Updates from Notre Dame's Washington Office

March 2025

DOMERS IN THE DISTRICT

University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., visited Washington in January to celebrate a New Year’s Mass and engage with lawmakers and staff on both sides of the aisle, reaffirming the University’s dedication to civic engagement and shaping the next generation of servant leaders. In his homily, he echoed Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C.’s vision of Notre Dame as a university that “would build bridges toward a more perfect union and the common good.” 

Read more about the Mass >

Students from the Notre Dame Washington Program with Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C.

Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., blesses the sacraments at a New Year’s Mass at St. Joseph’s on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Fresh off their trip to the National Championship, Notre Dame football head coach Marcus Freeman and Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua visited our nation’s capital, connecting with bipartisan members of Congress to advocate for Fighting Irish student-athletes through strengthened federal protections.

The University has been a long-standing supporter of its student-athletes and continues to be a leading voice on the urgent need for federal action to preserve our cherished national institution of college athletics.

Coach Freeman with staff from Notre Dame’s Washington Office.

Coach Freeman and AD Bevacqua with Sen. Todd Young (R-IN).

Coach Freeman and AD Bevacqua with Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA).

At a Capitol Hill briefing on federal student aid, Cindy Sachire, Assistant Vice President for Student Financial Services, updated policymakers on the University’s historic Pathways to Notre Dame initiative. Under the initiative, starting in fall 2025, Notre Dame will eliminate loans from financial aid packages for undergraduate students and expand need-blind admissions to all students.

Read more on Cindy’s visit to Capitol Hill and the Pathways initiative >

House Education & Workforce Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) with Notre Dame’s Assistant Vice President of Student Financial Services and Enrollment Operations, Cindy Sachire, on Capitol Hill. 

Cindy Sachire briefs congressional staff on the Pathways to Notre Dame initiative at a federal student aid briefing on Capitol Hill.

In March, the Keough School of Global Affairs and the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good jointly convened experts from government, civil society, and the private sector for an AI & Labor Policy workshop in DC. Focused on leveraging AI to help workers adapt and thrive during a time of rapid technological change, the workshop included remarks from Mary Gallagher, Dean of the Keough School, and Meghan Sullivan, Director of the Ethics Initiative, on the many ways Notre Dame can inform ethical and innovative AI policy and practice.

Read more about the workshop > 

Meghan Sullivan delivers introductory remarks at the AI & Labor Policy workshop, hosted in March at the Keough School’s Washington office.

David Deming, professor of Political Economy at Harvard Kennedy School, participates in discussion. Deming delivered the workshop’s keynote address.

The Notre Dame Club of Washington, D.C. recently hosted a Hesburgh Lecture with Patricia Culligan, Dean of the College of Engineering. Dean Culligan emphasized the college’s mission to drive innovation by translating research discoveries into real-world impact, highlighting how engineering students are trained to contribute meaningfully to a world deeply in need. 

Watch Dean Culligan's Hesburgh Lecture >

Dean Patricia Culligan delivers her Hesburgh Lecture.

In March, the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs sent Brandon Santiago, a second-year Notre Dame Law School student and U.S. Coast Guard veteran, to Washington to advocate for veterans during the Student Veterans of America's Washington Week. As part of his visit, Santiago met with Congressman Pat Fallon (ND ‘90) and Congressman Rudy Yakym (ND ‘19) to share his story and champion education policies that support student veterans’ success. 

Read more about Santiago's advocacy on Capitol Hill > 

Santiago receives a lapel pin from Congressman Fallon (ND ‘90).

Santiago and Congressman Yakym (ND MBA ‘19) pose for a photo after their meeting.

SCIENCE FOR SERVICE

Notre Dame researchers have developed an AI tool that can detect a person’s heart rate and vital signs from over 70 yards away using only video analysis. Ph.D. candidate Colton Crum showcased this technology at the Capitol, emphasizing its potential applications in healthcare, infectious disease monitoring, identity security, and transportation safety, while also highlighting the need for federal action on AI safety.

Read more about Crum's demonstration on Capitol Hill >

Ph. D. candidate Colton Crum with Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL) at the Center for AI Policy’s Congressional Exhibition on Advanced AI.

Crum demoed the tool for elected officials.

UPCOMING EVENTS

As part of a larger spring networking series held in partnership with several campus partners, our office is co-hosting 'National Security & Intelligence: Thriving in Times of Transition,' a professional development panel discussion and networking reception designed for young professionals navigating DC's rapidly changing national security and intelligence landscape. Please RSVP here — we hope to see you on April 15!

Save the date for the second panel discussion, 'Global Development Careers: Adapting to a Changing Landscape,' co-hosted with the Keough School of Global Affairs for young professionals with a focus on international development.

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