The year 2024 featured remarkable achievements and impactful events at Holy Cross College that cemented its place as a leader in the greater South Bend community. From fostering leadership and community engagement to welcoming influential speakers and launching new initiatives, the college has continued building on its rich academic excellence and service tradition. As the year concludes, here are standout events and additions that have shaped campus life and inspired incoming and current students.
Holy Cross College Establishes Center for Leadership and Professional Excellence
Why it’s interesting: In collaboration with the University of Notre Dame, Holy Cross College is creating the Center for Leadership and Professional Excellence in downtown South Bend. This initiative, announced in August, is part of a new tech and talent district funded in part by a $30 million grant to Notre Dame from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its College and Community Collaboration (CCC) initiative.
The College announced the appointment of Alex Hammel as the center’s Executive Director in October. Hammel will oversee the development and implementation of innovative programs that bridge the gap between traditional education and the evolving needs of the 21st-century workforce.
To be located within the revitalized South Bend Tribune building, the Center will be a part of the Downtown South Bend Tech and Talent Hub, supported through a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to the University of Notre Dame. The hub aims to foster regional economic growth, community development, and research and development.
The Courage to Act Series Spotlights High-Impact Learning Practices
Why it’s interesting: Launched this year, The Courage to Act series highlights Holy Cross’s mission to educate global citizens. In the series’ first installment, Dr. Kate Barrett and her aquatic ecology students conducted hands-on research on the Saint Joseph River, transforming education into action while addressing critical environmental issues.
Executive Leadership Series Brings Thought-Provoking Speakers to Campus
Why it’s interesting: The year introduced Leading the Holy Cross Way: An Executive Series with President Marco J. Clark, Ed.D. This new initiative provided students, the tri-campus community, and local residents an opportunity to engage with distinguished leaders such as Father Edward “Monk” Malloy, Susan Ford, Dr. Craig Phelps, Daniel Fitzpatrick, and more.
In launching the series, Dr. Clark said, “The senior executives who will join us on campus are known to be individuals of distinction and honor among their peers in terms of accomplishment, character, and Godly leadership over a lifetime – considered to be a leader among leaders. Or, as the apostle Paul would say, ‘a leader above reproach.’”
Watch entries from the series on the Holy Cross YouTube account.
Holy Cross College Debuts New Sacred Space on Campus
Why it’s interesting: Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend dedicated a new outdoor sacred space, Our Lady of Holy Cross, on Sept. 4. Located between North Hall and Pulte Hall, the space offers a serene environment for prayer, evangelization, and reflection, embodying the hope and salvation of Christ through the Cross. The space received international coverage from OSV News and WBST.
Those that enter this sacred space view the story of salvation through works of sculpted art: the Tree of Life that was barred from Adam and Eve following the Fall (cf. Genesis 3), the new Tree of Life that is the wood of the Cross, on which hung our Salvation and Hope – Jesus Christ, and the Blessed Virgin Mary, who stands in the middle as Daughter of Israel and the New Eve who participates in the New Adam’s work of Redemption. Entering this sacred ground will allow one to discover their place in salvation history as children of God who hope in their salvation, and as children of Mary, Mother of the Church.
Cardinal Gerhard Müller Delivers Fall Mind & Heart Lecture
Why it’s interesting: Before an audience of 300 people on Sept. 23, Cardinal Müller delivered a lecture entitled “The Significance of Theology for the Church and the University.” He presented theology as a specific science that is historical, speculative, and practical, emphasizing that “if theology wants to do justice to its task, it cannot limit itself to a simple discourse on faith, or to a mere explanation of church doctrine.”
This Fall’s Mind & Heart Lecture was co-sponsored by Saint Augustine’s Press and Emmaus Academic (Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology). The Cardinal’s newest book, True and False Reform: What it Means to Be Catholic, is published by Emmaus Academic and was available for sale following the lecture. The Cardinal was present at the post-lecture reception signing many books and speaking with attendees.
Dr. Jerome Adams Leads Public Health Conversation as Fall 2024 Distinguished Visiting Professor
Why it’s interesting: Holy Cross College welcomed Dr. Jerome Adams, the 20th Surgeon General of the United States and Purdue University Presidential Fellow for Community Health Education Advancement & Learning (HEAL), as the Fall 2024 Distinguished Visiting Professor.
During his two-day visit, Dr. Adams engaged with 60 Holy Cross students enrolled in his 1-credit course, Crisis and Chaos: Lessons from the Front Lines of the War Against COVID-19. Through interactive sessions, students explored key themes from his book of the same title, gaining firsthand insights into leadership, resilience, and the complexities of navigating a global pandemic.
The experience culminated in a public lecture on November 14, where Dr. Adams addressed critical topics in public health, including equitable healthcare access, systemic disparities, and the importance of community partnerships. Students played an active role in the discussion, making the event both engaging and impactful.
Holy Cross College Successfully Supports Thanksgiving Basket Drive
Why it’s interesting: Demonstrating a longstanding commitment to community outreach, Holy Cross College completed its annual Thanksgiving Basket Drive, bringing joy to forty local families in need. For over 20 years, students, faculty, and staff have collaborated to ensure that families in the South Bend area have a special Thanksgiving meal.
This year, the campus community raised $4,000 to provide baskets, each containing over $100 worth of holiday staples, to families identified by the local St. Vincent de Paul Society. Partnering with Martin’s Super Markets at Heritage Square, the college ensured each family received a generous assortment of items for their Thanksgiving dinner.