Letter from the Executive Director: February 26, 2026

Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends,

It’s no secret this winter has been a challenging one across the country, and in South Bend it’s been no different. So far we’ve seen more than 90 inches of snow this winter—the fourth snowiest of this century!—with temperatures often in the teens and 20s. You’d be forgiven for looking out the window and being a little grumpy.

Yet despite the chill, I look around our beloved Notre Dame campus and see joy. Our celebration of Junior Parents’ Weekend last week coincided with another round of snowfall, yet you wouldn’t know it from the smiling faces and the energy exuding from our students and their families. It was much the same earlier this month, when a group of students made the most of the freeze with the construction of St. Olaf’s Ice Chapel—then assembled thousands more to celebrate Mass there. What a lesson in finding the good even in the most challenging conditions!

But that’s Notre Dame for you. Our students, alumni, parents, and friends are so often sources of inspiration and creators of joy. I suspect that’s a big reason why so many of us keep coming back year after year. How are you creating joy this winter? I’d love to know.

All the best, 

Dolly Duffy '84

Executive Director
Notre Dame Alumni Association