Notre Dame VP of mission engagement, church affairs elected to Strada Education Network board | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Notre Dame VP of mission engagement, church affairs elected to Strada Education Network board Notre Dame VP of mission engagement, church affairs elected to Strada Education Network board Published: November 23, 2020 Author: Amanda Skofstad Rev. Gerard J. Olinger, C.S.C. Rev. Gerard J. Olinger, C.S.C., University of Notre Dame vice president for mission engagement and church affairs, has been elected effective Jan. 1 to the board of trustees for Strada Education Network, a nonprofit organization that seeks to improve lives by forging pathways between education and employment.  Father Olinger joins Aminta Breaux, president of Bowie State University, and Nicole Thorne Jenkins, the John A. Griffin Dean of the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, as newly elected board members. Strada Network also announced that Marlene Coulis, marketing strategy consultant and a former executive of Anheuser-Busch, has been elected as the board’s next chair.  “It is a great honor to be invited to serve this innovative organization,” Father Olinger said. “Strada’s mission aligns well with the University and Congregation of Holy Cross mission to build lives through quality education, and I look forward to learning more and contributing to Strada’s future.”  William D. Hansen, Strada president and chief executive officer, said: “Adding these dynamic leaders to our board will guide our mission impact for years to come, and I am grateful for the knowledge and passion they each bring.” Father Olinger stewards and deepens Notre Dame’s Catholic and Holy Cross mission and is the University’s liaison to the Congregation of Holy Cross, the U.S. bishops and the Holy See. He also oversees the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem, the Notre Dame-Newman Centre for Faith and Reason in Dublin and the Grotto Network. Previously, Father Olinger served as vice president for university relations, vice president for student affairs and executive assistant to the president at the University of Portland. He also served as concurrent assistant professor of political science at Portland. He holds bachelor’s, juris doctorate and a master’s of divinity degrees from Notre Dame. Before taking on his current role at Notre Dame, he served on its Board of Trustees. He is a current member of the board of directors for King’s College and is licensed as an attorney in Indiana and Pennsylvania. Strada Education Network combines research, thought leadership, strategic philanthropy, mission-aligned investments and a network of affiliate organizations to serve Americans seeking to complete postsecondary education and training, gain clear value from those experiences and build meaningful careers. Posted In: Faith Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related October 03, 2022 dCEC to Award 2023 ND Evangelium Vitae Medal to Robert P. George September 22, 2022 In memoriam: Rev. Richard Warner, C.S.C., longtime leader for Notre Dame, Congregation of Holy Cross September 15, 2022 In new book on global Catholicism, Provost John McGreevy explores modern history, current challenges of the Church September 15, 2022 Death penalty abolitionist Sister Helen Prejean to speak at Notre Dame September 14, 2022 Apostolic nuncio to Great Britain to deliver the 2022 Keeley Vatican Lecture For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn