Alumni Association Awards
The James E. Armstrong Award
Established in 1978, the James E. Armstrong Award is conferred on an alumnus/alumna who is currently or has been an employee of Notre Dame and has rendered distinguished service to the University.
Recipient: Carol Mullaney ’82
Carol Mullaney ’82 currently serves as a senior director at University of Notre Dame in the Office of the President where she focuses on operations of the Board of Trustees; leads high-impact, strategic projects; manages and coordinates major University-wide events; and provides critical support to the President’s Leadership Council. In 2022, she co-led the University-wide Golden is Thy Fame celebration of the 50th anniversary of the admission of undergraduate women in 1972.
After a career in the corporate sector, Mullaney came to Notre Dame in 2010 to serve as its Director of Continuous Improvement for more than seven years before assuming the role of Senior Director of Sustainability and Logistics, and then joining the President's Office in 2021. She has also served as an instructor within the Mendoza College of Business MBA program and for the Moreau First Year Experience.
During the 2020-21 academic year, Mullaney provided leadership to several initiatives associated with the University’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent commitment to in-person learning and living, ultimately becoming director of the COVID Response Unit (CRU), which included oversight of the hotline, testing center, Student Compact Compliance, contact tracing, care and concern, and housing teams.
Prior to serving Notre Dame in a staff position, Mullaney served on the Notre Dame Alumni Association Board of Directors (2001-04) and was a member of the initial steering committee for ND Women Connect. In 2017, she was one of 32 core pilgrims who journeyed 320 miles from Vincennes to South Bend to commemorate Notre Dame’s 175th anniversary.
Mullaney earned a B.A. from Notre Dame in English and theology in 1982 and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Mullaney and her husband, Brian McMorrow ’81, live in South Bend.
“How humbling it is to be named as an Armstrong Award honoree, with many people I have known and respected, and to be honored by an organization that has meant so much to me — the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Serving Notre Dame in a variety of capacities has been a tremendous joy and privilege. Thank you to the Alumni Association Board of Directors for this amazing honor.”
After a career in the corporate sector, Mullaney came to Notre Dame in 2010 to serve as its Director of Continuous Improvement for more than seven years before assuming the role of Senior Director of Sustainability and Logistics, and then joining the President's Office in 2021. She has also served as an instructor within the Mendoza College of Business MBA program and for the Moreau First Year Experience.
During the 2020-21 academic year, Mullaney provided leadership to several initiatives associated with the University’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent commitment to in-person learning and living, ultimately becoming director of the COVID Response Unit (CRU), which included oversight of the hotline, testing center, Student Compact Compliance, contact tracing, care and concern, and housing teams.
Prior to serving Notre Dame in a staff position, Mullaney served on the Notre Dame Alumni Association Board of Directors (2001-04) and was a member of the initial steering committee for ND Women Connect. In 2017, she was one of 32 core pilgrims who journeyed 320 miles from Vincennes to South Bend to commemorate Notre Dame’s 175th anniversary.
Mullaney earned a B.A. from Notre Dame in English and theology in 1982 and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Mullaney and her husband, Brian McMorrow ’81, live in South Bend.
“How humbling it is to be named as an Armstrong Award honoree, with many people I have known and respected, and to be honored by an organization that has meant so much to me — the Notre Dame Alumni Association. Serving Notre Dame in a variety of capacities has been a tremendous joy and privilege. Thank you to the Alumni Association Board of Directors for this amazing honor.”
Past Recipients of this Award
2020— Robert M. Mundy ’76, ’81 M.A.
2019—Ann (Stockmann) Firth ’81, ’84 J.D.
2018—Sarah Craig ’98 M.N.A.
2017—Thomas Suddes ’71 (posthumously)
2016—Catherine F. Pieronek ’84, ’95 J.D. (posthumously)
2015—Ms. Jean T. Collier ’83
2014—Mr. Lee Tavis ’53
2011—Mr. Michael “Mike” Danch ’67
2010—Ms. Patricia A. O’Hara ’74 J.D.
2009—Ms. Missy Conboy ’82
2008—Mr. Kerry Temple ’74
2007—Mr. Rex J. Rakow ’82 M.S.A.
2006—Mr. Brian Boulac ’63, ’65 M.A.
2005—Rev. Paul F. Doyle, C.S.C., ’65, ’75 M.Th
2004—Mr. Dennis K. Moore ’70
2003—Mr. Joseph A. Russo ’92 Hon
2002—Mr. Daniel G. Reagan ’76
2001—Mr. Fernand “Tex” Dutile ’65 J.D.
2000—Mr. Scott C. Malpass ’84, ’86 M.B.A.
1999—Dr. James M. Moriarity, MD, ’72
1998—Dean David T. Link ’58, ’61 J.D.
1997—Rev. Thomas E. Blantz C.S.C., ’57, ’63 M.A.
1996—Ms. Barbara M. Turpin ’77 M.A., ’80 PhD
1995—Ms. Isabel Charles ’60, ’65 PhD
1994—Mr. Joseph F. O’Brien ’49
1993—Mr. Richard W. Conklin ’59
1992—Rev. Daniel R. Jenky CSC ’70, ’73 M.Th
1991—Mr. Roger O. Valdiserri ’54
1990—Rev. James L. Riehle C.S.C., ’49, ’78 M.S.A.
1989—Mr. Charles F. Lennon ’61 M.S., ’62 M.A.
1988—Mr. James V. Gibbons ’53
1987—Sr. John Miriam Jones SC ’61 M.S., ’70 PhD
1986—Mr. Michael A. DeCicco ’49, ’50 M.S.
1985—Mr. James E. Murphy ’47
1984—Mr. John N. Cackley ’37
1983—Rev. Edmund P. Joyce C.S.C., ’37
1982—Dr. Emil T. Hofman ’53 M.S., ’63 PhD
1981—Bro. Kieran Ryan C.S.C., ’45
1980—Mr. Edward W. Krause ’34
1979—Mr. Dominick J. Napolitano ’32, ’33 M.A.
1978—Mr. James W. Frick ’51
2019—Ann (Stockmann) Firth ’81, ’84 J.D.
2018—Sarah Craig ’98 M.N.A.
2017—Thomas Suddes ’71 (posthumously)
2016—Catherine F. Pieronek ’84, ’95 J.D. (posthumously)
2015—Ms. Jean T. Collier ’83
2014—Mr. Lee Tavis ’53
2011—Mr. Michael “Mike” Danch ’67
2010—Ms. Patricia A. O’Hara ’74 J.D.
2009—Ms. Missy Conboy ’82
2008—Mr. Kerry Temple ’74
2007—Mr. Rex J. Rakow ’82 M.S.A.
2006—Mr. Brian Boulac ’63, ’65 M.A.
2005—Rev. Paul F. Doyle, C.S.C., ’65, ’75 M.Th
2004—Mr. Dennis K. Moore ’70
2003—Mr. Joseph A. Russo ’92 Hon
2002—Mr. Daniel G. Reagan ’76
2001—Mr. Fernand “Tex” Dutile ’65 J.D.
2000—Mr. Scott C. Malpass ’84, ’86 M.B.A.
1999—Dr. James M. Moriarity, MD, ’72
1998—Dean David T. Link ’58, ’61 J.D.
1997—Rev. Thomas E. Blantz C.S.C., ’57, ’63 M.A.
1996—Ms. Barbara M. Turpin ’77 M.A., ’80 PhD
1995—Ms. Isabel Charles ’60, ’65 PhD
1994—Mr. Joseph F. O’Brien ’49
1993—Mr. Richard W. Conklin ’59
1992—Rev. Daniel R. Jenky CSC ’70, ’73 M.Th
1991—Mr. Roger O. Valdiserri ’54
1990—Rev. James L. Riehle C.S.C., ’49, ’78 M.S.A.
1989—Mr. Charles F. Lennon ’61 M.S., ’62 M.A.
1988—Mr. James V. Gibbons ’53
1987—Sr. John Miriam Jones SC ’61 M.S., ’70 PhD
1986—Mr. Michael A. DeCicco ’49, ’50 M.S.
1985—Mr. James E. Murphy ’47
1984—Mr. John N. Cackley ’37
1983—Rev. Edmund P. Joyce C.S.C., ’37
1982—Dr. Emil T. Hofman ’53 M.S., ’63 PhD
1981—Bro. Kieran Ryan C.S.C., ’45
1980—Mr. Edward W. Krause ’34
1979—Mr. Dominick J. Napolitano ’32, ’33 M.A.
1978—Mr. James W. Frick ’51
The Dr. William P. Sexton Award
Established in 2001, the Dr. William P. Sexton Award honors non-alumni of Notre Dame who have contributed outstanding service to the University and whose lives exemplify the spirit of the University.
Recipient: Guiorgie “Gia” Kvaratskhelia
Now entering his 10th season at the helm of the Notre Dame fencing program, Guiorgie “Gia” Kvaratskhelia has perhaps done more to rewrite the Fighting Irish record books than anyone who came before him. Just last month, Kvaratskhelia and the Irish captured the program’s 13th national championship — the fifth during his head coach tenure — becoming the first team on campus to win three consecutive titles.
Since joining the Irish staff as an assistant in 2007, Kvaratskhelia has overseen a thriving foil program. Irish foilists have captured 11 individual national titles since 2010, including four-time winner Lee Kiefer ’17 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017) and two-time winners Gerek Meinhardt ’13, ’15 MBA (2010, 2015) and Nick Itkin ’22 (2018, 2019). Additionally, since assuming the head coaching role ahead of the 2015 season, Kvaratskhelia has overseen 13 individual champions across all three weapons categories, including sabreuse Francesca Russo ’18 (2015, 2017) and junior sabreur Luke Linder (2021, 2023).
Kvaratskhelia has also led the Irish to extraordinary success in conference competition, with the men’s and women’s squads claiming seven Atlantic Coast Conference Championships each. He has led Irish fencers to 43 out of a possible 54 individual conference weapons titles and has been named ACC Coach or Co-Coach of the Year five times each on both the men’s and women’s sides.
Kvaratskhelia — who became a United States citizen in 2004 — immigrated to the U.S. in 1994 from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. After coming to the U.S., he ventured into coaching at the club level and remained active in his own fencing career. In 1993, he received his bachelor’s degree in physical education and sport from the Georgian State Physical Training Institute in his hometown of Tbilisi and earned a sports journalism certificate from that institution in 1992.
Kvaratskhelia and his wife, Dani Edson, have one daughter, Maya, and one son, Alexander.
“I'm truly humbled to receive the Dr. William P. Sexton Award. It has been a privilege to work with my many colleagues and friends here at Notre Dame and to serve the extraordinary students who come here. I hope to continue to live up to the standard that the past recipients have set.”
Since joining the Irish staff as an assistant in 2007, Kvaratskhelia has overseen a thriving foil program. Irish foilists have captured 11 individual national titles since 2010, including four-time winner Lee Kiefer ’17 (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017) and two-time winners Gerek Meinhardt ’13, ’15 MBA (2010, 2015) and Nick Itkin ’22 (2018, 2019). Additionally, since assuming the head coaching role ahead of the 2015 season, Kvaratskhelia has overseen 13 individual champions across all three weapons categories, including sabreuse Francesca Russo ’18 (2015, 2017) and junior sabreur Luke Linder (2021, 2023).
Kvaratskhelia has also led the Irish to extraordinary success in conference competition, with the men’s and women’s squads claiming seven Atlantic Coast Conference Championships each. He has led Irish fencers to 43 out of a possible 54 individual conference weapons titles and has been named ACC Coach or Co-Coach of the Year five times each on both the men’s and women’s sides.
Kvaratskhelia — who became a United States citizen in 2004 — immigrated to the U.S. in 1994 from the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. After coming to the U.S., he ventured into coaching at the club level and remained active in his own fencing career. In 1993, he received his bachelor’s degree in physical education and sport from the Georgian State Physical Training Institute in his hometown of Tbilisi and earned a sports journalism certificate from that institution in 1992.
Kvaratskhelia and his wife, Dani Edson, have one daughter, Maya, and one son, Alexander.
“I'm truly humbled to receive the Dr. William P. Sexton Award. It has been a privilege to work with my many colleagues and friends here at Notre Dame and to serve the extraordinary students who come here. I hope to continue to live up to the standard that the past recipients have set.”
Past Recipients of this Award
2020—Timothy F. and Martha H. Sutherland
2019—Al and Cathy Annexstad
2018—Kevin Corrigan
2017—Mitch and Marie Budzon
2016—Les McCarthy
2013—Rudolf L. Brutoco, M.D., M.P.H.
2010—Brother Louis Hucik, C.S.C.
2010—Brother Frank Gorsch, C.S.C.
2003—Adam Arnold, Ph.D.
2001—William P. Sexton, Ph.D.
2019—Al and Cathy Annexstad
2018—Kevin Corrigan
2017—Mitch and Marie Budzon
2016—Les McCarthy
2013—Rudolf L. Brutoco, M.D., M.P.H.
2010—Brother Louis Hucik, C.S.C.
2010—Brother Frank Gorsch, C.S.C.
2003—Adam Arnold, Ph.D.
2001—William P. Sexton, Ph.D.
The Dr. Thomas A. Dooley Award
Established in 1984, the Dr. Thomas A. Dooley Award is conferred on an alumnus/alumna (living or deceased) who has exhibited outstanding service to humankind.
Recipient: Robert J. Dempsey M.D., ’73
Dr. Robert J. Dempsey ’73 is the Manucher Javid Professor and Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Wisconsin. He specializes in cranial neurosurgery of
brain tumors, intracranial aneurysms, carotid endarterectomy, and the repair of congenital brain
stem disorders, and co-directs the UW Stroke Program.
With a philosophy of “Service Through Education,” Dempsey is committed to solving health disparities by training, equipping, and mentoring generations of physicians in worldwide areas of need. The former president of the U.S. Society of Neurological Surgeons (SNS), he also chairs the Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery (FIENS), helping establish and support over 20 training programs in developing countries in Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America.
Dempsey has received the Humanitarian Award from American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Distinguished Service Awards from the Neurological Society of America, the SNS, and the University of Chicago Medical Alumni Association, noting a lifetime commitment to science, mentoring, neurosurgical service, and education nationally and internationally. In 2022, he received the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Medal of Honor, the highest award in world neurosurgery.
In recognition of a lifetime of worldwide mentoring of resident and young faculty, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons has named its annual resident award the Robert J. Dempsey Research Award for Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery in his honor. In 2018, the Society of Neurological Surgeons awarded Dempsey the National Medical Student Teaching Award in recognition of his role as an outstanding educator and mentor in the U.S.
With over 35 years of NIH funding, Dempsey has multiple research projects with a focus on education, global health, cerebral ischemia, vascular cognitive decline, and repair of the injured brain with over 300 publications, an H-index of 83, and over 100 research grants.
The humanitarian work of Dr. Thomas Dooley has been an inspiration to me from the first day I set foot on Notre Dame’s campus. His lesson of Health and Hope is the greatest of gifts, both given and received by us when we partner with all. I am deeply humbled and wish to share this honor with all who have - and continue to - inspire me.
With a philosophy of “Service Through Education,” Dempsey is committed to solving health disparities by training, equipping, and mentoring generations of physicians in worldwide areas of need. The former president of the U.S. Society of Neurological Surgeons (SNS), he also chairs the Foundation for International Education in Neurological Surgery (FIENS), helping establish and support over 20 training programs in developing countries in Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America.
Dempsey has received the Humanitarian Award from American Association of Neurological Surgeons and Distinguished Service Awards from the Neurological Society of America, the SNS, and the University of Chicago Medical Alumni Association, noting a lifetime commitment to science, mentoring, neurosurgical service, and education nationally and internationally. In 2022, he received the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies Medal of Honor, the highest award in world neurosurgery.
In recognition of a lifetime of worldwide mentoring of resident and young faculty, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons has named its annual resident award the Robert J. Dempsey Research Award for Cerebrovascular Neurosurgery in his honor. In 2018, the Society of Neurological Surgeons awarded Dempsey the National Medical Student Teaching Award in recognition of his role as an outstanding educator and mentor in the U.S.
With over 35 years of NIH funding, Dempsey has multiple research projects with a focus on education, global health, cerebral ischemia, vascular cognitive decline, and repair of the injured brain with over 300 publications, an H-index of 83, and over 100 research grants.
The humanitarian work of Dr. Thomas Dooley has been an inspiration to me from the first day I set foot on Notre Dame’s campus. His lesson of Health and Hope is the greatest of gifts, both given and received by us when we partner with all. I am deeply humbled and wish to share this honor with all who have - and continue to - inspire me.
Past Recipients of this Award
2020—Mary Meg McCarthy, J.D., ’80
2019—Kevin R. Kerrigan, M.D., FACS ’72
2018—Sister Katherine Seibert, M.D., ’67 M.S., ’73 Ph.D.
2017—John P. May, M.D. ’84
2016—Rev. Thomas Streit, C.S.C., ’80, ’85
M.Div., ’91 M.S., ’94 Ph.D. and Peter J. Daly, M.D. ’82
2014—Dr. Michael L. Mara, M.D.,’86
2013—Rev. Joseph William Uhen ’80
2012—Dr. Roy Seitz, M.D., ’74
2011—Mr. Victor Dukay, Ph.D., ’78
2010—Mr. Thomas Tauras ’72
2009—Dr. Michael Brady, M.D., ’73
2008—Dr. Edward Charles Murphy ’65, ’66
2007—Dr. Daniel Towle, M.D., ’77
2006—Ms. Mary McCann Sanchez ’79 M.A.
2005—Sr. Joan Chittister, O.S.B., ’68 M.A.
2004—Dr. Paul Wright ’72
2003—Dr. James O’Connell ’70
2002—Ms. Mary Brosnahan Sullivan ’83
2001—Dr. Angelo “Ang” Capozzi Jr., M.D., ’56
2000—Mr. John Adams ’88
1999—Mr. Erik G. Janowsky ’87
and Dr. David Gaus, M.D., ’84
1998—Mr. Robert Burke ’94
1997—Ms. Kathleen M. Osberger ’75
1996—Mr. Joseph L. Berry ’43
1995—Rev. Louis J. Putz, C.S.C., ’32
1994—Mr. Louis M. Nanni ’84, ’88 M.A.
1993—Ms. Julie K. O’Brien ’86
and Mr. Sean P. O’Brien ’86
1992—Dr. Dennis M. Nigro, M.D., ’69
1991—Bro. William J. Tomes Jr., ’59, ’62 M.A.
1990—Mr. Alan P. Sondej ’74
1989—Rev. Robert J. Lombardo, O.F.M., ’79
1988—Ms. Cecilia H. Prinster ’76
1987—Mr. Michael K. Novell ’75
1986—Ms. Ann C. Titus ’80
1985—Mr. Michael B. Bowler ’77
2019—Kevin R. Kerrigan, M.D., FACS ’72
2018—Sister Katherine Seibert, M.D., ’67 M.S., ’73 Ph.D.
2017—John P. May, M.D. ’84
2016—Rev. Thomas Streit, C.S.C., ’80, ’85
M.Div., ’91 M.S., ’94 Ph.D. and Peter J. Daly, M.D. ’82
2014—Dr. Michael L. Mara, M.D.,’86
2013—Rev. Joseph William Uhen ’80
2012—Dr. Roy Seitz, M.D., ’74
2011—Mr. Victor Dukay, Ph.D., ’78
2010—Mr. Thomas Tauras ’72
2009—Dr. Michael Brady, M.D., ’73
2008—Dr. Edward Charles Murphy ’65, ’66
2007—Dr. Daniel Towle, M.D., ’77
2006—Ms. Mary McCann Sanchez ’79 M.A.
2005—Sr. Joan Chittister, O.S.B., ’68 M.A.
2004—Dr. Paul Wright ’72
2003—Dr. James O’Connell ’70
2002—Ms. Mary Brosnahan Sullivan ’83
2001—Dr. Angelo “Ang” Capozzi Jr., M.D., ’56
2000—Mr. John Adams ’88
1999—Mr. Erik G. Janowsky ’87
and Dr. David Gaus, M.D., ’84
1998—Mr. Robert Burke ’94
1997—Ms. Kathleen M. Osberger ’75
1996—Mr. Joseph L. Berry ’43
1995—Rev. Louis J. Putz, C.S.C., ’32
1994—Mr. Louis M. Nanni ’84, ’88 M.A.
1993—Ms. Julie K. O’Brien ’86
and Mr. Sean P. O’Brien ’86
1992—Dr. Dennis M. Nigro, M.D., ’69
1991—Bro. William J. Tomes Jr., ’59, ’62 M.A.
1990—Mr. Alan P. Sondej ’74
1989—Rev. Robert J. Lombardo, O.F.M., ’79
1988—Ms. Cecilia H. Prinster ’76
1987—Mr. Michael K. Novell ’75
1986—Ms. Ann C. Titus ’80
1985—Mr. Michael B. Bowler ’77