Rev. Robert A. Dowd, C.S.C., has been serving as the 18th President of the University of Notre Dame since June 1, 2024. Prior to this role, he was Vice President and Associate Provost for Interdisciplinary Initiatives at Notre Dame, overseeing various centers and institutes, including the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center and the McGrath Institute for Church Life.
Father Dowd is the founder of Notre Dame’s Ford Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity, dedicated to interdisciplinary research on human development in the Global South. His scholarly work focuses on African politics, particularly the interplay between religion, political institutions, and human development. His book, Christianity, Islam, and Liberal Democracy: Lessons from Sub-Saharan Africa, examines the impact of religious communities on democratic processes in Africa.
In his previous role as Assistant Provost for Internationalization, Father Dowd led Notre Dame’s global engagement efforts, managing centers in Dublin, São Paulo, and Kylemore Abbey, and planning future initiatives in Africa.
Father Dowd earned his bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame, a Master of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, and both a master’s and Ph.D. in political science from UCLA.