The University of Notre Dame dedicated its newly remodeled Main Circle on Friday afternoon, recognizing the 50th anniversary of the admission of undergraduate women and celebrating their lasting impact on campus.
University President Fr. Robert Dowd led the ceremony, along with Emeriti Presidents Fr. John Jenkins and Fr. Edward Malloy. Together, they blessed the new space before a crowd that filled the circle’s rings despite the late summer heat.
Dowd said the reimagining of the circle was built upon the “original design of our founder Father Sorin, who envisioned [Notre Dame Avenue] ... as a welcoming front door to this University.”
During the ceremony, Jenkins described the new circle as “a tribute to those women who have helped make Notre Dame better and stronger and richer by their presence” and a lasting memorial to women who “enriched this institution tremendously.”
The redesign of the circle, first envisioned in 2022, was led by alumni architects Melissa DelVecchio ‘94 and Tony McConnell '06. Sculptor Gail Folwell, a parent of two Notre Dame students, created bronze reliefs depicting women across five decades of campus life, accompanied by a quote from St. Catherine of Siena: “For God’s true servants, every place is their place, every time is their time.”
“As we celebrate 50 years of women as undergraduate students at Notre Dame, we are mindful of the substantial impact and contributions that they have made to this place,” Dowd said. “Bless this medallion, the seal of the University of Notre Dame, may it forever represent the fullness of the Notre Dame family, the contributions and gifts of all who have called this place home and the promise of all who will grace this campus in the future.”
At the heart of the circle lies a bronze rendering of the University seal, surrounded by the inscription: “Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the admission of undergraduate women 1972–2022.” By setting the seal at the entrance of campus, every visitor now crosses a marker of Notre Dame’s identity that honors the contributions of women.
The statue of Our Lady, now placed in the circle, is aligned with the Golden Dome behind it.
Beth Klein ‘79, who attended the ceremony with fellow alumna Deborah Sus ‘93, said the new space better represents the University’s identity.
“The [old] entrance did not reflect what Notre Dame is,” Klein said. “Now this entrance not only reflects what Notre Dame stands for, it also recognizes the importance of women. It’s a beautiful expression of everything we think about when we think about Notre Dame.”
Klein and Sus are members of Hesburgh Women of Impact, a group that helped raise funds for the mosaic of former University President Fr. Theodore Hesburgh at the north entrance of Hesburgh Library in honor of Hesburgh’s decision to admit female students. The group has since grown into a network of women philanthropists who support leadership development on campus.
They were joined at the dedication by other alumnae leaders, including Kristina Jodis ‘89, a leader in Notre Dame Women Connect, and Jamee Decio ‘75, who designed the commemorative “1972” hats for the celebration. Together, these women represent the broad community of alumnae who have carried forward the legacy of Notre Dame’s first undergraduate women and are actively impacting the University.
The ceremony also included hymns from the Notre Dame Magnificat Choir and music by local Irish folk band Kennedy’s Kitchen, adding an aural aspect to the experience.
After the ceremony concluded, guests were invited to step inside the circle to view the reliefs, statue and newly installed seal at its center — a redesigned gateway that stands as a reminder of the contribution of women in the past and future enrichment.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the project had been first conceived of in 2002 and misattributed a quote to Dowd which was actually said by Jenkins. It also misdescribed the orientation of the statue. The Observer regrets these errors.
