly encourages the use of social media” and recognizes it as “important to professional development.” The University includes its social media policy on its website.

In addition to Notre Dame news, libraries and alumni information on its social Web, Notre Dame also offers Irish Alert text messaging, which provides athletics fans with free text messages updating them on Irish athletics. All 26 Notre Dame varsity sports are covered by Irish Alerts, and fans can select the sports for which they would like to receive updates.

Syracuse University, University of Texas, Baylor University and Butler University round out the top five of the list, with Harvard University at number seven, Duke University at 12, Princeton at 15 and Stanford at 19.

Originally published by Susan Guibert at newsinfo.nd.edu on June 28, 2011.

Student Affairs honors students with leadership awards

2011-06-30T08:25:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs recently recognized six students with leadership awards.

The Ray Siegfried Award for Leadership Excellence was awarded to Kayla A. Bishop. The award is given to a Notre Dame senior who exemplifies the qualities of the 1965 graduate and former Board of Trustees member who was known for his leadership, generosity, devotion to the Catholic faith and affinity for athletics.

Bishop served as captain of Notre Dame’s women’s rugby, women’s boxing and the Howard Hall football team, leading the Ducks to back-to-back football championships in 2009 and 2010. She frequently participated in daily Mass and weekly adoration and was involved in an Emmaus faith-sharing group.

The accountancy and theology major volunteered with the Early Childhood Development Center, the Read to a Child Program, Rebuilding Together and Camp Scully, an overnight camp for troubled and economically disadvantaged youth.

The Denny Moore Award for Excellence in Journalism was awarded to Lincroft, N.J., native Erica Pepitone. The award recognizes a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities of the former Notre Dame associate vice president who was widely known for his personal integrity, character, commitment to the University and writing ability.

Pepitone, an English and psychology major, served as copy editor, copy chief and editor-in-chief of Scholastic magazine. Under her direction, Scholastic’s issues featured thoughtful, well-written and well-designed coverage of a variety of complex topics important to the Notre Dame community.

Pepitone also worked for the Writing Center and as a tutor for elementary school children. She plans to attend graduate school at Trinity College in Dublin.

The Sister Jean Lenz, O.S.F., Leadership Award, given to a post-baccalaureate student who displays leadership in promoting a more diverse and inclusive campus community, was awarded to Jacqueline Pimentel-Gannon of Indianapolis.

Pimentel-Gannon dedicated two years of her life to work as a third grade teacher in Dallas, Texas as part of the Alliance for Catholic Education and served as an assistant rector in Pasquerilla West. In the last four years, she volunteered with South Bend’s Big Brother’s Big Sisters Program, Meals on Wheels, and La Casa de Amistad where she sponsored a Christmas giving tree for families through the Hispanic Law Student Association.

Working with Notre Dame’s Legal Aid Clinic, she spearheaded the Small Business Pro Bono Project that assists area small businesses with legal and business needs.

Pimentel-Gannon became a quadruple-Domer with her joint MBA/JD degree, awarded in May.

Chemical and biomolecular engineering major Nick Ruof was awarded the Rev. A. Leonard Collins, C.S.C. Award, which recognizes a graduating senior who makes a substantial personal effort to advance the interest of students at Notre Dame. The Fresno, Calif., native served as Carroll Hall senator, chair of the Residence Life Senate Committee and chief of staff for Student Government.

In addition to spending two years lobbying for light installation on McGlinn Fields, Ruof also worked toward expanding student rights through the “du Lac” revision process, improving the dining hall experience and ensuring student safety on campus.

The Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Leadership Award was awarded to Samuel Russ. The award, established in 2010, is given to a graduating senior who embodies Blessed Father Moreau’s vision of educating heart and mind as well as a one who demonstrates a significant effort to advancing the Catholic character of the University.

The theology and pre-professional studies major and Eagan, Minn., native served as a Resident Assistant in Carroll Hall, Notre Dame Encounter board member and team leader, Campus Ministry commissioner, PILLARS peer educator and Freshman Retreat leader. He also founded and was commissioner for the 24-hour Food Fast for Haiti.

Russ has also devoted an extensive amount of time to service work such as flood relief in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, volunteering at an orphanage in Mexico and participating in an international summer project in Guatemala.

Management entrepreneurship major Gabrielle Tate of Orland Park, Ill. was awarded the John W. Gardner Student Leadership Award. The award honors a student who exemplifies the ideals of Notre Dame through volunteer service beyond the University community.

In her first year of study at Notre Dame, Tate discovered the Center for the Homeless in South Bend and began tutoring several young children. She went on to begin a Sunday Spanish class at the Center and assisted adult Center guests with GED preparation.

Tate, who also received a minor in education, schooling and society, taught physical education at St. Adalbert’s Catholic Grade School.

During the summer, Tate worked at a treatment center in Illinois analyzing the effectiveness of medical tests on autistic children as well as assisting with a class of lower-functioning children with autism. Tate went on to create The Puzzle Challenge, a campus event that raises autism awareness.

Serving as race director for three years for the Holy Half Marathon, Tate has helped raise more than $30,000 to benefit a wide range of charities. The 2011 race is estimated to have raised nearly $20,000, benefiting St. Adalbert’s, Michiana Down Syndrome and the Center for the Homeless.

Tate plans to take a full-time teaching position with Teach for America.

Originally published by Paul Murphy at newsinfo.nd.edu on June 08, 2011.

Notre Dame Business School ranks No. 1 for second year in a row

2011-03-04T10:49:00-05:00

The University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business ranked No. 1 for the second year in a row in Bloomberg Businessweek’s sixth annual survey of “The Best Undergraduate Business Schools.” The ranking was announced today (March 3).

“Our students, faculty and staff pour their hearts into everything they do here at Notre Dame,” said Carolyn Y. Woo, the Martin J. Gillen Dean of the Mendoza College. “We appreciate the ranking as a reflection of not just academic excellence, but also our particular mission of educating students to think about the big picture and how they might use business to impact the greater good.”

The Mendoza College’s top ranking was due in large part to the school’s 98 percent job placement rate three months after graduation and student satisfaction that’s higher than any other school in the rankings, according to the Bloomberg Businessweek website. Additionally, Mendoza’s business program has also focused on the demand for global exposure and experience by offering study abroad programs, and students are encouraged to take on a business-related research project while away from South Bend.

“We’ve seen one common theme in our 2011 rankings: prospective students are increasingly seeking undergraduate business school programs that provide international experience," said Josh Tyrangiel, editor of Bloomberg Businessweek. “This year’s rankings reflect programs that have undertaken efforts to answer the call from students by enhancing their international curriculum.”

Notre Dame also earned the No. 1 spot in the student satisfaction ranking, and “A+” in teaching quality, facilities and services, and job placement. The school placed third in the recruiter ranking across a three-year average.

Rounding out the top five were University of Virginia (McIntire), Emory (Goizueta), University of Pennsylvania (Wharton), and Cornell University (Dyson).

“Our business program is unique in that it prepares students for a career in business, but it still puts a focus on maintaining an ethical approach to job searches, work ethic, promotions, etc.,” commented a graduate on the survey. “The network of Notre Dame business alumni is extremely willing to help students in their job searches, since alumni realize that we are well prepared to be strong employees immediately after graduation.”

Another graduate said, “All professors have very successful business careers behind them, they are great people, and they take great interest in your school/post-school career. The advisors in the business school work very well with you, and the business clubs available provide great opportunities to get out and observe the workforce while in school.”

Bloomberg Businessweek used nine measures to rank 113 programs, including surveys of senior business majors and corporate recruiters, median starting salaries for graduates, and the number of alumni each program sends to top MBA programs. The publication also calculated an academic quality rating for each program by combining average SAT scores, student-faculty ratios, class size, the percentage of students with internships, and the number of hours students devote to classwork.

“The Best Undergraduate Business Schools” is featured on businessweek.com and includes expanded content, the full ranking and methodology.

The Mendoza College of Business currently enrolls 1,759 undergraduate students in four majors: accountancy, finance, management and marketing. After completing the University’s innovative First Year of Studies program, Notre Dame business majors enter the Mendoza College in their sophomore year.

The Mendoza College also offers graduate degree programs – including a Master of Business Administration, Executive Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Accountancy, and Master of Nonprofit Administration – as well as non-degree executive education and nonprofit professional development programs.

Contact: Carol Elliott, director of newswriting, Mendoza College of Business, 574-631-2627, Elliott.37@nd.edu

Originally published by Carol Elliott at newsinfo.nd.edu on March 03, 2011.

Notre Dame ranked among top Peace Corps universities

2011-02-16T13:46:00-05:00

For the 11th year in a row, the University of Notre Dame is ranked among the nation’s top 25 medium-sized universities (those with undergraduate enrollments between 5,000 and 15,000) producing Peace Corps volunteers. With 25 alumni currently serving in the Peace Corps, Notre Dame is ranked 18th on the list.

Notre Dame moved up five spots this year on the list from its position last year.

According to Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams, the alumni “are applying the skills and knowledge they acquired during their time at the University of Notre Dame to help improve the lives of people across the globe. They are making important contributions to grass-roots projects in agriculture, education, the environment, health and HIV/AIDS education and prevention, small business development, and youth development.”

Notre Dame’s association with the Peace Corps goes back to the agency’s founding in 1961, when the very first volunteers were trained on campus. Since then, more than 800 Notre Dame graduates have entered the Peace Corps, more than from any other Catholic college or university.

On the Peace Corps’ 50th anniversary, more than 200,000 Americans have answered its call to service and have provided assistance to communities in 139 countries. With more than 8,600 volunteers currently serving overseas—a 40-year high in the number of volunteers—the Peace Corps is now engaged in 77 countries.

The complete “Peace Corps Top Colleges 2011” list is available on the Peace Corps website.

Originally published by Michael O. Garvey at newsinfo.nd.edu on February 02, 2011.

Notre Dame ranks No. 8 in degrees earned by Fortune 500 CEOs

2011-01-20T09:27:00-05:00

Eleven leaders of the nation’s largest corporations earned their degrees from the University of Notre Dame, which ranks the University at No. 8 in the U.S. News & World Report study of the educational backgrounds of 2010’s Fortune 500 CEOs. The listing is part of Fortune magazine’s annual ranking of American corporations based on revenue.

Of the 11 Notre Dame degrees, nine were at the undergraduate level and two were graduate degrees, according to the survey.

Harvard University, Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania topped the U.S. News list, cumulatively awarding 99 degrees to executives.

Originally published by Carol Elliott at newsinfo.nd.edu on January 06, 2011.

Notre Dame highly placed in a wide array of rankings

2010-10-07T09:57:00-04:00

As high school seniors fill out their college applications this fall, they will be able to compare prospective schools online thanks to an increasingly interactive set of institutional rankings eager for their — and their parents’ — attention.

The image they form of Notre Dame may look something like this: A top-rated national research university, rising in international prestige and especially strong in business education; where undergraduate teaching and service learning shaped by Catholic Church teachings are priorities; whose graduates are highly attractive to corporate recruiters and typically make a substantial return on their parents’ tuition investment.

At the same time, other third-party endorsements have praised the University as a “great” employer and spotlighted the surging academic reputation of several doctoral programs and the executive MBA degree.

“We are proud of the significant strengths in our academic and student life programs, and will continue to work to make them among the best in the world,” said Thomas G. Burish, provost. “We work hard to meet the expectations of our students and their parents in providing an education that forms the minds and consciences of tomorrow’s leaders.”

Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business was ranked No. 1 in the fifth annual Bloomberg Businessweek evaluation of the 50 best undergraduate business schools in the United States, released earlier this year.

Among the assessment’s nine measures, Mendoza received high marks in student satisfaction, teaching quality, facilities and job placement.

“In a year when unemployment was at the forefront of student concerns, Notre Dame fared well, thanks in part to a large alumni base willing to lend a hand to young job seekers,” Businessweek editor Geoff Gloeckler wrote. Gloeckler’s story also noted the college’s use of Skype video calling services to line up interviews so that companies could save money by not traveling to campus.

The same publication dove deeper in another analysis, scoring business schools based on a survey of seniors who assigned letter grades to their own schools in 12 specialty areas. Mendoza finished first out of 139 participating schools in accounting and ethics and appeared on top 10 lists in six of the 10 other categories: macroeconomics (No. 2), business law (No. 6), calculus (No. 6), financial management (No. 8), microeconomics (No. 9), and sustainability (No. 10).

Taken as a whole, the University placed 63rd in the 2010-11 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking, an effort by the British publication to identify the best universities worldwide. The ranking, which compares learning environments and the volume, income, reputation and influence of faculty research, represents a substantial jump from the University’s ranking (199) under a different methodology last year.

Meanwhile, new assessments of Notre Dame’s graduate and professional programs reflect the University’s efforts to strengthen them. Notre Dame Law School earned a No. 22 ranking in the U.S. News comparison of top law programs. Mendoza’s executive MBA program notched a sixth-place finish in The Wall Street Journal’s survey of eMBA graduates and the firms that employ them.

Select doctoral programs across the Colleges of Arts and Letters, Engineering and Science also showed significant improvement in the complex and long-awaited ranking of doctoral programs released last month by the National Research Council.

“This is the most data intensive assessment of doctoral programs ever completed,” said Gregory E. Sterling, dean of the Graduate School. “It involved 212 universities, 62 fields of study and 5,000 programs. The data came from five surveys, the Institute for Scientific Research and a number of scholarly societies.”

Sterling said Notre Dame’s programs in aerospace engineering, English, history and theology showed the most improvement across the NRC’s pair of regression-based and survey-based rankings. Notre Dame’s humanities departments —English, history, philosophy and theology — and mathematics turned in the strongest relative showing overall, Sterling said. He added that there were some other notable stories, including civil engineering’s performance in the survey ranking and the overall performance of biological sciences, which had been ranked in just separate sub-disciplines in 1995.

While students considering graduate study are likely to comb through the data as they decide where to apply, Sterling said the greatest value may be to academic departments themselves.

“The strength of the ranking is the data that it provides on the 21 variables (analyzed by the NRC),” he said. “It offers individual programs the opportunity to evaluate their contributions and practices in light of their peers on specific points.”

U.S. News & World Report, which publishes the college and university ratings most familiar to American students and parents, placed Notre Dame at No. 19 this year. Notably, the University ranks fourth in undergraduate teaching — behind Dartmouth, Miami University and Princeton — and 17th as a “best value” among national universities. The University also was cited on the publication’s shortlists of schools that offer students a valuable first-year experience and that specialize in formative service learning programs.

Notre Dame graduates’ starting median pay of $54,100 — as tabulated by PayScale, a leading compiler of compensation data — jumps to a mid-career median of $112,000, earning the University eighth place on PayScale’s list of top private research universities by salary potential.

In a slightly different look at tuition and salary data, the company found that while Notre Dame students’ four-year tuition costs added up in 2009 to about $181,900 (not factoring in financial aid), the expected 30-year return on that investment in 2010 dollars amounts to $1,384,000, a 12.1 percent annual return on investment, earning Notre Dame ninth place on PayScale’s list of “Colleges Worth Your Investment.”

Job recruiters find it worth their while to come to Notre Dame, according to a Sept. 13 report in the Wall Street Journal. The University ranks 22nd on the newspaper’s list of Top 25 Recruiter Picks. Lee Svete, director of the University’s Career Center, said that if the ranking had factored its tabulation of graduates hired as a percentage of total student population, Notre Dame would have finished as high as fourth. Perhaps that’s one reason behind Notre Dame’s appearance at No. 7 on The Princeton Review’s list of parents’ “Dream Schools.”

The University also receives high marks from the faculty and staff who work for it, enough to earn Notre Dame recognition two years running in the annual Chronicle of Higher Education survey of “Great Colleges to Work For”.

More Information

Bloomberg Businessweek Best Undergrad B-Schools

Bloomberg Businessweek Best Business Programs by Specialty

Times Higher Education 2010-2011 World University Rankings

U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2011

PayScale 2010-11 College Salary Report

PayScale: Which Colleges Are Worth Your Investment?

Wall Street Journal: The Top 25 Recruiter Picks

Princeton Review’s 2010 College Hopes and Worries Survey

The Chronicle of Higher Education Great Colleges to Work For

U.S. News & World Report Best Law Schools

The Wall Street Journal Best Executive MBA Programs 2010

National Research Council 2010 Rankings: Doctoral Programs in America

Editor’s note: Svete’s comments are paraphrased from student media reports; Sterling’s quotes come from his Sept. 28 e-mail message to officers, deans and senior administrators of the University.

Originally published by Notre Dame News at newsinfo.nd.edu on October 07, 2010.

PayScale ranks Notre Dame No. 9 for monetary value of a college degree

2010-07-06T16:36:00-04:00

The University of Notre Dame is ranked No. 9 on PayScale’s new “College Salary Report,” a list of salaries of graduates from hundreds of colleges and universities.

PayScale, which collects pay information from individuals using its online pay comparison tools, analyzed its trove of 1.4 million reports on U.S. college graduates for Bloomberg Businessweek and put a price tag on the college diplomas handed out during recent commencement ceremonies. The rankings list the net 30-year return on investment (ROI) of undergraduate degrees from various colleges and universities. With a typical college degree from the schools in this report, a graduate will earn a gross income of about $1.95 million over a 30-year career, netting about $670,000 more than a high school graduate.

Notre Dame graduates out-earned high school graduates by $1.4 million, making it the ninth most valuable undergraduate degree in the nation.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology took the top spot with a net 30-year ROI of nearly $1.7 million. The next-best education bargain was California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., where students out-earned high school graduates by $1,644,000, followed by Harvard University with a 30-year ROI of $1,631,000.

There are only 17 schools in the study, including Notre Dame, whose graduates can expect to recoup the cost of their education and out-earn a high school graduate by $1.2 million. At more than 500 schools, the ROI is less — sometimes far less.

The entire report is available online at payscale.com.

Launched in 2002 and headquartered in Seattle, PayScale owns the largest database of online employee salary data in the world.

Originally published by at newsinfo.nd.edu on June 30, 2010.