For Good: Stories from Notre Dame

Notre Dame’s mission extends beyond campus and into the neighborhoods, partnerships, and relationships that shape our shared future.

Few people embody that spirit more fully than Tim Sexton ‘90. As associate vice president for public affairs, Tim has spent decades building bridges between the University and the South Bend community—a lifelong calling rooted in family, relationships, and the belief that Notre Dame and South Bend thrive together.

In this episode of For Good, Tim reflects on the past 25 years of collaborative partnerships across the region, from the Robinson Community Learning Center to transformative initiatives like the Link Trail, Colfax Corner, and the new Veldman Psychology Clinic. 

Tune in to discover how Notre Dame’s mission comes to life beyond campus, and why that shared work matters now more than ever.

0:00 – Tim Sexton: a lifelong son of Notre Dame and South Bend

2:57 – Robinson Community Learning Center: building trust in the neighborhood

10:25 – Connecting students to downtown South Bend

13:53 – Evolving Notre Dame’s community engagement 

18:31 – Transforming downtown South Bend

21:13 – South Bend then and now

25:45 – What’s next for the region

26:46 – Beyond podcast: stories of connection

28:59 – A future in South Bend

Lily Joy Santos ’28 and Giovanni Nasello ’27 are much more than just voices in your voicemail. As student callers at ND Listens, they embody the spirit of gratitude, curiosity, and care that makes the Notre Dame family so special. 
In this episode of For Good, Lily Joy and Giovanni reflect on how ND Listens, Notre Dame’s student engagement center, builds authentic connections, fosters community across generations of Domers, and offers students the unique opportunity to share their love for Notre Dame with alumni, parents, and friends.
Whether they’re expressing thanks, celebrating milestones, or simply taking time to listen, the students at ND Listens are a true force for good—on the phone and in the lives they touch through each heartfelt conversation.

0:00 – Meet the students behind ND Listens

5:35 – How financial aid makes Notre Dame possible

9:21 – The different ways ND Listens connects

11:26 – Measuring success, nurturing relationships

15:42 – Teamwork, fun, and building community

17:36 – How ND Listens shapes the student experience

19:43 – Carrying ND Listens into the future

For Rev. Edward “Monk” Malloy, C.S.C., president emeritus of Notre Dame and longtime priest-in-residence at Sorin Hall, leadership at Our Lady’s University begins with faith, humility, and service—virtues instilled by his parents and deepened through the mentorship of his dear friend, Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C.

In this episode of For Good, Father Malloy reflects with gratitude and wonder on an extraordinary life of service, sharing his memories of guiding the University through triumphs and tragedies, partnering with the City of South Bend to help renew the local community, and teaching generations of Notre Dame students to be intentional and present with themselves and one another.

0:00 – Meet Rev. Edward “Monk” Malloy, C.S.C.

1:48 – Continuity of Holy Cross leadership

7:25 – An encounter with Fr. Ted Hesburgh

10:06 – A humble upbringing

12:35 – Life as Notre Dame’s longest-serving priest-in-residence

16:10 – How Notre Dame students have changed over time

19:20 – Reshaping Notre Dame’s relationship with South Bend

21:45 – A lifelong passion for teaching

24:07 – A global Notre Dame and lessons from travel

25:33 – Major events as president

27:35 – A mentor’s words

30:16 – A Christmas blessing for the Notre Dame family

For Tim Dolezal ’02, vice president and chief investment officer at Notre Dame, managing the University’s investment portfolio is more than a financial responsibility—it’s a mission-driven calling a lifetime in the making.

In this episode of For Good, Tim shares how Notre Dame’s long-term investment strategy has earned top-tier returns while prioritizing expanded scholarship support, honoring donor intent, and advancing the University’s mission and values. 

Join us as Tim reflects on how he and his team of fellow Notre Dame alums strike a careful balance between performance and purpose, and why they are so committed to, and grateful for, their work on behalf of the “family business” at Our Lady’s University.

0:00 – Meet Tim Dolezal

2:12 – Notre Dame’s long-term investing approach

5:58 – Lessons from predecessors and leadership philosophy

8:33 – Endowment structure

10:40 – Endowment payout and impact

12:00 – Faith and family commitment

14:39 – Partnering with external managers

18:30 – Mission-driven team

23:12 – Markets, staying on target, and AI

26:26 – How benefactors can participate in the endowment

27:15 – Cultivating hope through students, leadership, and mission

Micah Shrewsberry began his career just a few miles away from Notre Dame’s campus in a coaching role that required him to drive the team bus and wash the players’ jerseys. From those humble beginnings, Micah has steadily climbed the ranks in a career that has taken him to the coaching staffs of the Boston Celtics, USA Basketball’s U19 Men’s National Team, and now Notre Dame men’s basketball as the Glenn and Stacey Murphy Head Coach.

In this episode of For Good, Micah reflects on how the game has changed with NIL and the transfer portal, how Notre Dame Athletics maintains its unique identity, and why he’s committed to building a sustainable, successful program the Notre Dame way. 

Tip off the new basketball season with us as Micah shares why Notre Dame’s player development approach appeals to exceptional student-athletes—and how his team is creating a strong, distinctive culture that will soon have the Fighting Irish competing for championships.

0:00 - Meet Micah Shrewsberry

1:14 - Impact of NIL and the transfer portal

5:02 - Building the program the Notre Dame way

7:48 - Notre Dame student-athlete experience

9:37 - Micah’s values and character

11:04 - Recruiting, developing, and investing in players that fit Notre Dame

15:08 - Building community and team culture

18:25 - Looking ahead to the upcoming 2025-26 season

20:13 - Lessons as a coach and a parent

25:04 - The power of program support

26:59 - Call on fans to fill Purcell Pavilion

28:40 - Micah’s coaching journey

32:23 - What cultivating hope means for Micah

For Austin Wyman ’23, a current Ph.D. student in quantitative psychology at Notre Dame, the study of mental health is not just academic—it’s personal. Motivated by a family tragedy that might have been prevented with better access to mental health care, Austin has made it his life’s work to understand mental illness, advocate for early intervention, and help others get the support they need before a moment of crisis.

In this episode of For Good, Austin shares how he found solace by telling his story, why he chose to remain at Notre Dame for graduate school, and how his research is helping clinicians better diagnose and treat mental illness. 

Tune in to hear why Austin finds hope in the growing conversations around mental health—and how combating stigma may be the key to preventing future tragedies.

0:00 – Meet Austin Wyman

1:09 – A moment of crisis leads to family tragedy

6:32 – “What Would You Fight For” commercial

8:17 – Why Notre Dame—mission and culture

10:30 – Covid-19 pandemic and mental health

12:09 – Quantitative psychology research

16:56 – Understanding the rise in mental health diagnoses

19:09 – Notre Dame’s commitment to combat the mental health crisis

25:50 – Career aspirations and mental health advocacy

31:47 – Cultivating hope amid mental health crisis

For Shannon Cullinan ’93, executive vice president at the University of Notre Dame, there is no challenge Notre Dame cannot navigate—so long as it leans in and stays true to its mission.

In this episode of For Good, Shannon discusses the financial headwinds facing Notre Dame—and all of higher education—and shares how the University is well-positioned to weather times of uncertainty thanks to its stable leadership, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment to its people.

Join us as Shannon reflects on what drew him to Notre Dame and how he continues to find joy, optimism, and profound hope on campus every day.

0:00 – Meet Shannon Cullinan

1:29 – Financial headwinds

4:38 – National trends and peer insights

8:32 – Finding hope in our students, faculty, staff, and mission

10:46 – AI opportunities without compromising on people

12:24 – Investment excellence and mission alignment

13:35 – Capital projects and campus life

22:28 – Forbes names Notre Dame #1 large employer

22:50 – Reflections on family and why Notre Dame

For Heather Christophersen ’98, vice president for human resources at Notre Dame, leadership means having the courage to take risks and empowering others to do the same. 

A former building manager at LaFortune Student Center, Heather now leads the team that shapes Notre Dame’s distinctive workplace culture, one that recently earned the University the title of Best Large Employer in America by Forbes—a distinction based entirely on employee feedback.

In this episode of For Good, Heather reflects on the lessons discovered along her career journey, the strategic opportunities found within the challenges facing higher ed, and the ways Notre Dame continues to put its most valuable asset—its people—first.

0:00 – Meet Heather Christophersen, VP for human resources

2:37 – Forbes #1 Best Large Employer in America ranking

5:17 – South Bend named one of America’s 25 best cities to live

7:28 – Heather’s career journey and leadership path

11:22 – Turning headwinds into opportunities

14:26 – Notre Dame’s culture of community and care

18:01 – Notre Dame’s leading benefits package

22:19 – AI in the workplace: balancing high-tech with high-touch

26:20 – Notre Dame’s Catholic character in the workplace

28:25 – A hopeful vision for Notre Dame’s future

Throughout his tenure as president of the University of Notre Dame, Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., has led with patience, curiosity, and an unwavering belief in the University’s ability to meet the moment and navigate challenges as they arise. 

In this episode of For Good, Father Dowd discusses Notre Dame’s ongoing efforts to expand affordability and access, form a student body that reflects the richness of the global Catholic Church, and cultivate agents of hope for a world deeply in need.

Join us as Father Dowd invites the Notre Dame family to see education as the work of hope—and an expression of hope in action.

Give the gift of Notre Dame: https://giveto.nd.edu/give?NDAC=10013&designation=notredamefund 

0:00 – Corby Hall and the Holy Cross community at Notre Dame

2:36 – Leading with humility: lessons from year one

5:55 – Catholic delegation visit to Japan and the call to peace

9:14 – Cultivating hope at Notre Dame

13:53 – Advancing the Strategic Framework

16:03 – Pathways to Notre Dame

20:26 – Serving the global Church

22:15 – Baseball dreams and priesthood

Mary Gallagher, the Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs, recognized something distinctive about Notre Dame from the moment she arrived—the University’s unique ability to lead on the global stage with vision and purpose, guided by its Catholic mission and its unwavering commitment to human dignity.

In this episode of For Good, Gallagher reflects on the Keough School’s first decade, the opportunities to build on its strong foundations, and the School’s integral role in helping Notre Dame become the leading global Catholic research university. 

Join us as Dean Gallagher shares her vision for the future of the Keough School—and explains why the world needs Notre Dame’s leadership now more than ever.

0:00 – Why Notre Dame and the Keough School of Global Affairs
3:22 – Integral human development: focusing on the most vulnerable
6:56 – Passion for international studies and China
9:12 – China's power and U.S.–China relations
12:28 – First year as dean of the Keough School
14:44 – Milestones for first class of undergraduates
18:37 – Student motivations and academic interests
20:40 – Peace studies, global instability, and program demand
22:12 – Impact of federal funding cuts on Pulte Institute and Peace Accord Matrix
25:45 – McKenna Center and business as a force for good
28:00 – Vision and priorities for the Keough School
33:29 – Preparing students for the world
35:52 – Vision for the future of the Keough School