Building on Holy Cross College’s mission to educate and form global citizens with the competence to see and the courage to act, President Marco J. Clark launched the Leading the Holy Cross Way series last year to explore leadership in its highest form — and to make Holy Cross a hub for important conversations in Notre Dame, Indiana, and beyond. The popular series returns next month to the Driscoll Auditorium with an added podcast component, extending its reach and influence throughout higher education. Leading the Holy Cross Way is centered on the perspective of President Clark and invited executives in residence — senior leaders of distinction whose accomplishments, character, and faith have made them “leaders among leaders.”
This fall, the lineup spans voices from the battlefield to the boardroom, from education to public service, each offering Holy Cross students, faculty, staff, and the wider community a rare opportunity to gain experience from those who have led at the highest levels.
Fall 2025 Leading the Holy Cross Way Lineup
- Sept. 12 – Darren & Sally Smith | Authentic Leadership Foundation
- Sept. 19 – Craig Dean and Tim Bopp, Irish Angels | Leadership in the Educational Community
- Oct. 3 – Jeff Shuck | Founder of More For Many, co-author of Leading with Light
- Oct. 10 – Donnie Downs | Courage, Resilience, and Service
- Oct. 17 – Kevin Schmiegel | Finding Purpose Through Service
- Nov. 7 – Dan Lipinski | What We Owe the American Republic
- Nov. 21 – Dr. Jennifer Martin | A Pedagogy of Hope: Liberal Education and the Holy Cross Tradition
“Leading the Holy Cross Way isn’t just about hearing from accomplished people,” President Clark said. “It’s about engaging with leaders whose lives show what it means to lead with conviction, humility, and faith — and bringing those lessons into the heart of our community.”
Leading the Holy Cross Way is open to the Holy Cross College community and to the public, inviting South Bend and the surrounding region to join in conversations shaping leadership today. The conversation draws comparisons to the leadership styles of the great historical leaders of the family of Holy Cross including Blessed Basil Moreau, Father Edward Sorin, C.S.C., Saint Brother Andre Bessette, C.S.C., Father Ted Hesburgh, C.S.C., Sister Madeleva Wolf, CSC, Mother Mary of the Seven Dolors, MSC, and so many others. Combining Dr. Clark’s more than 30 years of experience working with the Congregation of Holy Cross and his doctoral studies in Leadership, this series has become a signature program and distinctive feature at Holy Cross. All are invited. We hope you can join us for one or all these exciting conversations.
What Stands Out:
- Lipinski is a former U.S. Representative. His talk, What We Owe the American Republic, touches on civic responsibility and political culture.
- Dr, Martin, director of the de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture and the John J. Cavanaugh Professor of the Humanities at the University of Notre Dame, was a member of the committee of scholars that prepared the positio in support of Cardinal John Henry Newman’s elevation to the honor of Doctor of the Church.
- Shuck is known for values-driven organizational leadership, connecting with nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and local mission-driven organizations.
- Donnie Downs and Kevin Schmiegel are retired military veterans who have used their leadership experience to build for-profit and non-profit companies to make a difference in their communities and across the country.
Taking the Class
Leading the Holy Cross Way is also a class taught by President Clark. Students wishing to enroll can email [email protected] to register.