The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education recently surveyed the best universities in America on the numbers of African-American board of trustee members for each respective University.

Notre Dame topped the list as the University having the most black trustees, with seven, including Angela Smith, the newest African-American trustee, and Condoleezza Rice, a top adviser to Governor George W. Bush in foreign affairs.

"The Board of Trustees is comprised of 53 individuals,"said Father Richard Warner, Counselor to the President, Director of Campus Ministry and member of the board since 1979. "Fortunately, we have a significant amount of diversity regarding race, gender and professional careers."

Warner assured that the diversity of the board resulted not from intentionally trying to fill quotas but because the minority trustees were extremely well-qualified.

"It's been amazing. I'm one of the two youngest trustees, yet my opinion is valued and elicited. The quality of the people on the board is amazing," said Smith when asked about her experience on the Board thus far.

Warner agreed with Smith's assessment of the character of the Board members.

"The Notre Dame Board of Trustees has at the center of their concern the University of Notre Dame: its faculty, alumni and staff — but most of all — the Notre Dame student," Warner said.

They want nothing but the best for their beloved alma mater, and they want to see Notre Dame grow day by day to the full stature of the Catholic university they know it to be and want it to become, according to Warner.

Although being an alumnus is not a requirement to serve on the Board, Warner said about 90 percent of all Board members are alumni. The Notre Dame Board of Trustees, created in 1967, was the first bicameral board in the nation. Before 1967, the University was owned by the Congregation of Holy Cross dating back to the time of Father Sorin.

In 1967, ownership of the University was passed to the Board of Fellows, a board that is part of the Board of Trustees.

Warner said that in 33 years, the Board of Fellows has never made a decision that was not unanimous. Today, University President Father Edward Malloy chairs the Board of Fellows.

In addition to owning the University, they are responsible for maintaining Notre Dame's Catholic character, the appointment of trustees and control of University statutes and by-laws that determine how the university is organized and administered.

Each trustee is chosen to serve a three-year term, and the Board meets three times a year. They form committees in Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Finance, Investments, Social Values and Responsibilities, and Nominations and Governance. After meeting in committee, the Board meets as a whole and presents general policy guidelines to the Administration.

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