University of Notre Dame Selects New President to Lead as Engine of Insight and Innovation, US

The University of Notre Dame has announced that Father Robert A. Dowd will become its 18th president, effective July 1. Father Dowd, an alumnus of Notre Dame and an Indiana native, is currently serving as the school’s vice president and associate provost for interdisciplinary initiatives. He will succeed Father John I. Jenkins, who has been the president for the past 19 years. Father Dowd expressed his gratitude for the board’s decision and aims to position Notre Dame as an ever-greater engine of insight, innovation, and impact. With his extensive academic and administrative experience, Father Dowd is expected to lead the university to new heights. As a Catholic institution, Notre Dame selects its presidents from the priests of the Congregation of the Holy Cross, the religious order that founded the school in 1842. Father Jenkins described his successor as an accomplished scholar and dedicated teacher. Under Father Jenkins’ leadership, Notre Dame experienced growth and expansion in research initiatives, global engagement, student diversity, and financial resources. However, his tenure was not without controversy, including criticism for certain decisions related to contraception and commencement speakers. With Father Dowd’s appointment, the university is eager to continue its mission of making a positive impact on society and empowering young individuals to excel in their endeavors.