Nanovic Institute for European Studies
If Notre Dame graduates are to become future leaders in American society, models of professionalism in the boardroom and the classroom, and dedicated and well-informed representatives of the United States and abroad, it is crucial that they understand the world first-hand. The University has shown its commitment to this challenge by consistently being ranked first among its peers in the percentage of students who study abroad.
The Nanovic Institute extends and amplifies this commitment by ensuring that students receive the finest education possible in the politics, societies, and cultures of Europe. This is the part of the world with which America shares the most in common and with which its future is most closely intertwined. The Spirit of Notre Dame campaign seeks $5 million so that Our Lady’s University may remain a leader in international education.
Campaign Priorities for the Nanovic Institute for European Studies
Endowed Directorship
An endowed directorship will heighten the visibility and importance of the Nanovic Institute as its director takes his or her place among other University faculty who hold such distinguished positions. It will enable Notre Dame to attract successors to its current director who have both the international credentials and the academic fit to serve the University’s aspirations.
How can I help? A named director of the Nanovic Institute can be endowed with a gift of $3 million.
Collaborations with Catholic Universities in Eastern Europe
Unlike many parts of Western Europe, the Catholic Church is a vibrant entity in the formerly communist countries of Eastern Europe. Notre Dame is the first Catholic university in the United States to build ties with sister institutions in these countries in a systematic way. In playing this role, the University has the opportunity to live up to its calling to world leadership in Catholic higher education.
On a regular basis, the Nanovic Institute will bring younger scholars from Eastern European universities to Notre Dame, where they will be given the opportunity to conduct research, take classes in their fields of specialization, and perfect their English. In this way, we hope to contribute to the education of a new, post-communist generation of academic leaders. Their leadership is desperately needed if the region and Catholic institutions in particular are to move forward after a devastating century of dictatorship.
Correspondingly, the University will use these contacts to bring Europe to Notre Dame. Eastern European visitors can offer courses in their areas of specialization and provide informal seminars to students minoring in European studies. They can be valuable interlocutors with the many Notre Dame faculty who share their research interests. Finally, their universities can routinely play host to Notre Dame students and faculty when they visit the region.
How can I help? Benefactors can help to foster collaborations with Eastern European universities by establishing visiting fellowships or Endowments for Excellence at the following giving levels: Named ($100,000), Prize ($250,000), Distinguished ($500,000), Presidential ($1 million), or Premier ($5 million) level.
Questions? Please contact us at spirit@nd.edu.
