Leadership and Staff

2025 Plc And Deans Group Photo
President's Leadership Council and Deans 2025–26

University Leadership

The President is elected by the Board of Trustees from among the members of the Priests Society of the Congregation of Holy Cross, United States Province of Priests and Brothers.

With the support of the President's Leadership Council and deans, the President acts as the executive head of the University and is responsible for the general direction of its affairs.

University Leadership and Governance

Office of the President Staff

  1. Ann Firth is a smiling woman with brown hair, wearing a red jacket, multi-strand pearl necklace, and pearl earrings, in a professional office setting.

    Ann Firth

    Vice President and Chief of Staff

    Ann M. Firth serves as vice president and chief of staff to Notre Dame’s 18th president, Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C. Firth’s responsibilities include: advising the president; managing the staff and operations of the office; serving as the primary liaison to the University’s Board of Trustees; serving as a member of the Budget Working Group and the Faculty Board on Athletics; coordinating the work of the President’s Leadership Council; and leading the planning for the University’s Commencement Exercises and other University-wide events hosted by the President.

  2. Heather Asiala ia a smiling woman with long, dark, wavy hair, wearing a black blazer over a white top and a gold necklace, against a grey background.

    Heather Asiala

    Senior Program Director for Strategic Initiatives

  3. Stacie Chudzicki is a smiling woman with blonde hair and blue eyes wears a blue V-neck sweater with an open-knit pattern, silver hoop earrings, and two necklaces against a gray background.

    Stacie Chudzicki

    Senior Administrative Assistant

  4. Renee LaReau is a smiling woman with light, shoulder-length hair, wearing blue-rimmed glasses, silver hoop earrings, and a navy button-down shirt.

    Renée LaReau

    Senior Writer and Content Strategist Program Director

  5. Carmen Leichty is a smiling woman with wavy brown and gray hair wears tortoiseshell glasses, a black blazer, a gray top, and a pearl necklace. She looks directly at the camera.

    Carmen Leichty

    Special Assistant to the President

  6. Carol Mullaney is a woman with short red hair and blue eyes smiles, wearing a navy blue blazer over a green top and a gold necklace with a round pendant.

    Carol Mullaney

    Executive Director

  7. Cora Neely is a woman with long black box braids smiling gently, wearing an olive green collared shirt.

    Cora Neely

    Executive Assistant to the Vice President and Chief of Staff

  8. Katie O'Friel is a smiling woman with long brown hair wears a black blazer over a green textured top, facing forward against a gray background.

    Katie O'Friel

    Advisor to the Vice President and Chief of Staff

  9. Denise Lara Wright is a woman with short dark hair, a gray blazer, and gold jewelry smiles broadly against a light gray background.

    Denise Lara Wright

    Senior Counselor