Institute Stories

The new year brings a refresh to the communications staff at the Institute for Social Concerns (SOCO) at the University of Notre Dame. In January, Todd Boruff advanced from communications program director to assistant director, communications. Joining him is David Cramer as communications assistant program director and Javi Zubizarreta as communications program director.

The South Bend: Questions of Justice series is a set of critical conversations hosted by the institute and organized by Regina Williams-Preston, community partnerships program director, and this semester, the first critical conversation focused on gun violence.

Mulligan, a moral theologian and expert in Catholic social tradition (CST), joined the institute last fall. Mulligan’s research and teaching focuses on the signs of the times, including HIV/AIDS, gender violence, migration, homelessness, and the social teaching of Pope Francis.

Out of that first class session two approaches to the project emerged: collaborative, photography-based research called photovoice and a mural of Building Services workers drawing from their own photography. Finally, someone would tell the stories of these workers—or rather, would give them the tools and resources to tell their stories themselves.

The Institute for Social Concerns leverages research to respond to the complex demands of justice and to serve the common good. This series, ReSearching for the Common Good, highlights some of the scholars in our community.

The Institute for Social Concerns leverages research to respond to the complex demands of justice and to serve the common good. This series, ReSearching for the Common Good, highlights some of the scholars in our community.

Craig Goehler’s first-year engineering students are likely surprised to see words like “empathy, honesty, and justice” in the weekly learning outcomes alongside their assignments.

Raising the justice quotient requires getting proximate to people and places.

Connie Snyder Mick, Ph.D. reflects on a recent experience in the South Bend community with her Poverty Studies students.

The Catholic Social Tradition Minor and the Poverty Studies Interdisciplinary Minor welcome students from all of Notre Dame’s colleges and schools to enrich the education they’re receiving through their majors and to see more clearly how they can apply their career to the cause of justice.