For Good: Stories from Notre Dame

For more than three decades, Coach Kevin Corrigan has led the Notre Dame men’s lacrosse program with a commitment to building team excellence through an emphasis on character, culture, and community. His leadership has elevated the Fighting Irish from a fledgling varsity lacrosse program to the pinnacle of the sport, winning back-to-back national championships in dramatic and decisive fashion.

In this episode of For Good, Coach Corrigan reflects on his distinctive approach to coaching, which fosters a spirit of humility and service, honors the traditions and legacy of the sport of lacrosse, and ensures that his players get the full Notre Dame experience both on and off the field. 

Join us to hear Coach Corrigan discuss why he believes each season offers a new opportunity to make an impact and how he teaches his players to leverage every moment to prepare for success beyond the game.

00:00 - Meet Kevin Corrigan

1:36 - Origins of Lacrosse, the Creator’s Game

6:04 - Amazing Alumni Connection

10:17 - Winning the National Championship

16:00 - Every Team Only Exists Once

20:34 - Humility and Gratitude

23:40 - Corrigan Family and Legacy

28:56 - Character, Culture, and Community

32:00 - Future of Lacrosse

35:42 - College Athletics is Worth Fighting For

For John Veihmeyer, Chair of the Notre Dame Board of Trustees, the most moving moment of the recent inauguration of Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., was the blessing bestowed upon Notre Dame’s new president by his two immediate predecessors, honoring the unbroken line of Holy Cross leadership that extends all the way back to the University’s founder, Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C. This symbolic moment underscores that, even with new leadership, Notre Dame’s distinctive Catholic mission will continue to guide its future. 

In this episode of For Good, John Veihmeyer discusses what it means to build the best team, how his strong partnership with Father Dowd will shape the University’s future, and why, when Notre Dame asks, he always says yes.

00:00 - Meet John Veihmeyer
1:19 - Inauguration of Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.
5:55 - Process of Selecting Notre Dame’s President
9:52 - Supporting and Partnering with Father Dowd
15:21 - Role of the Board of Trustees
20:05 - Catholic Faith and Service to the Church
22:55 - Building an Inclusive and Diverse Culture
26:42 - John’s Notre Dame Story
31:55 - Importance of Philanthropy and Financial Aid
36:16 - Bright Vision for Notre Dame’s Future

If you’ve visited Notre Dame’s campus in recent years, chances are you’ve encountered the telltale signs of progress and growth—stunning new buildings and landmarks, freshly renovated spaces, and several more construction projects underway. These efforts showcase the strategic vision behind the Notre Dame Campus Plan, a blueprint guiding the sustainable development of the University in the years to come.

In this episode of For Good, Doug Marsh, Vice President for Facilities Design and Operations and University Architect, reflects on his decades of experience overseeing the growth of Notre Dame’s campus and affirms his commitment to honoring and preserving the historic and sacred character that distinguishes Our Lady’s University.

Don your hard hats and join us for this sneak peek into an active construction site on campus—and catch a glimpse of Notre Dame’s future.

00:00 - Meet Doug Marsh
03:46 - McCourtney Hall Building II, a Top-Level Research Space
05:26 - Intentional Campus Planning
08:17 - Notre Dame Residence Halls
11:30 - Restoration and Maintenance
13:12 - Building Accessibility
14:47 - Raclin Murphy Museum of Art and the Notre Dame Arts Gateway
18:27 - Neighborhood Development: Collaborating Beyond Campus
22:15 - Notre Dame’s International Facilities

The sport of women’s college volleyball has seen a meteoric rise in popularity, underscored by record-setting attendance at matches—including one event last season that saw a world-record crowd of more than 90,000 fans. At Notre Dame, excitement is building around the Fighting Irish women’s volleyball program and for good reason: Notre Dame Volleyball is poised to ascend to new heights through the leadership and vision of venerated head coach Salima Rockwell. 

In this episode of For Good, Salima Rockwell shares why she left broadcasting to coach at Notre Dame, what excites her about the culture and identity of her team, and how she is laying the foundation for Notre Dame Volleyball to excel—both now and well into the future.
With free admission available for all Notre Dame Volleyball matches, Salima Rockwell’s talented team will soon be filling the seats in Purcell Pavilion, and before long, maybe even the bleachers of Notre Dame Stadium.

00:00 - Meet Salima Rockwell

1:31 - Broadcasting the 2024 Paris Olympics

5:30 - Becoming Head Volleyball Coach at Notre Dame

10:28 - Building the Team's Foundation

15:14 - Volleyball, Community, and Team Culture

17:58 - 2024 Fall Season

22:27 - Recruiting for the 4 For Forever Notre Dame Experience

25:12 - Setting Purposeful Goals

30:18 - Support and Resources

32:32 - A Vision that Prepares Student-Athletes for Life

Notre Dame has long been known for its support of students from diverse backgrounds, from immigrant communities in the early 20th century to veterans on the G.I. Bill. Now, the University is continuing to expand the ways that it ensures the success and flourishing of all Notre Dame students, including first-generation, low socioeconomic status, or differently prepared learners.

In this episode of For Good, Maria McKenna, Director of the Transformational Leaders Program (TLP) and the AnBryce Scholars Initiative, discusses how Notre Dame helps students reach their full potential by meeting each student where they are, accompanying them throughout their formative journey, and educating the whole person—in mind, body, and spirit.

Give the gift of Notre Dame: https://giveto.nd.edu/for-good-stories?fund_id=489&promotion_code=10013

00:00 - Meet Maria McKenna and the Transformational Leaders Program (TLP)

06:59 - Meeting Students Where They Are

11:32 - TLP Lounge Area, A Thoughtfully Prepared Environment

14:48 - Providing a Sense of Belonging

18:23 - Peer Mentoring and Support Systems

19:36 - A Full Commitment to Students

28:53 - Nurturing Relationships and Community

35:44 - Vision for the Future

The topic of democracy is front of mind these days, especially now as we enter the summer of a presidential election year in the U.S. The University of Notre Dame occupies a privileged position as a leading non-partisan voice in discussions about democracy, and the new Notre Dame Democracy Initiative signals the University’s intention to build on this unique legacy.

In this episode of For Good, David Campbell, the Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy and inaugural Director of the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative, discusses why people become disengaged from civic life, what gives him hope about the future of American democracy, and how Notre Dame can become a leader in establishing informed, civil discourse on democracy worldwide.

00:00 Meet David Campbell

2:38 The Importance of Democracy

3:34 David’s background, research, and books

6:55 Trends of civic disengagement 

11:08 An All-inclusive democracy initiative at Notre Dame

14:58 The Role of education in developing civic responsibility

20:45 The three unique pillars of Notre Dame’s Democracy Initiative

23:51 A hopeful future beyond polarization

27:27 The upcoming election season and global movements

30:28 The importance of providing resources to the Democracy Initiative

For only the third time in 72 years, the University of Notre Dame has a new president, Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. This transition in leadership heralds the beginning of a new era for Notre Dame, one marked by tremendous optimism and opportunity.

In this episode of For Good, Father Dowd explains what makes Notre Dame distinctive in all of higher education and discusses how his personal and spiritual journey has given him wisdom, humility, courage, and faith—the hallmarks of a leader capable of guiding Notre Dame into a promising future.

00:00 - Meet Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.

06:57 - Serving a Mission: Priesthood and the Holy Cross

08:25 - Academic Journey and Time in East Africa

12:10 - Ford Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity

14:39 - Leadership Experiences and Overarching Perspective

16:38 - Building on Strengths: The Strategic Framework

19:33 - Working with Fr. John Jenkins

23:26 - Notre Dame's Unique Role in Higher Education

26:37 - Building Bridges and Addressing Challenges

29:38 - The Notre Dame Way in Intercollegiate Athletics

37:10 - Inauguration Celebration

College sports are in turmoil. For athletics departments across the country, the stakes are high, and the challenges are unprecedented. While many universities are scrambling to respond, the University of Notre Dame is staying true to its mission, providing an unmatched student-athlete experience that offers the best of both worlds: a world-class education paired with a championship culture.

In this episode of For Good, Pete Bevacqua, Vice President and James E. Rohr Director of Athletics, discusses how coming back to lead Notre Dame Athletics was the fulfillment of a dream he didn’t know he had and how Notre Dame’s fierce independence will help the University successfully weather the chaos engulfing college sports.

00:00 - Meet Pete Bevacqua

12:37 - Transition from NBC Sports to Notre Dame

19:23 - Notre Dame Football

22:18 - The 4 For Forever Notre Dame Student-Athlete Experience

29:52 - Football Program Scheduling

32:53 - Outstanding Coach-Educators and Staff

36:32 - Why The Student-Athlete Journey Matters

38:46 - The Importance of Financial Resources

42:36 - A Hopeful Vision for the Future of College Athletics

The University of Notre Dame is no stranger to innovative, groundbreaking research. Synthetic rubber, wind tunnels, and wireless transmissions—each of these novel inventions, alongside many others, were developed within the University’s walls. Now, Notre Dame is taking its research enterprise to the next level.

In the 13th episode of For Good, Jeffrey Rhoads, Vice President for Research, discusses how research is an essential component of the Notre Dame experience and how Notre Dame can become a global leader in generation-defining research.

00:00 - Meet Jeff Rhoads

05:49 - The Significance of Notre Dame at the AAU

08:01 - Research as a Force for Good

12:33 - Importance of Clean Room and Research Facilities

14:01 - Research Drive and Multidisciplinary Approach

20:51 - Undergraduates Involvement in Research

22:16 - Notre Dame's Role in Regional Economic Development

25:34 - The IDEA Center and the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

27:34 - 10-Year Research Vision

Leading communications for a congresswoman, the Department of Homeland Security, the White House, and the association that oversees the nation's top research universities is no easy feat. It takes a special expertise to navigate the complexities of these high-stakes roles, and that special expertise just found his way to Notre Dame.

In the 12th episode of For Good, Pedro Ribeiro, Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications, discusses the significance of Notre Dame joining the Association of American Universities, the unique role Notre Dame plays in bringing together leaders from opposite sides of the aisle in D.C., and the importance of maintaining the student experience for student-athletes as the landscape of college athletics evolves.

(00:00) Meet Pedro Ribeiro

(04:15) From Public Service to the AAU

(08:20) Notre Dame joining the AAU

(10:15) The Leading Catholic Research University in the World

(12:05) Pedro’s Call to the Notre Dame Mission

(20:24) Notre Dame’s Special Role in D.C.

(25:34) Notre Dame and the South Bend Community

(28:47) Honoring Fr. John and Welcoming Fr. Bob

(30:57) Shaping Communications with Data

(34:36) Protecting the Freedom of Speech in a Constructive Way

(37:18) Exciting Next Steps