University of Notre Dame wins award for excellence in campus internationalization
In recognition of its outstanding commitment to internationalization both on campus and across the globe, the University of Notre Dame has been selected to receive the 2025 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization.
Named for the late Sen. Paul Simon, a longtime proponent of international education, the award is given by NAFSA: Association of International Educators to honor excellence in integrating international education throughout all facets of university and college campuses.
Notre Dame — which has 12 global locations, 92 study abroad programs, and active research projects in 67 countries — was one of only five universities to receive the award this year.
“At Notre Dame, our global engagement strengthens our research programs, prepares our students to be capable and compassionate leaders, and enhances our Catholic mission,” said University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. “ Since its founding, Notre Dame has been committed to being a great force for good in the world.”
Notre Dame Global leads the University’s internationalization efforts, which are focused on fostering an inclusive global community throughout campus, in addition to offering integrative learning experiences, collaborative global research and equitable international partnerships, said Michael Pippenger, vice president and associate provost for internationalization.
“This award is a testament to the time, talent, energy and passion contributed over many years by our colleagues on campus and across Notre Dame’s global network,” Pippenger said. “This work will continue to propel the University into becoming an ever more global institution, and reinforce our shared belief that at Notre Dame, everyone has a role to play in creating a welcoming community that allows all to flourish.”
From 1998 to 2023, Notre Dame increased its percentage of international students in the first-year class from 1 percent to 8 percent, and as part of its new strategic framework, the University has committed to continuing to raise that percentage. To that end, the University announced its Pathways to Notre Dame program last fall. The program expands Notre Dame’s need-blind policy to include both domestic and international students — making the University one of only nine institutions in the U.S. to do so.
The University has also received national recognition for its commitment to internationalization and global education from the Institute of International Education, consistently appearing in the institute’s top 10 rankings for study abroad participation for more than two decades. For the 2022-23 academic year, study abroad participation among Notre Dame undergraduates increased by more than 10 percentage points from the previous year — from 77 to 87.5 percent.
Additional recipients of the 2025 Senator Paul Simon Award for Comprehensive Internationalization include Pennsylvania State University, San Diego State University, the University of Arizona and the University of Georgia. Awardees will be honored during NAFSA’s annual conference this spring. With more than 10,000 members and international educators worldwide, NAFSA is the largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange.
Latest ND News Wire
- Dan Cook appointed University architect and vice president for facilities design and operationsThe University of Notre Dame has appointed Dan Cook as its new University architect and vice president for facilities design and operations. 1996 Notre Dame alumnus, Cook succeeds Doug Marsh, who served as the inaugural University architect and will continue as a key leader of the facilities design and operations team through May.
- The New Yorker’s Jonathan Blitzer to speak at Notre Dame on how immigration became a political crisisThe Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights is bringing The New Yorker’s Jonathan Blitzer to campus for an in-depth discussion about immigration. His talk will take place at 4 p.m. on Feb. 26 (Wednesday) in the auditorium of the Hesburgh Center for International Studies. The event is free and open to the general public; no tickets are required.
- Notre Dame named America’s Best Large Employer by ForbesForbes has named the University of Notre Dame as America’s Best Large Employer for the first time, leading 700 other organizations with at least 5,000 employees. Notre Dame has appeared on the Best Large Employer list six times, most recently as the 20th-ranked employer and top educational…
- Notre Dame celebrates Black History MonthBlack History Month, observed annually in the United States during the month of February, provides an opportunity to reflect on the achievements, experiences and heritage of Black Americans. The University of Notre Dame will celebrate Black History Month with a variety of activities and resources.
- University of Notre Dame and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile dual PhD program welcomes all disciplinesBuilding on a long history of partnership, the University of Notre Dame and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile have announced the expansion of their dual Ph.D. program. Previously available to engineering students, the program now welcomes candidates from all academic disciplines, reflecting the universities’ shared vision for international collaboration and promoting academic innovation.
- Three Notre Dame Faculty Recognized in 2025 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence RankingsThree University of Notre Dame faculty members have been named to the 2025 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings. This prestigious annual list recognizes the 200 scholars whose academic work has most influenced educational practice and policy nationwide.
