The Michiana community will officially welcome Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., as the 17 th president of the University of Notre Dame during a reception Sept. 7 (Wednesday) from3:30to5 p.m.at the HealthWorks KidsMuseum in the Memorial Leighton Healthplex,111 W. Jefferson St.,South Bend.
New members of Father Jenkinsadministration, including his executive assistants Rev. James E. McDonald, C.S.C., and Frances Shavers; Thomas Burish, provost; John Affleck-Graves, executive vice president; and Hilary Crnkovich, vice president for public affairs and communication, also have been invited to attend the reception.
In addition to Mayors Steve Luecke ofSouth Bendand Jeff Rea ofMishawaka, the guest list includes more than 150 business and community leaders.
Father Jenkins, 51, who assumed the presidency July 1, had served as president-elect since his election last April, by the Board of Trustees to a five-year term. He will be formally inaugurated during ceremonies Sept. 22 and 23. He is just the third Notre Dame president in 53 years, following Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C., who served for the past 18 years, and Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., who led the University for 35 years, from 1952 to 1987.
Concurrent with assuming the presidency, Father Jenkins was promoted from associate to full professor of philosophy, based upon a recommendation by Notre Dames former Provost, Nathan O. Hatch, with the approval of the Board.
A member of Notre Dames philosophy faculty since 1990, Father Jenkins hadserved from July 2000 until his election as president as a vice president and associate provost at the University.
Prior to his service in the Provosts Office, Father Jenkins had been religioussuperior of the Holy Cross priests and brothers at Notre Dame for three years. As religious superior, he was a Fellow and Trustee of the University, but he relinquished those posts to assume his duties in the provost’s office.
Father Jenkins specializes in the areas of ancient philosophy, medieval philosophy and the philosophy of religion. He is the author ofKnowledge and Faith in Thomas Aquinas,published in 1997 by Cambridge University Press.
Father Jenkins earned masters and doctoral degrees in philosophy fromOxfordUniversityin 1987 and 1989. He earned his master of divinity degree and licentiate in sacred theology from the Jesuit School of Theology atBerkeley,Calif., in 1988. Prior to entering the Congregation of Holy Cross, he earned bachelors and masters degrees in philosophy from Notre Dame in 1976 and 1978, respectively.
Father Jenkins was ordained a priest in Notre Dames Basilica of the Sacred Heart in 1983. He served as director of theOldCollegeprogram for Notre Dame undergraduate candidates for the Congregation of Holy Cross from 1991 to 1993.
The reception is being organized by community leaders in conjunction with Notre Dames Office of Community Relations.
* Contact: * _Jackie Rucker, director of community relations, 574-631-3249, jrucker@nd.edu _
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