This event welcomes back Kroc Institute alumna Rosette Muzigo-Morrison (M.A. '93), legal officer at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, located at the Hague, Netherlands. Muzigo-Morrison will highlight several notable world events that coincided with her arrival at Notre Dame in the early 1990s— the collapse of the Berlin Wall to the release of Nelson Mandela and an end to apartheid in South Africa to the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia. Despite these developments, a united resolve to work for human dignity has been stifled. Muzigo-Morrison will also address the concerns surrounding forgotten wars in Cameron, South Sudan and Sudan, Ethiopia and Syria, the rise of white supremacist governments in Europe, and implications for the future. Anne E. Hayner, associate director for alumni relations, will provide an introduction. Originally published at kroc.nd.edu.

The Medieval Institute is pleased to present the eighteenth lecture in the Graduate Student Invitation Series with Hanna Gentili (University of Hamburg, Institut für Jüdische Philosophie und Religion), who will be speaking on "Natural Philosophy in the Arabic-Hebrew-Latin Landscape: Deconstructing and Reconstructing the Corpus." About the Talk Averroes’ works received their authoritative form in Latin in the Renaissance printed projects, culminating in the mid-sixteenth century Giunta editions. From this moment, up to modern editions, Averroes’ text remained “frozen in place.” But in reality, it was never like that. Dynamic and fluid, Averroes’ works were constantly evolving, circulating in various forms already in the Arabic world. This complication escalated as they reached the Latin world, often via the mediation of Hebrew, as further hands became involved. Finally, there was the hidden space that occupied the transitions from manuscript to print. Through a series of examples on the macro and micro levels, my talk will breathe life into this process, with focus on Averroes’ natural philosophy. I will argue that examining the texts across languages and media has philosophical and historiographical implications, and that we should adopt new methods to better understand philosophy and its study in premodern circles.  About the Speaker Hanna Gentili (Ph.D, Warburg Institute) is a historian of Medieval and Renaissance Philosophy. Her research focuses on the consolidation and circulation of the Hebrew philosophical corpus in manuscript and early print. She is currently a Research Associate at the University of Hamburg where she is working on Averroes’ natural philosophy in Hebrew and Latin within the ERC Project HEPMASITE (Hebrew Philosophical Manuscripts as Sites of Engagement). Before joining the University of Hamburg, she worked at the crossroads of philosophy and kabbalah in the Digital Humanities project Ilanot and in 2023 she was the curator of the Hebrew collections at the British Library. Her first monograph—about the philosophical notebook of the fifteenth-century Jewish intellectual Yoḥanan Alemanno in the context of the Italian Renaissance and Jewish philosophical training—is currently in preparation. Originally published at medieval.nd.edu.

The Center for Italian Studies is pleased to host a lecture by Professor Nicoletta Pireddu (Georgetown University) titled: The Activism of Imagination: Fictions of Europe Between Utopia and Disenchantment Against the backdrop of political, economic, and social problems that reinforce the idea of Europe’s existential crisis, this talk redraws the attention to constructive aspects of the Europe-building discourse often muffled by a rising Euroscepticism. In particular, it explores the contribution of literature both as the repository of a European cultural memory and as a forerunner of crucial components of the ongoing European integration design. A selection of modern and contemporary Italian fiction, in dialogue with a broader literary and intellectual discourse at pivotal junctures of the European project, addresses the role of utopia not as a compensatory wishful projection but, rather, as creative thinking propelled by the critical and transformative power of imagination. Nicoletta Pireddu is inaugural director of the Georgetown Humanities Initiative and professor of Italian and Comparative Literature at Georgetown University. Her research revolves around European literary and cultural relations, cosmopolitanism, borders and migration, history of ideas, and translation studies. She has published over eighty articles and numerous monographs and edited volumes, among them Antropologi alla corte della bellezza. Decadenza ed economia simbolica nell’Europa fin de siècle, which received the American Association for Italian Studies Book Award; The Works of Claudio Magris: Temporary Homes, Mobile Identities, European Borders, and most recently, Migrating Minds: Theories and Practices of Cultural Cosmopolitanism (2023 American Comparative Literature Association “René Wellek Prize for the Best Edited Essay Collection”). The lecture is co-sponsored by the Nanovic Institute.The Italian Research Seminar, a core event of the Center for Italian Studies, aims to provide a regular forum for faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and colleagues from other universities to present and discuss their current research. The Seminar is vigorously interdisciplinary, and embraces all areas of Italian literature, language, and culture, as well as perceptions of Italy, its achievements and its peoples in other national and international cultures. The Seminar constitutes an important element in the effort by Notre Dame's Center for Italian Studies to promote the study of Italy and to serve as a strategic point of contact for scholarly exchange.Originally published at italianstudies.nd.edu.

Join the McGrath Institute for Church Life for a special book launch and lecture on "The Concept of Woman: A Synthesis in One Volume" by Sr. Prudence Allen, RSM. Topics of discussion will include the development of a philosophically coherent concept of woman from the pre-Socratics to the 20th-century personalists. Brief presentations will be led by Sr. Ann Astell, Ph.D., John Cavadini, Ph.D., and Abigail Favale, Ph.D., with a response by the author, Sr. Prudence Allen, RSM. Originally published at mcgrath.nd.edu.

Despite Sikkink's previous claims that we have entered an age of accountability with a “justice cascade” of human rights prosecutions, her most recent data show that there has been a marked decline in domestic, foreign, and international prosecutions worldwide after peaking in 2010. In the talk, she will discuss how changes in both the conditions for the demand and the supply of accountability have contributed to this new trend of declining prosecutions, especially because of the retrocession of liberal democracies.     This lecture is part of a larger series organized by Faculty Fellows Scott Mainwaring and Karrie Koesel entitled “Perspectives on World Politics.” Since its inception in 2016, this series aims to spotlight the Kellogg Institute’s strength in comparative politics by featuring distinguished scholars who speak on a topic related to each year’s theme.   More information here 

Democratic erosion can be stopped. There are good theoretical reasons and first empirical evidence for that. However, stopping democratic erosion is not equivalent to democratic recovery. What possible trajectories are there for the post-erosion phase? How can democratic recovery—as one of them—be captured? These questions have not been found sufficient attention but are highly relevant for developing strategies of post-erosion democratic reconstruction. This lecture presents a framework covering these questions and thus offering an approach for addressing post-erosion developments.Kellogg Lecture by Marianne Kneuer.   More information here

Join us for an insightful fireside chat featuring Volodymyr Turchynovskyy, dean of the social sciences faculty at the Ukrainian Catholic University, in conversation with Nitesh Chawla, founding director of the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society. The conversation will explore the unique challenges and triumphs of leading a university during wartime while simultaneously advocating for freedom and preparing for postwar recovery and a secure future. It will also serve as a continuation of the ongoing UCU-ND dialogue—a partnership that began 20 years ago and has proven invaluable, particularly during challenging times. Additionally, it builds on Professor Nitesh Chawla’s recent visit to UCU to further deepen our understanding of resilience and leadership in higher education. This event is co-sponsored by the Lucy Family Institute for Data & Society and the Nanovic Institute for European Studies.About the SpeakerVolodymyr Turchynovskyy is the dean of the faculty of social sciences at the Ukrainian Catholic University and a returning visiting scholar at Notre Dame’s Nanovic Institute for European Studies. Recently (September 2024), he contributed to and edited Resilient Universities, a newly published book in the Integral Human Development series—a collaborative project between UCU and Notre Dame.Professor Turchynovskyy holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the International Academy of Philosophy in Liechtenstein. His academic focus includes moral philosophy, the impact of wartime disruptions, and the role of integral human development in advancing postwar recovery. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated thoughtful leadership, promoted ethical discourse and strengthened the resilience of Ukrainian higher education institutions, even in the face of crisis.

In 2024, over 70 countries held elections, with more than half of the world's population participating. This panel will explore global election results from a comparative perspective and reflect on what they reveal about the state of democracy. Featuring expert insights on key regions, Victoria Hui (Asia), Scott Mainwaring (Latin America), Dianne Pinderhughes (USA), Marc Jacob (Europe), and Bernard Forjwuor (Africa), the discussion will cover elections in nations like India, South Africa, Poland, France, the UK, Venezuela, and the U.S. Moderated by Dean Mary Gallagher of the Keough School of Global Affairs, the event will draw broad themes and collective takeaways about the health of global democracy in 2024. Dave Campbell, Director of the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative, will offer introductory remarks. A welcome reception with light refreshments will begin at 5:30 pm, and the panel will begin at 6:00 pm. The event is free and open to the public. This event is sponsored by the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative, and co-sponsored by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies and the Rooney Center for the Study of American Democracy. Originally published at rooneycenter.nd.edu.

This event brings together a diverse array of Notre Dame voices with personal and professional relationships to the current conflict. From their distinct vantage points as scholars, practitioners, and individuals with deep ties to the region, panelists will describe their experiences, how they are processing what is happening, and what they hope and expect for the future. The evening fireside chat intends to create a safe space for the Notre Dame community to engage in this challenging, but necessary, conversation. Featuring:Daniel Bannoura, Palestinian Theologian; Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Theology Ramzi Bualuan, Teaching Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Computer Science and Engineering Gabriel Mitchell, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Notre Dame Jerusalem Ray Offenheiser, Senior Advisor to the Dean, Keough School of Global Affairs; Director, McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business Atalia Omer, Professor of Religion, Conflict, and Peacebuilding, Keough School of Global AffairsModerator:  Michael Desch, Packey J. Dee Professor of International Relations and Brian and Jeannelle Brady Family Director of the Notre Dame International Security CenterA reception will follow the panel discussion. Originally published at forum2024.nd.edu.

The Center for Italian Studies is pleased to host a lecture by Professor Eva Del Soldato (University of Pennsylvania) titled: A Reckless and Scandalous Doctrine: Matthias Ferchius, a Franciscan in the Index  This paper delves into the intriguing journey of a forgotten booklet by the Franciscan Matthias Ferchius (1583-1669), drawing from recently unearthed material. It uncovers a fascinating blend of Biblical exegesis, poison expertise, medical reasoning, and rhetorical balancing acts, all in an audacious attempt by Ferchius to present no less than a revisionist account of the death of Jesus Christ. The paper will engage in the dialectic between Ferchius and the Holy Office censors, shedding light on the aspects of Ferchius’s text that raised particular concerns. It will also demonstrate how the pursuit of “new” outlooks in philosophy and theology always necessitated a firm reliance on tradition, a fact exemplified by other episodes of Ferchius’ intellectual career. Lastly, it will bring to the fore the paradoxical outcomes of this form of “conspiracy” philology.  Eva Del Soldato is associate professor of Italian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, where she directs the FIGS Graduate Program and serves as interim director of the Center for Italian Studies. She was trained in philosophy and intellectual history at the Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa. Her research is primarily devoted to Renaissance thought and culture, particularly the Aristotelian and Platonic traditions. Her current project is focused on lovesickness treatises in the Counterreformation period. She is the author of the monographs Simone Porzio (2010) and Early Modern Aristotle. On the Making and Unmaking of Authority (2020). She has also published several articles and editions, including the Italian translation of Bessarion's In calumniatorem Platonis. She has co-edited several volumes (the most recent is Plato in the Italian Universities, 2024). She received— among others — fellowships from the Scuola Normale Superiore, Villa I Tatti, the Herzog August Bibliothek in Wolfenbuettel, the Huntington Library in Pasadena, and she has been a Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Warwick, UK. She has been a visiting professor at the University of Milan, the University of Bergamo, and the 2022/2023 Charles Speroni Chair at UCLA. She has been the interim director (2019/2020) of the Global Medieval Studies Program at Penn, and she is currently the executive secretary of the American Association for Italian Studies (AAIS).   The lecture is co-sponsored by the Medieval Institute.The Italian Research Seminar, a core event of the Center for Italian Studies, aims to provide a regular forum for faculty, postdoctoral scholars, graduate students, and colleagues from other universities to present and discuss their current research. The Seminar is vigorously interdisciplinary, and embraces all areas of Italian literature, language, and culture, as well as perceptions of Italy, its achievements and its peoples in other national and international cultures. The Seminar constitutes an important element in the effort by Notre Dame's Center for Italian Studies to promote the study of Italy and to serve as a strategic point of contact for scholarly exchange.Originally published at italianstudies.nd.edu.

In this second teaching conference of the Organs and Origins series co-sponsored by the College of Science and the McGrath Institute for Church Life, scientists, philosophers and theologians will come together to consider initial causes in an interdisciplinary approach to “life, the universe and everything.” For more information, click here. Originally published at mcgrath.nd.edu.

Bringing together scholars, activists, and faith leaders with expertise in religion, radicalism, democracy, and depolarization, the 2024 Election Postmortem offers space for interdisciplinary analysis and collaboration at this critical historical moment. All sessions are free and open to the public. Drop-ins are welcome, but advanced registration is appreciated for planning purposes. REGISTER HERE.8:45AM - 9:00AM Opening RemarksLaura Frances Callahan, Asssistant Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Center for Philosophy of Religion, University of Notre DameMichael Rea, Rev. John A. O'Brien Professor of Philosophy and Co-Director of the Center for Philosophy of Religion, University of Notre Dame9:00AM - 10:45AM What Happened: Reflecting on the 2024 Election and How We Got HerePanelists:David Campbell, Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy and the Director of the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative, University of Notre DameDavid French, Opinion Columnist for The New York TimesRobert P. Jones, President and Founder of the Public Religion Research InstituteChristopher Sebastian Parker, Professor of Political Science, University of California, Santa BarbaraKatherine Stewart, Journalist, Author of The Power Worshippers and Money, Lies, and GodModerator: Michael Rea11:00AM - 12:45PM Remaining Vigilant: What to Watch for in the Days AheadPanelists:Rachel Brown, Founder and Executive Director of Over ZeroKristin Kobes Du Mez, Professor of History and Gender Studies, Calvin UniversityLilliana Mason, SNF Angora Institute Associate Professor of Political Science, Johns Hopkins UniversityElizabeth Neumann, Department of Homeland Security (former)Matthew D. Taylor, Protestant Scholar, Institute for Islamic • Christian • Jewish StudiesModerator: Laura Frances Callahan3:30PM - 5:30PM Strategy Session: Planning, Partnerships, and Practical Steps for the Next Four YearsPanelists:Chris Crawford, Policy Strategist, Free & Fair Elections, at Protect DemocracyAmanda Tyler, Executive Director of Baptist Joint Committee for Religious LibertyJim Wallis, Director of the Center on Faith +Justice, Georgetown UniversityTim Whitaker, Creator + Facilitator, The New EvangelicalsModerator: Joel Day, Managing Director of the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative, University of Notre DameFree visitor parking is available in the Stadium, Joyce, Walsh, and Compton lots on campus, located just south of the football stadium. Campus Map Lodging within walking distance of the conference center include The Morris Inn on campus, and the Embassy Suites by Hilton South Bend at Notre Dame and the Fairfield Inn & Suites South Bend at Notre Dame at Eddy Street Commons. The 2024 Election Postmortem event is hosted by the Center for Philosophy of Religion at the Unversity of Notre Dame. Please contact the Center for Philosophy of Religion with questions.

In this second teaching conference of the Organs and Origins series co-sponsored by the College of Science and the McGrath Institute for Church Life, scientists, philosophers and theologians will come together to consider initial causes in an interdisciplinary approach to “life, the universe and everything.” For more information, click here. Originally published at mcgrath.nd.edu.

Anne M. Hyland is senior lecturer in music analysis at the University of Manchester. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, focusing on the function of repetition in Schubert’s chamber music. Her 2023 book, Schubert’s String Quartets: The Teleology of Lyric Form (CUP), explores innovative ways that Schubert’s music integrates lyricism with sonata form. Her research also engages the music of Hummel, Onslow, and Chopin as part of a British Academy/Leverhulme-supported project and a Collaborative Strategic Partnership with the University of Toronto. Prof. Hyland was awarded the Anthony Pople Mid-Career Research Award of the Society for Music Analysis in September 2024 and a Teaching Excellence Award at the University of Manchester (2024) for her efforts to make music analysis more accessible to a diverse student body. For the complete abstract, download Hyland abstract [PDF, 90k]. This lecture is free and open to the public. Originally published at music.nd.edu.

How can we stand in solidarity with Palestinians seeking justice, while also avoiding antisemitism—and resist those who seek to conflate the two? Authors Shane Burley and Ben Lorber will share personal stories, historical reflections, and interview data from their recent book to discuss how to combat antisemitism and build true safety for Jews and all people. The conversation will be moderated by Atalia Omer, professor of religion, conflict and peace studies. Lunch will be provided. Originally published at kroc.nd.edu.

Register here  We hope you will join us each month for the Virtues & Vocations lunchtime webinar series, Conversations on Character & the Common Good. There is always time for audience questions. Sanford “Sandy” Shugart served from 2000 to 2021 as the fourth president of Valencia College in greater Orlando, Florida. He is a senior fellow with the Aspen Institute and the author of Leadership in the Crucible of Work: Discovering the Interior Life of an Authentic Leader. Our conversation will consider the broad landscape of higher education — and particularly pre-professional and professional education for flourishing within community colleges — along with issues of leadership and character. Virtues & Vocations is a national forum for scholars and practitioners across disciplines to consider how best to cultivate character in pre-professional and professional education. Virtues & Vocations hosts faculty workshops, an annual conference, and monthly webinars, and engages issues of character, professional identity, and moral purpose through our publications.

Register here Anna Moreland is the chair and director of the Villanova University Honors Program and Thomas W. Smith is dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at The Catholic University of America. Moreland and Smith will discuss their recent book, The Young Adult Playbook: Living Like It Matters and their work in education for flourishing among undergraduates. We hope you will join the Institute for Social Concerns each month for the Virtues & Vocations lunchtime webinar series, Conversations on Character & the Common Good. There is always time for audience questions. Virtues & Vocations is a national forum for scholars and practitioners across disciplines to consider how best to cultivate character in pre-professional and professional education. Virtues & Vocations hosts faculty workshops, an annual conference, and monthly webinars, and engages issues of character, professional identity, and moral purpose through our publications.

Register here Nathan Hatch served as the president of Wake Forest University for 16 years and previously served as provost at the University of Notre Dame. He recently published The Gift of Transformative Leaders(link is external). We will discuss this book and his lifelong commitment to making character central in higher education. We hope you will join the Institute for Social Concerns each month for the Virtues & Vocations lunchtime webinar series, Conversations on Character & the Common Good. There is always time for audience questions. Virtues & Vocations is a national forum for scholars and practitioners across disciplines to consider how best to cultivate character in pre-professional and professional education. Virtues & Vocations hosts faculty workshops, an annual conference, and monthly webinars, and engages issues of character, professional identity, and moral purpose through our publications.