Notre Dame opens new Washington Office to expand service and impact in nation’s capital
The University of Notre Dame marked the opening of its new Washington, D.C., office with a blessing and dedication ceremony, highlighting the University’s growing presence in the nation’s capital. As the leading U.S. Catholic research university, Notre Dame is deepening its commitment to shaping national and global dialogue through scholarship, service and civil discourse.
Located at 1201 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — just blocks from Capitol Hill and the White House — the new office will serve as Notre Dame’s hub for federal engagement, ensuring the University’s research and thought leadership effectively inform policy, public debate and innovation.
University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., was on hand for the dedication, joined by members of the University’s Board of Trustees, senior leadership, faculty, alumni and distinguished guests.
“This office will empower us to bring the fullness of Notre Dame — its values, research, people and faith — into closer dialogue with the pressing issues of our day,” Father Dowd said. “It will serve as a launching pad for collaboration, creativity, servant leadership and enduring impact in service of the common good.”
|
|
A national platform for Notre Dame’s mission
The Washington Office connects the University to the nation’s capital, working to ensure that Notre Dame’s scholarship, research and Catholic mission help shape public policy and civic discourse at the highest levels. Jointly led by Notre Dame Research and the Office of Public Affairs and Communications, the office also provides strategic guidance to campus leadership on federal policies and regulations that may affect the University.
As part of its interdisciplinary mission, the office strengthens relationships with Congress, federal agencies, the media and peer institutions, while also serving as a resource and connection point for Notre Dame faculty, students, alumni and friends across the country.
|
|
“Notre Dame has long been a part of the fabric of this consequential city — from our students interning on the Hill and in federal agencies, to faculty shaping policy through research and testimony, to alumni in leadership positions in government, law and public service,” said Laura McAleer, associate vice president for federal and Washington relations. “This new space reflects Notre Dame’s deepening commitment to that impactful work.”
The new location complements Notre Dame’s existing presence in the capital, including the Washington Program and the Keough School of Global Affairs Washington Office, which is the University’s first physical footprint in D.C. Located just a few blocks away from the new office, the Keough School leads essential global policy work and will continue to serve as a vital convening space for the Notre Dame community. Together, these locations strengthen Notre Dame’s impact and reach as a force for good in Washington and beyond.
Watch: From the Golden Dome to the Capitol Dome
See how Notre Dame’s mission comes to life in Washington in this short video:
For more information on Notre Dame’s work in Washington, visit washingtonoffice.nd.edu.
Originally published by at washingtonoffice.nd.edu on May 29.
Latest University News
- Notre Dame Democracy Initiative hosts bipartisan conversation with Western state governorsTwo Western state governors known to work across the aisle on policy issues such as water, housing and energy will visit the University of Notre Dame for a fireside chat about how Western state pragmatism can serve as a model for the country to overcome polarization.
- MBA student and alumnus to take part in Fighting Irish flyoverNotre Dame MBA student Maximo Navarro takes flight for the Fighting Irish football season opener.
- Justice Amy Coney Barrett to deliver Center for Citizenship and Constitutional Government lectureAmy Coney Barrett, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, will speak at the University of Notre Dame at 4 p.m. Sept. 12 in the Leighton Concert Hall of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.
- Forbes names Notre Dame top employer in Indiana for 2025Pictured from left: Nikki Buhrdorf, senior people strategy partner; Heather Hooley, senior people strategy partner; Jonathan Jones, learning and leadership development consultant; Julio Cruz Reyes, equal access and belonging program director; and Sue Mummert, EESO specialist. The University of Notre Dame has been named the top employer in Indiana by Forbes in its 2025 ranking of “America’s Best Employers by State.”
- New KinderCare facility to bring quality, convenient care to Notre Dame familiesKinderCare, in partnership with the University of Notre Dame, celebrated the opening of a new childcare center on the northern edge of campus with a ribbon cutting and reception on Tuesday, July 29.
- Statement from University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., on the anniversary of the atomic bombing of HiroshimaToday, on the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, Father Dowd offered remarks at the Elisabeth University of Music as a guest of its president, Yuji Kawano, and Bishop Alexis Mitsuru Shirahama of Hiroshima. Father Dowd focused on the role that universities can play in addressing the current nuclear predicament and the wider challenges of peace in today’s world.
