Reunion 2026

Click the event title below to watch this year’s Father Ted Said Reunion recordings.

Notre Dame Reunion showcases the scholarship and thought-leadership that is a hallmark of Notre Dame’s intellectual tradition. Speakers include Notre Dame faculty and alumni, and topics range from the academic to the anecdotal.

2026 Programs Include:

ND Perspectives: Guardians of AI Innovation
Fr. Ted Said: Cultivating Hope
Explore ND: Raclin Murphy Museum of Art
Explore ND: All Creation Gives Praise
Crucifixes from Around the World
Celebrating the Declaration of Independence

ND Perspectives: Guardians of AI Innovation

Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept; it is actively reshaping how we live, work, and connect right now—whether your daily life is high tech, low tech, or completely unplugged. But as this technology accelerates, who is ensuring it ultimately serves humanity? Claim your front-row seat to the future and unpack complex issues like data privacy, massive marketplace recalibrations, human autonomy and ethics. Bring your most pressing questions to this panel of faculty and alumni experts for discussion and audience Q&A. You will leave with renewed clarity on how the ND family is a force for good in the digital age.

Join us on Friday, June 5, 2026 from 10:00am – 11:15am at Washington Hall.

Introduction by:
Dolly Duffy ’84
Executive Director, Notre Dame Alumni Association, University of Notre Dame

Moderated by:
Adam Kronk, ’02, ’09 MNA
Director of Research and External Engagement, Institute for Ethics and the Common Good, University of Notre Dame

Nitesh Chawla
Frank M. Freimann Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, Lucy Family Director for Data & AI Academic Strategy, Founding Director of the Lucy Family Institute for Data and Society, University of Notre Dame

**Gina Ayala Claxton ’01**
Corporate Vice President, U.S. Retail & Consumer Goods, Microsoft

**Heng Xu**
Professor of Information Technology, Analytics, and Operations, Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame

**Josh Zavilla ’11**
Head of National Security, Palantir Technologies

Fr. Ted Said: Cultivating Hope

In his inaugural address, University President Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., called us to be “sustainers of hope and builders of bridges.” But in a world where optimism often feels in short supply, where do we find the inspiration to keep nurturing the good? Plant those seeds through a revitalizing experience where you can pause, exhale, and allow your spirit to blossom. Come hear this calling echo in powerful, personal stories from Notre Dame alumni and faculty who are living examples of what it means to cultivate hope—just like Fr. Ted.

Join us on Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 2:00pm – 3:15pm at Leighton Concert Hall, DeBartolo Performing Arts Center.

**Introduction by:**
**Dolly Duffy ’84**
Executive Director, Notre Dame Alumni Association, University of Notre Dame

**Hosted by:**
**Michael Schreffler**
Art History Professor, Director of the Notre Dame Arts Initiative, Associate Dean for the Arts, College of Arts and Letters, University of Notre Dame

**Mike Brown** **’01**
Former Notre Dame Leprechaun, Speaker, Author, Founder of Soulstir

**Glynnis Garry Bann, M.D. ’11**
Assistant Professor, Principal Investigator, Departments of Internal Medicine and Molecular Biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center

**Jennifer Burke Lefever ‘98 M.A., ‘00 Ph.D.**
Managing Director, Wilma and Peter Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, University of Notre Dame

**Rev. Pete McCormick, C.S.C., ’06 M.Div.**, **’15 MBA**
Assistant Vice President of Campus Ministry, University of Notre Dame

**J. Martin (Marty) Regan, Jr. ’76**
Senior Staff Attorney, City of Memphis, Lewis Thomason

Explore ND: Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

Dive into the treasure trove of major works by renowned artists you will find at the new Raclin Murphy Museum of Art. Join us in the third floor art studio to decorate your own art meditation journal, then meet Museum Director Joseph Becherer and his team of curators for “behind the scenes” strolls through the main galleries as you discover the classic yet contemporary Robert A.M. Stern-designed building featuring 23 galleries; numerous site-specific commissions by internationally celebrated artists such as Jenny Holzer, Maya Lin, Mimmo Paladino, and Kiki Smith; the outdoor Charles B. Hayes Family Sculpture Park; and the ornate Mary Queen of Families Chapel.

Don’t miss our landmark exhibition, Bridging Time and Place, honoring the 150th anniversary of the Notre Dame art museum collection. To celebrate and share this landmark event, the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art will host a major exhibition highlighting many of the recent gifts it has received to commemorate the 150^th anniversary. The gifts range from single works of art to entire collections. Virtually every part of the permanent collection has benefited from the generosity of devoted alums, supporters, and friends from across the country and worldwide who are bridging our storied past with a vibrant future.

Explore at your own pace on Friday June 5, 2026 from 2:30pm – 4:30pm at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art and Charles B. Hayes Family Sculpture Park.

Joseph Becherer
Director & Curator of Sculpture, Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame

Explore ND: All Creation Gives Praise

Through this planetarium journey, you will tour the universe guided by a dialogue between an astronomer and theologian. Soaring through space from your recliner in the Digital Visualization Theater, these experts weave religious wisdom and scientific observations in search for truth. Spend an hour immersed in the grandeur and beauty of God’s Creation, as revealed by scientific exploration. The astronomy will astound and the Scripture will inspire.

Important Attendance Notes:

Arrive Early: Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Prompt Start: For the safety and experience of our guests, no one will be admitted to the DVT after the program begins.
Capacity Limits: Due to fire code regulations, “standing room only” is not permitted. Once seating capacity is reached, no further attendees can be allowed entry.

Join us for a presentation on Friday June 5, 2026 from 2:30pm – 3:30pm or 3:30pm – 4:30pm at the Digital Visualization Theater in the Jordan Hall of Science.

**Leonard DeLorenzo, ‘03, ‘14 Ph.D.**
Director of Undergraduate Studies, McGrath Institute for Church Life, University of Notre Dame

**Phil Sakimoto**
Professor of the Practice, Department of Astrophysics, University of Notre Dame

Crucifixes from Around the World

The crucifix is a powerful symbol of suffering, sacrifice, love, hope, and redemption. You are invited to learn about the University’s unique crucifix collection directly from the collection’s founder. Hear fascinating stories about the selection of these religious artifacts from different continents and cultures. Get views and hear stories of these exquisite pieces on display across campus.

Join us on Saturday June 6, 2026 from 10:00am – 11:00am at McKenna Hall 215.

**Mark Roche**
Rev. Edmund Joyce, C.S.C. Professor of German Language and Literature, Concurrent Professor of Philosophy, University of Notre Dame

Celebrating the Declaration of Independence

In honor of our nation’s 250th birthday celebration, you’re invited to a guided, interactive discussion of the Declaration of Independence. Through an exploration of the document’s key ideas, the events that led to it, and those who crafted its text, this is an opportunity to learn about the Declaration’s origins, the meaning of its most memorable phrases, and its significance for America and the rest of the world.

Dr. Donald Stelluto, a constitutional historian and co-director of the Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government (CCCG), and Tyler Castle ’23 M.A., a political theorist and associate director of the CCCG, will lead you through this foundational and truly revolutionary document that has shaped our nation up to the present day. Don’t miss this chance to get back in the classroom and without homework or exams!

Join us on Saturday June 6, 2026 from 9:45am – 11:00am at McKenna Hall 216.