The remarkable journey of Nathan and Djemillah exemplifies the power of perseverance, collaborative innovation, and shared passion for sustainability. Their story highlights how familial support and the application of humility and intellectual curiosity can drive transformative change both locally and globally.
As the leader of a global Catholic research university with a presence on five continents, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., will draw on a rich background of global experience that includes deep connections to the University’s Keough School of Global Affairs and Notre Dame Global.
Research from the Language of Instruction Transition in Education Systems (LITES) study, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), tackles this issue directly. A blog post from Pulte Institute Faculty TJ D'Agostino and USAID's Anna Angarola with insghts from the LITES study was recently featured on USAID's Education Links website.
In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Mandela Washington Fellowship program at Notre Dame, we had the privilege of speaking with a few of our alums. They shared how the Fellowship at Notre Dame has profoundly impacted their lives, enabling them to use their experiences and knowledge to do extraordinary work in the world.
Forests can reduce hunger in rural households while also capturing carbon and advancing sustainability goals for low- and middle-income countries, according to new research by University of Notre Dame experts.
Simbarashe ‘Simba’ Absolom Murondoti, a 2023 University of Notre Dame Mandela Washington Fellowship alum, returned to campus in May to participate in the IDEA Center’s McCloskey New Venture Competition. He recently shared his experience with the Pulte Institute.
The incidence of low birth weight rose sharply in India amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research from Santosh Kumar, associate professor of development and global health economics at Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs.
On June 25, Dr. Nancy Rydberg and Mr. Kevin Mann delivered a webinar for the Research Technical Assistance Center entitled "From Evidence to Uptake". During the presentation, Rydberg and Mann introduced the process that Notre Dame led, along with research partners, to carry out cross-national writing and research communications workshops.
The 2024 Mandela Washington Fellows, 13 women and 11 men, come from 21 countries: Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Côte d'ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, The Gambia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. All of the Fellows share a common entrepreneurial spirit and have proven successes in promoting innovation and positive change in their professional and personal communities.
Sam Gadway, Saad Kamil, Muhindo Malunga, and Valentina Muñoz are in Nigeria to research social cohesion in NGOs and the private sector. Through the i-Lab program, Keough School Master of Global Affairs students spend a summer collecting and coding global development-related data in the field.
In low- and middle-income countries, anemia reduction efforts are often touted as a way to improve educational outcomes and reduce poverty. A new study, co-authored by a Notre Dame global health economics expert, evaluates the relationship between anemia and school attendance in India, debunking earlier research that could have misguided policy interventions.
The earthquake that struck southwest Haiti in August 2021 killed thousands of people and left more than half a million seeking help. New research by a University of Notre Dame expert finds that the assessment of this disaster can serve as a model for evaluating future disasters and making life-saving improvements.
The University of Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs and the Organization of American States have launched a new partnership to strengthen democracy and defend human rights efforts across Latin America. To that end, the institutions will collaborate on joint research and policy projects, exchange faculty experts and train undergraduate and postgraduate students and researchers who work in development, human rights and democracy.
The University of Notre Dame will support the Institute of International Education’s USAID award of the Centroamérica en Ascenso Fellowship as one of three academic institutions providing a haven for individuals working on behalf of human rights in Central America. Applications for one- and two-year fellowships through the program are open now through June 7, 2024 for the inaugural cohort.
In an article in The Conversation, Senior Researcher Estela Rivero discusses her research with colleagues Tom Hare and Laura Miller-Graff, showing that employed youth with strong support networks are more likely to migrate to the U.S. for better opportunities. “This challenges conventional wisdom,” she writes. “The reality we found is complex and highlights the nuanced interaction between resilience and migration intentions.”
Mary Gallagher, the Amy and Alan Lowenstein Chair in Democracy, Democratization and Human Rights and director of the International Institute at the University of Michigan, has been appointed the Marilyn Keough Dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs by University President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C. Gallagher, who will also hold a tenured faculty position in the Keough School, begins her five-year term as dean on July 1.
In commemoration of Earth Day, we're highlighting a recent gathering featuring the Keough School's Ellis Adjei Adams and Tracy Kijewski-Correa and Biological Science's Jason Rohr discussing the pressing necessity of adapting to global warming. They highlight why fighting climate change is so urgent and why it’s important to create resilient, forward-looking infrastructure that anticipates future challenges rather than relying on outdated models.
Drawing from lived experiences in rural Kenya, Caleb Ndaka analyzed experiences of teachers to understand challenges and opportunities of achieving equitable and inclusive digital learning in low-income settings.
These entrepreneurs and mentors have led the way and opened doors for others. And they have no plans to stop. The Keough School's Social Entrepreneurship Day not only celebrates the ingenuity and perseverance of innovators but encourages undergraduates to embark on their own journeys.
Pulte’s Danice Brown Guzmán and ND BIG Lab’s Eva Dziadula’s research study in Nepal reveals the complex relationship between child labor and school attendance, highlighting gender disparities and differing perceptions between children and adults.
In the current debate about localization, we need to consider our accountability to local actors, argues SHARE Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Director Katharina Anton-Erxleben. A poignant moment with a local colleague in Uganda revealed the cultural tensions and power imbalances in global aid efforts. It's time, Anton-Erxleben says, for a reimagined approach that values local voices and fosters genuine collaboration.
A study by Pulte Institute researchers explores the relationship between the social resources of Honduran youth and their intentions to migrate. Contrary to common beliefs, the study found a reduced desire to stay put among young Hondurans who are employed and have strong support networks. Instead, those with jobs leading fairly comfortable lives are the ones most intent to leave.
The Pulte Institute announces its selection as an Institute Partner for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. Beginning in mid-June, Pulte will host its tenth cohort of emerging African business leaders for a six-week Leadership Institute sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Selected through a rigorous application process, the 25 Fellows have established records of accomplishment in promoting positive change in their organizations, countries, and communities.
Pulte Institute Senior Researcher Estela Rivero’s insatiable inquisitiveness and yearning to dive deep to understand a problem, a concept, or a phenomenon from all perspectives helps her bring new questions and insights to the table. In this Q&A, Estela discusses her experience and journey in the global development sector.
The Pulte Institute evaluated an initiative by the United Methodist Committee on Relief designed to support U.S. coastal areas following natural disasters. While the program significantly improves the resilience of the households it assists, there is room for strategic improvement. Based on the findings of a two-year research study, Core Affiliated Faculty member Sisi Meng and her team suggest focusing on high-impact actions to optimize the program's effectiveness and maximize the benefits of its efforts.
In Notre Dame’s new Poverty Initiative, The Pulte Institute will be at the forefront of developing strategies, researching best practices, and implementing innovative programs. “We are lowering the barriers to conducting global research and increasing discovery, pursuing promising paths forward that only a collective effort can forge,” says William J. Pulte Director Tracy Kijewski-Correa.
Measuring human dignity — assessing various aspects of an individual's well-being, rights, and intrinsic value — is inherently challenging due to its subjective nature. While there isn’t a universally accepted tool for measuring human dignity, the Pulte Institute explores how institutions and individuals demonstrate respect for human dignity.
For the past 12 years, FLARE (Forests and Livelihoods: Assessment, Research, and Engagement) has catalyzed cutting-edge research to promote the benefits of forests. The collaborative hub of scholars, educators, and practitioners is working across different disciplines to halt the loss of ecosystems and protect biodiversity. FLARE also sees Indigenous People's push for protecting their rights to lands as critical to slowing deforestation.
In an interview with the Pulte Institute, Ugandan entrepreneur and former Mandela Washington Fellow Tushabe “Ronnie” Ronard ’22 ascribed the benefits of innovation training at Notre Dame, saying the University encourages the kind of creativity and problem-solving that lets ingenuity thrive.
