Introducing: Notre Dame Circle

Staff, faculty, students, alumni, and friends shared warm greetings and exuberant conversations as they gathered on the hot, late-summer afternoon of Friday, September 19, 2025 to celebrate the dedication of Notre Dame’s newest landmark. Situated at the north end of Notre Dame Avenue, between the Morris Inn and Eck Hall of Law, the reimagined Notre Dame Circle honors the invaluable contributions of women students and graduates. The space marries meaning and function—and places Our Lady of the University in a new place of honor at the entrance to campus.

University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., together with Presidents Emeriti Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., and Rev. Edward “Monk” Malloy, C.S.C., led the dedication, which opened with music from members of the Magnificat Choir and prayer. Commissioned in 2022 by then–University President Jenkins as part of the “Golden Is Thy Fame” celebration of 50 years of the admission of undergraduate women at Notre Dame, the start of the Notre Dame Circle project also coincided with the revision of the fight song, officially changing the chorus of the victory march to include “sons and daughters.”

“Notre Dame Circle builds on the original design of our founder, Father Sorin, who envisioned that Notre Dame Avenue, in particular, would serve as a welcoming front door to this University. I’m so grateful for the planning committee for all of the work on this beautiful space. A special thanks to Doug Marsh, former vice president for facilities design and operations and University architect,” Father Dowd said.

To read the full article, written by Jenna Liberto an published on September 23, 2025, please visit the NDWorks website.

To learn more about Golden Is Thy Fame, the 2022 commemoration of fifty years of coeducation at , please visit Golden Threads: The Music and Storytelling of Golden Is Thy Fame – Celebrating 50 Years of Undergraduate Women at the University of Notre Dame.