Notre Dame Global in Photos: March 2026 | News | Notre Dame Beijing

March saw Notre Dame students, faculty, and partners make their mark around the world. Daniel Schwake, director of Notre Dame Jerusalem, spoke to the German Parliament on the experiences of Christians in the Middle East, while in Rome, leaders gathered to advance sustainability and planetary flourishing. Mexico City celebrated Fulbright excellence, and Delhi hosted the India–Ireland Conference, exploring connections across the two nations' history and culture.

Notre Dame’s global footprint extended to Santiago, where Executive MBA students immersed themselves in Chilean business, and to Beijing, where outreach connected prospective students and families. Dublin honored International Women’s Day, Kylemore welcomed pioneering voices in sport and science, and Notre Dame students engaged in exchanges in Hong Kong, cultural experiences in São Paulo, and immersive learning opportunities in Indianapolis. Across countries and continents, the month highlighted the University’s ongoing commitment to dialogue, discovery, and collaboration.

This photo gallery highlights some of the valuable interactions and experiences Notre Dame faculty, staff, and students have taken part in over the past month.

The selection was curated by Notre Dame Global staff working on campus and in the University's 12 global locations.

Jerusalem

Group of professionals attend a meeting at a curved orange wooden table, with laptops, microphones, papers, and refreshments.

Amid ongoing regional complexities, Notre Dame Jerusalem continues to find opportunities to contribute to global dialogue. In March, Daniel Schwake, director of Notre Dame Jerusalem, shared perspectives on Christians in the Middle East at the German Parliament, addressing a multi-party audience. Drawing on both personal and professional experience, as well as the work of scholars affiliated with the center, his remarks emphasized the importance of moving beyond simplified narratives toward a more nuanced understanding—one that affirms shared responsibility and a commitment to the well-being of all.

Mexico

Man in blue suit speaks at podium before colorful folk art. Woman in glasses observes. Fulbright and Notre Dame campus banners.

The Evening Celebration of Fulbright Excellence was co-sponsored with Fulbright COMEXUS and supported by Notre Dame Mexico. The event brought together distinguished Fulbright alumni from the University of Notre Dame, along with US and Mexican government representatives, for an evening of connection and recognition. It also featured a delegation of Notre Dame faculty and alumni engaging with leading academic institutions in Mexico City. The evening included remarks from Michael Pippenger, Notre Dame's vice president and associate provost for internationalization, and Maria Mercedes Salmon, director of Notre Dame Mexico, who served as the master of ceremonies.

Kylemore

Woman in white blazer speaks into a mic, holding a tablet. Another woman in black listens at a table in a cozy room.

Lisa Caulfield, director of Notre Dame Kylemore, welcomed Irish former National Hunt jockey Rachael Blackmore in conversation, where she reflected on her trailblazing career and her role in breaking gender barriers in elite horse racing. The discussion formed part of the Naughton Family Foundation Scholars’ Retreat Weekend, an event that brings scholars together for adventure and teambuilding activities, in-house entertainment, and opportunities to learn from inspiring speakers. The 2026 speaker lineup also featured Teresa Lambe, Calleva Head of Vaccine Immunology at the University of Oxford, and Eimear O’Connor, a race engineer at PREMA Racing.

Rome

Cardinal Fabio Baggio speaks at a University of Notre Dame lectern during a Faith and Sustainability panel.

Following the recent launch of the Global Alliance dedicated to integral ecology and sustainability by the Vatican’s Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education and the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame Rome hosted the event, Sustainability of Hope: Envisioning a New Horizon for Planetary Flourishing. The event brought together over 50 scholars and leaders to mark the Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative, focused on fostering collaboration and solutions for a more just and sustainable future.

Among the speakers was Cardinal Fabio Baggio, director general of the Laudato Si’ Center for Higher Education, undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and one of the founders of the Global Alliance, whose presence underscored the importance of working together to drive meaningful change.

Mumbai

A male speaker addresses an audience and panel at Miranda House, with a pink banner promoting 'Women Strong' themes.

Kevin Kelly, the Irish ambassador to India, addressed attendees of the India–Ireland Conference: Shared Histories and Interconnected Pasts, organized by the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies in partnership with Notre Dame Mumbai. Held in the megacity and union territory of Delhi, the event brought together scholars, students, and partners to explore the deep historical and cultural connections between the two countries.

Dublin

Notre Dame Dublin celebrated International Women’s Day at O’Connell House, gathering in community to acknowledge the achievements of women. The event featured Betsy Cornwell, a New York Times best-selling author and Notre Dame alum, who shared her memoir Ring of Salt: A Memoir of Finding Home and Hope on the Wild Coast of Ireland.

Hong Kong

Ten smiling people, including an older man in a suit, pose with a gold and navy Notre Dame pennant at a bright dining room table.

Catherine Leung, director of Notre Dame Hong Kong, gathered with spring semester inbound and outbound students participating in the bilateral exchange between the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Notre Dame. The group also welcomed Edgar Cheng, a Notre Dame alumnus and longtime sponsor who was instrumental in establishing the program.

São Paulo

Four smiling people, including a man in a yellow Brazil jersey, stand in a Positano restaurant with lemon trees and liquor bottles.

The Notre Dame São Paulo team helped spring semester students Anna Gonçalves and Frederick White get acquainted with South America's largest city, starting with lunch at Italian restaurant Mata Città and followed by a visit to the Ipiranga Museum, home to an exhibit that details the story of Brazil’s independence.

Beijing

Professor Jason Zacks, wearing a Notre Dame pin, smiles at a young woman in red holding a small dark device and papers.

Zach Klonsinski, senior assistant director of Notre Dame's Office of Undergraduate Admissions, visited Notre Dame Beijing and led outreach at several local high schools, including Tsinghua University High School, Dulwich College Beijing, Keystone Academy, the Affiliated High School of Peking University, and Beijing National Day School, among others. He met with students, teachers, and parents to discuss undergraduate opportunities at Notre Dame and strengthen the University's presence in these communities.

Santiago

A large, diverse group smiles, posing in a wood-paneled room with flags and a LATAM presentation behind them.

Notre Dame Santiago hosted the 4th annual gathering of Executive MBA students (EMBA) from the Mendoza College of Business. During the week, 60 students attended classes with Mendoza professors, explored Chilean business culture, and participated in a special session with LATAM, one of South America’s most established and successful airlines.

International Students & Scholars

A large, diverse group of young adults poses in a bright, modern atrium before a towering golden INDIANA sculpture.

Led by the ISSA team, a group of 31 students and scholars visited the Indiana State Museum and Saraga International Grocery—an expansive destination for global foods. While in Indianapolis, participants also explored sites across the city, including the Indianapolis Zoo, Newfields Art Museum, the Indiana Statehouse, Mile Square, and the Canal Walk.

Global Engagement Programs

Smiling students pet a brown and white goat with a teal collar through a fence.

Alongside the Notre Dame's Global Engagement Programs team, the University's visiting international students continued their intercultural development during an excursion to the Amish communities in the Michiana area. Students learned more about Amish home and farm life, art and craftsmanship, homesteading, food production, and more.

Originally published by Cory Hankins at global.nd.edu on March 31, 2026.