Paul Ryan, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, will join the Notre Dame faculty as a guest lecturer in economics and political science, the University announced in a press release Monday.
Ryan, who recently finished two consecutive terms as Speaker of the House, has served as a Republican representative of Wisconsin's first congressional district for the last 20 years. He will be joining former Indiana senator Joe Donnelly and former White House chief-of-staff Denis McDonough as “professors of the practice” at the University, the release said.
“The study of political science is strengthened when students hear from people with real-world policy and political experience,” David Campbell, chair of the political science department at Notre Dame, said. “Having former officials in the classroom provides important insights for students — an opportunity to put the theories we study to the test.”
Ryan will be lecturing on topics such as the basics of the United States government, current polarization in American politics and the intersection between Catholicism and economics, among other topics, the release said.
Ryan has had family ties with Notre Dame for over 20 years, the release said.
"[He] has his own connection to Notre Dame, where his brothers Stan and Tobin earned their bachelor’s degrees in economics," the release said. "Ryan has visited Notre Dame many times over the years and now looks forward to getting directly involved with its students and faculty."
Ryan said he is looking forward to working and collaborating with Notre Dame students.
"As an Irish Catholic from the Midwest, the University of Notre Dame has always held a special place in my heart,” Ryan said in the release. “It is an honor to be part of a University where Catholic principles, robust debates, academic freedoms and diverse viewpoints are allowed to flourish. As much as I hope to impart as a lecturer, I know that I will learn a tremendous amount from Notre Dame’s remarkable students as we discuss the big challenges before our nation and collaborate on how best to address them."
Ryan will assume his position as guest lecturer during the 2019-2020 academic year.
