U.S. Ambassador to the EU visits Notre Dame as second Nanovic Forum Diplomat in Residence
Mark Gitenstein, U.S. ambassador to the European Union (2022-25), will join the University of Notre Dame between March 22 and April 4 as the Nanovic Forum Diplomat in Residence at the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, part of Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs. During this residency, he will instruct the Deep Dive into Diplomacy course taught by Clemens Sedmak, director of the institute and professor of social ethics at the Keough School. Gitenstein will also offer a public lunch lecture on Wednesday (March 26) at 12:30 p.m. in 1030 Jenkins Nanovic Halls. He will speak on "The Future of Democracy in Europe.”
Before being named ambassador to the European Union, Gitenstein served as partner and counsel for Mayer Brown LLP for more than 30 years. He also held previous government roles, including serving as U.S. ambassador to Romania (2009-12) and working with the U.S. Senate Judiciary and Intelligence committees.
He will serve as the second Nanovic Forum Diplomat in Residence, following Catherine Arnold OBE, master of St. Edmund’s College at the University of Cambridge, and former British ambassador to Mongolia. This residency allows students to interact on a much deeper level with experts in diplomacy and enriches the course content.
Sedmak said, “We were so impressed by how much our students learned from classroom and one-to-one conversations with Ambassador Arnold last year that we could not wait to welcome our next Nanovic Forum Diplomat in Residence.”
He added that “Ambassador Gitenstein’s perspective and ability to bring in additional guest speakers in the field today will give students a very comprehensive picture of the international diplomatic landscape, especially with regard to Europe. These lessons are more timely than ever for our diplomacy students and the campus community at large, who will have a chance to hear from the ambassador at his public lecture.”
This public lecture will be co-sponsored through both the Nanovic Forum and the Notre Dame Democracy Initiative’s Democracy Talks series.
All Notre Dame students, faculty and staff, as well as the general public, are invited to this event. Participants will be offered lunch before the event, beginning at 12 p.m. and while supplies last. The event will be recorded and published afterward on the Nanovic Institute’s YouTube channel, as well as archived on its website where previous Nanovic Forum addresses may also be found.
Generously established by Robert and Elizabeth Nanovic, the Nanovic Forum’s mission is to bring Europe’s leaders from many fields to Notre Dame to explore, discuss and debate the most pressing questions about Europe today.
Past Nanovic Forum visitors have included, among many others, Giorgi Margvelashvili, former president of Georgia; Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, former president of Croatia; and Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Polish-American journalist.
Originally published by at nanovic.nd.edu on March 24.
Contact: Tracy DeStazio, associate director of media relations, 574-631-9958 or tdestazi@nd.edu
Latest ND News Wire
- Alumni Association announces 2025 spring award winnersThe University of Notre Dame Alumni Association honored several outstanding alumni and staff at its annual board of directors meeting in April. Throughout the year, the association presents awards in six key areas that reflect the University’s commitment to excellence: the arts, athletics, service to the Alumni Association, service to the country, service to humanity, and service to the University.
- Division of Student Affairs recognizes outstanding student leadersThe University of Notre Dame’s Division of Student Affairs honored seven graduating students at its 39th annual Student Leadership Awards banquet on April 14.
- Notre Dame faculty experts reflect on life and legacy of Pope FrancisAs the University of Notre Dame joins the Church and the world in mourning Pope Francis’ death, the University’s faculty experts reflect on his papacy, life and legacy.
- Statement from University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., on the passing of Pope FrancisUniversity of Notre Dame President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., joined today with leaders worldwide in mourning the death of Pope Francis at age 88.
- CANCELED: University to host Cardinal Pedro Barreto of Peru and Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana as part of Notre Dame ForumAs part of the 2024-25 Notre Dame Forum, Cardinal Pedro Ricardo Barreto Jimeno, S.J., of Peru and Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana will visit the University of Notre Dame to participate in a conversation with President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., at 11:30 a.m. April 25 in the Smith Ballroom of the Morris Inn. The conversation is open to the public and will also be livestreamed for both Spanish-speaking and English-speaking audiences.
- Statement on the sale of alcoholic beverages at Notre Dame basketball, football and hockey gamesThe sale of alcoholic beverages at Notre Dame football, hockey and basketball games will expand to include both premium and general admission seating beginning with the 2025 football season.
