In a news release, the university credited Jenkins with fostering dramatic growth in research at Notre Dame and securing its admission to the Association of American Universities. The university also noted that Jenkins ensured the university’s financial strength and admitted a talented and diverse student body.
The university further credited Jenkins with expanding Notre Dame’s global engagement and maintaining in-person education during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Notre Dame is and has been incredibly blessed by Father Jenkins’ courageous and visionary leadership,” John J. Brennan, the chair of the University’s Board of Trustees said in a statement.
“Together with the remarkable leadership team he has assembled, he has devoted himself to advancing the University and its mission, fulfilling the promise he made when he was inaugurated — to work collaboratively to build a great Catholic university for the 21st century,” Brennan added. “This is an extraordinarily exciting time for Notre Dame, and we are confident that the next leader will take the University to even greater heights of accomplishment.”
Jenkins’s lengthy tenure, however, was not without controversy. While serving as president, the priest received criticism for some of his decisions, such as awarding former President Barack Obama an honorary degree and allowing him to speak at commencement in spite of his pro-abortion record, and permitting a homosexual film festival on campus.
The Board of Trustees will elect a new president from among the Congregation of Holy Cross, which is the university that founded the university. According to the news release, the search is still underway.