The Rev. Edward Frederick Sorin, C.S.C., Award - 2011: Mr. Charles F. Lennon, Jr., '61, '62 M.A.

2011: Mr. Charles F. Lennon, Jr., '61, '62 M.A.

Established in 1965, the Rev. Edward Frederick Sorin, C.S.C., Award is conferred on an alumnus/alumna (living or deceased), not a current employee of Notre Dame, who has rendered distinguished service to the University.

The 2011 Sorin Award was presented to Charles F. Lennon, Jr., ’61, ’62 M.A.

With this award, Charles F. Lennon, Jr., ’61, ’62 M.A. is honored for his exemplary service to the University of Notre Dame as executive director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association and associate vice president for University Relations. 

Under his leadership as executive director, the Alumni Association has earned a national reputation for innovation in programming. It was the first to offer interactive continuing education seminars via satellite and has initiated community service programs that have been emulated throughout American higher education. Yale and Stanford Universities are among those with community service programs modeled on Notre Dame’s.

The Alumni Association currently has more than 130,000 members, most of them affiliated with one of more than 270 alumni clubs nationwide and in 50 foreign clubs.

A native of Joliet, Illinois, Lennon received his undergraduate degree from Notre Dame in 1961 after earning two monograms in baseball and serves as president of his class.  He earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from the University in 1962 and served as an assistant basketball and baseball coach until 1967.  He also served two years as the University's coordinator of research and sponsored programs.

After leaving the University, Lennon held executive directorships with the Mental Health Association of St. Joseph County, the South Bend Model Cities Program, the Community Development Agency, the Department of Redevelopment, and the Housing Allowance Office.  He was president of the St. Joseph Insurance Agency from 1978 to 1981 and completed 13 years as a member of the South Bend Community School Board, and served in all officer positions.

Lennon was named executive director of the Alumni Association in 1981.  The surprise announcement of his promotion to associate vice president of university relations was made by then-president Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C., in front of 3,500 alumni at the 1999 Alumni Reunion.

Mr. Lennon also teaches management at the graduate and undergraduate level in the College of Business.  He received the Armstrong Award in 1989 and the Notre Dame Presidential Award in 1993.  In 1992, he was presented with the Irish Clover Award by the Notre Dame Student body.  In 2002, the council for the Advancement and Support of Education presented Lennon with their top award for Enhancing Professional Development and Career Opportunities for multicultural professionals in higher education.

Lennon and his wife, Joan, have five children: Sean, a 1987 and 1994 MSA Notre Dame alumnus who lives in Australia; Molly, a 1992 graduate who is the Adidas Representative at Notre Dame; Brian, a Harvard graduate, Marine Corps JAG officer and 1992 Notre Dame Law School alumnus; Colleen, a West Point graduate; and Kevin, a Harvard graduate and the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Vice President for Membership Services.

In honor of Chuck’s 25 years as the Alumni Executive Director, the University and former alumni board members established the Chuck and Joan Lennon Endowment for Excellence in Alumni Programming.

Chuck and Joan have 16 grandchildren.