Nanovic Faculty Fellow Named as Director of London Program

Gregory Kucich, professor of English at the University of Notre Dame and Nanovic Institute Faculty Fellow, has been appointed director of the University’s London Undergraduate Program, effective July 1. He succeeds Paul Bradshaw, who served as the program’s director since 1997 and as director of the arts and letters program in London since 1995... (more)

Overseas studies troubled by economy

The AP released a story on May 1st on how the weak dollar is leading to challenges for students who wish study abroad during their college years. According to the Institute of International Education, study abroad programs have set record numbers in recent years, but the weakening dollar is causing the cost of these trips to rise dramatically. The Nanovic Institute for European Studies expects to continue expanding their grant programs to help students fund research and travel to Europe despite the strength of the Euro.

Fifteen seniors receive national scholarships and fellowships

The National Science Foundation, Fulbright Educational Exchange Program, Mitchell Scholarship Program and other national organizations have awarded postgraduate scholarships and fellowships to 15 University of Notre Dame seniors, including two former Nanovic Institute Grant Recipients.

Jessica Peyton, Philadelphia, Pa., received a Fulbright grant to study abroad in Georgia and Phillip Alday, Luling, La., received an Austrian Teaching Assistantship from DAAD Study Scholarships, which are awarded to graduating seniors with a well-defined study or research project that makes studies at universities in Germany essential.

Peyton and Alday received Undergraduate Research and Travel Grants from the Nanovic Institute for European Studies during the 2006-2007 academic year. Peyton received a Murphy McMahon Grant for Russian and East-Central European Studies for her project “Caucasus: The Russian Frontier”. Alday traveled to Italy and Austria to complete “E Pluribus Quot? Bilingual Government in the World Today”.

Stories of distinction: Class of 2008

Jennifer Korzan, Granger, Ind. – Shortly after collecting her arts and letters diploma, Korzan will be running off. Rather a long way off—in fact, to Tanzania, where she will volunteer at an orphanage on the outskirts of Dar-es-Salaam. An avid runner, Korzan has competed in the Boston and Chicago marathons, and one in Dublin, Ireland, and will almost certainly compete in the Mount Kenya marathon in Tanzania this summer, where she will be working for Hope Runs, a non-profit organization that uses athletics, education and social entrepreneurship to help AIDS orphans. Korzan intends to bring with her at least 1,000 donated pairs of running shoes (she is collecting new or gently used shoes appropriate for children ages five to 18) for the children who run daily, with several of the older ones competing in the Mount Kenya marathon. As Korzan recently told insidegranger46350 magazine, she chose Hope Runs because she “identified with its mission to use running to empower orphaned AIDS children.”

Korzan will graduate with a Minor in European Studies. Her thesis project was entitled "Time to Grow Up: Understanding the Goals of Europe's Youth for the Unification of the European Union".

Father Scully to speak at White House

Rev. Timothy R. Scully, C.S.C., professor of political science and director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI) at the University of Notre Dame, will present a speech titled “Higher Education: Signs of Hope” at the White House Summit on Inner-City Children and Faith-Based Schools on April 24 (Thursday) in Washington, D.C. Scully is also a Faculty Fellow of the Nanovic Institute for European Studies.

Knott Hall named Dorm of the Year for 2007-2008
Knott president Edward Barloh said Knott's success could be attributed to the wide variety of events the dorm hosted throughout the year, including charity events and discussion with professors. Barloh also worked with the Nanovic Institute to have Knott Hall residents attend the European Film Series as one of their dorm events for the academic year. "I believe the single-largest reason for Knott's success is that we organized an unprecedented amount of extremely successful events," Barloh said. "It was a lot of fun; I really enjoyed working with all of the other great dorms on campus."

Law School’s Carozza elected chair of human rights commission
Paolo Carozza, associate professor of law in the University of Notre Dame Law School and a Nanovic Institute Faculty Fellow, has been elected chairman of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) for 2008....

Fighting Irish research heritage of real Irish
Professor Ian Kuijt, along with some of his students, is exploring the history of Inis Airc, and other eroded, abandoned villages along Ireland’s west coast. Ryan Lash, a Nanovic Institute Grant Recipient for Undergraduate Research and Travel, is part of the expedition...

Nanovic Faculty Fellow to lead international colloquium on ancient philosophy
Gretchen Reydams-Schils, professor of liberal studies with a concurrent appointment in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame, will serve as co-presider of an international colloquium titled “Deciding Culture: Stobaeus’ Collection of Excerpts of Ancient Greek Authors,” March 5 to 8 at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Milan, Italy...

Law, political science professor Kommers wins major fellowship
Donald Kommers, Joseph and Elizabeth Robbie Professor of Political Science and professor of law in the Notre Dame Law School and Nanovic Institute Faculty Fellow, has received a Berlin Prize Fellowship from the American Academy in Berlin...

Law professor serves on human rights commission
As one of just seven elected members of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), Paolo Carozza, Faculty Fellow of the Nanovic Institute, takes both a bird’s eye view of and boots-on-the-ground approach to international human rights law....

Afsaruddin’s new book examines legacy of first Muslims
Asma Afsaruddin, associate professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at the University of Notre Dame, is the author of a new book titled “The First Muslims: History and Memory,” which explores how competing images of the earliest Muslims shape current Muslim discourses on critical issues. ...

Milton scholar publishes new book
Stephen M. Fallon, professor of liberal studies and English at the University of Notre Dame, is co-editor of “The Complete Poetry and Essential Prose of John Milton,” a new book that celebrates the genius of the 17th century English poet and is expected to become the standard Milton text for the classroom and for general readers...

Two Nanovic Facutly Fellows receive National Science Foundation Grant
The National Science Foundation has recently acknowledged the University of Notre Dame’s growing influence as a resource for high school science teacher enrichment with a $500,000 grant for continuing support of the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program.

The three-year grant was awarded to Wolfgang Porod, Frank M. Freimann Professor of Electrical Engineering, and Alexander Hahn, professor of mathematics and director of the Kaneb Center for Teaching and Learning, to support RET@ND.

First Year Studies Course opens gateway to European Research

Cecilia Lucero, the new Assistant Director of Undergraduate Research recently approached Holly Martin, Assistant Dean of First Year Studies and Concurrent Assistant Professor of English to modify her traditional course of “Introduction to the Fine Arts at Notre Dame” to “Introduction to Research in the Fine Arts”.  This First Year Studies course, to be offered during the Spring 2008 semester, will focus on arts from Europe as found at Notre Dame and will encourage students to seriously think about research opportunities earlier on in their college careers.  The Nanovic Institute plans to support this inititative in order to continue their mission of enriching students' academic experiences with European research and travel.

Senior takes part in experimental grant initiative to study abroad during break

Maria Iuppa, a major in Film, Television, and Theatre, had found the perfect resources for her senior thesis in Bologna, Italy just before she had to return to the United States. With support from the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, she was able to go back to Bologna this fall to continue her research of Italian comedic cinema of the 1950s and 1960s.

"Professor Manzoli assisted me in identifying the similarities between my chosen films, as well as recommended others. It proved an invaluable experience which would not have been possible had I not been able to return to the University of Bologna," said Maria.

The Nanovic Institute now awards grants of up to $1,500 to Notre Dame seniors who wish to use their fall or Christmas break to do additional research in Europe. The program is an experimental one as the Institute gauges the sucess of it with undergraduate research. More information on this and other programs sponsored by the Nanovic Institute can be found on their website.

Return Home