Welcome

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The Institute for Social Concerns is an interdisciplinary community of practice comprised of faculty, students, staff, and community members. We are Notre Dame’s scholarly home for justice united around the normative claim that a just world is a beautiful world. 

At the institute, we believe that the pursuit of justice is a fundamental expression of the mission of a Catholic university. We believe the work of justice—marked by hope and courage in the face of despair and division—can be rigorous, communal, joyful, and even beautiful. 

We seek to create knowledge in service to justice, focusing on pressing issues—the environment, labor, mass incarceration, migration, poverty, and technology—with rigorous, interdisciplinary, and creative energy. We do this in a distinctive way that emanates from the Catholic social tradition: we work in proximity to the people and the issues, with authentic accompaniment, joyful encounter, and an attentiveness to dignity. We cultivate the attention to notice individuals amidst complex challenges, to articulate ways towards flourishing, and to respond with both conviction and humility.

We hope these pages spark curiosity, inspire with stories of students and communities, and provide resources for further engagement.

If you want to explore ways to pursue justice and the common good, join us! 

Suzanne Shanahan
Leo and Arlene Hawk Executive Director
Institute for Social Concerns