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Business Upturn
4 days ago
- General
- Business Upturn
Notre Dame de Namur University Honors Kris Crowe Zavoli with the 2025 Indefatigable Award
Belmont, CA, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is delighted to honor alumna Kris Crowe Zavoli ('68, '73) with this year's Indefatigable Award. The annual award, named for the vessel that carried six Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur from Belgium to the United States in 1844, is given to an individual whose body of work exemplifies the Sisters' 'unflagging, inexhaustible determination to make the world a better place.' This year's award will be presented to Kris Zavoli at a private event on the Notre Dame de Namur University Belmont campus. 'We are delighted to present this award to Kris—she is truly a force for change,' said NDNU President Beth Martin, Ph.D. 'In the spirit of the Sisters of Notre Dame, Kris embodies leadership, courage, and an unwavering passion for education—qualities that both inspire others and drive meaningful action. As a former Director of Admissions, she connected hundreds of students to NDNU, and through her work with the College Board and beyond, she has been a steadfast champion for equity and access in education.' 'We are so appreciative of Kris' past service on the NDNU Board of Trustees, her current participation on the Alumni Advisory Council, and as a Trustee Emerita,' Martin continued. Zavoli's deep connection to NDNU goes back to the mid-sixties during her undergraduate days at the then all-women's school known as College of Notre Dame (CND). Said Zavoli, who served as CND student body president in '67 and '68, 'Being president at that time of great cultural and geo-political change was pivotal. I developed leadership skills and got to know a lot of student leaders from different universities, many of whom had diverse and divergent views about what was happening in the world. These early experiences helped shape my priorities of promoting diversity and accessibility.' During her 15 years of full-time admissions work at NDNU, she was able to earn two teaching credentials and a master's degree in teaching English at night tuition-free. Zavoli's also worked in a variety of leadership positions at the College Board for 28 years. Her experiences provided a platform to educate teachers, district administrators, and legislators to the staggering differences in academic preparation. During her tenure with the College Board, Kris fought strongly to implement advanced placement courses into low-income schools. Kris currently volunteers teaching English as a Second Language to adult learners participating in Sequoia District Adult Education, while giving time to other educational associations committed to access to higher education. 'I would like to think I inspired change,' said Zavoli. 'That is why I do what I do.' Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is a Catholic, not-for-profit, coeducational institution serving adult learners from diverse backgrounds. Established in 1851 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, NDNU is the third-oldest college in California and the first authorized to grant women a baccalaureate degree. The university is WSCUC accredited and offers master's degree programs in business, education, and psychology, as well as teacher credentials and degree completion programs. NDNU maintains a strong commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and community engagement. For more information, visit Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with GlobeNewswire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Notre Dame de Namur University Honors Kris Crowe Zavoli with the 2025 Indefatigable Award
Belmont, CA, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is delighted to honor alumna Kris Crowe Zavoli ('68, '73) with this year's Indefatigable Award. The annual award, named for the vessel that carried six Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur from Belgium to the United States in 1844, is given to an individual whose body of work exemplifies the Sisters' 'unflagging, inexhaustible determination to make the world a better place.' This year's award will be presented to Kris Zavoli at a private event on the Notre Dame de Namur University Belmont campus. 'We are delighted to present this award to Kris—she is truly a force for change,' said NDNU President Beth Martin, Ph.D. 'In the spirit of the Sisters of Notre Dame, Kris embodies leadership, courage, and an unwavering passion for education—qualities that both inspire others and drive meaningful action. As a former Director of Admissions, she connected hundreds of students to NDNU, and through her work with the College Board and beyond, she has been a steadfast champion for equity and access in education.' 'We are so appreciative of Kris' past service on the NDNU Board of Trustees, her current participation on the Alumni Advisory Council, and as a Trustee Emerita,' Martin continued. Zavoli's deep connection to NDNU goes back to the mid-sixties during her undergraduate days at the then all-women's school known as College of Notre Dame (CND). Said Zavoli, who served as CND student body president in '67 and '68, 'Being president at that time of great cultural and geo-political change was pivotal. I developed leadership skills and got to know a lot of student leaders from different universities, many of whom had diverse and divergent views about what was happening in the world. These early experiences helped shape my priorities of promoting diversity and accessibility.' During her 15 years of full-time admissions work at NDNU, she was able to earn two teaching credentials and a master's degree in teaching English at night tuition-free. Zavoli's also worked in a variety of leadership positions at the College Board for 28 years. Her experiences provided a platform to educate teachers, district administrators, and legislators to the staggering differences in academic preparation. During her tenure with the College Board, Kris fought strongly to implement advanced placement courses into low-income schools. Kris currently volunteers teaching English as a Second Language to adult learners participating in Sequoia District Adult Education, while giving time to other educational associations committed to access to higher education. 'I would like to think I inspired change,' said Zavoli. 'That is why I do what I do.' Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is a Catholic, not-for-profit, coeducational institution serving adult learners from diverse backgrounds. Established in 1851 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, NDNU is the third-oldest college in California and the first authorized to grant women a baccalaureate degree. The university is WSCUC accredited and offers master's degree programs in business, education, and psychology, as well as teacher credentials and degree completion programs. NDNU maintains a strong commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and community engagement. For more information, visit CONTACT: Aric Agresti, Vice President for Advancement Notre Dame de Namur University (650) 508-3652 aagresti@
San Francisco Chronicle
29-05-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bay Area university agrees to sell campus to UC after Stanford deal falls through
In a quick pivot, Notre Dame de Namur University on the San Francisco Peninsula has agreed to sell its 46-acre campus and surrounding property to the investment arm of the University of California, officials said. The private Catholic university will lease back its Belmont campus for up to five years under the deal, which was announced Tuesday — just months after a similar deal with Stanford University fell through. That sale would have relocated some Stanford programs from Palo Alto 13 miles north to a campus to be renamed Stanford Belmont, and thus required the eventual relocation of 400 students, faculty and staff at Notre Dame de Namur, which has operated for 102 years in the hills along Ralston Avenue. That deal, an exclusive option to purchase, was canceled in February by Stanford, which cited a longer-than-expected timeline as well as an era of new 'uncertainties' for research universities involving 'a different set of institutional and financial challenges.' The replacement deal, brought about by a cold call from UC Investments to NDNU President Beth Martin just days after Stanford canceled, will allow Notre Dame to remain where it is while it figures out its future, Martin said. No financial terms of sale were announced. The purchase and sale agreement has been signed by both parties and approved by both the Board of Trustees and the Sisters of Notre Dame East-West Province Leadership team. It must still be approved by the Congregational Leadership Team, an international body, the Archbishop of San Francisco, and finally the Vatican in Rome. As part of the sale, UC Investments, which manages the UC's investment portfolio and is separate from the campus system, has agreed to renovate both the Ralston Mansion and the Carriage House, two campus buildings that are on the National Register of Historic Places. UC will also take over ownership of Water Dog Lake, a 50-acre preserve of hiking trails and a stocked fishing lake that is operated as a park by the city of Belmont under a 50-year lease that has 40 years remaining. That arrangement will continue. The preserve, which was not included in the Stanford deal, brings the total property to 96.5 acres. 'We are delighted that we have this deal, partly because UC Investments is very supportive of our mission and our legacy,' said Martin, who has spent four years trying to figure out the future of Notre Dame. The university had 1,600 students as recently as 10 years ago, but enrollment declined precipitously when the undergraduate program ended in 2021. It is now primarily a graduate program of around 300 students with additional courses for adults returning to complete their undergraduate degree. Martin told the Chronicle on Wednesday that the NDNU campus, in a hilly location, is too spread out with too many buildings — 25 — for the size of its operations. The Board of Trustees has been actively pursuing relocation to a new site in San Mateo County. Martin said the school needs only about 25,000 square feet, or about the size of one floor of an office building. 'UC Investments moved quickly to explore this unique investment opportunity close to the heart of Silicon Valley,' said Jagdeep Singh Bachher, the University of California's chief investment officer. 'Centennial investing is one of our 10 investment pillars, and we're convinced this long-term asset will greatly benefit UC, Notre Dame de Namur University, and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur for at least the next 100 years.' Martin expects the UC deal to close this summer, with no noticeable change on campus for students who arrive for the fall semester. The campus is usually quiet when students arrive around 4 p.m. for evening courses, Martin said. In August, the last remaining vestige of on-campus student housing will close for good. There are no sports or theater productions, but evening speaker events will continue. 'With five years, we have the right amount of time to find just the right atmosphere for our students, staff and faculty,' said Martin. 'We want to continue the legacy of NDNU for another 100 years.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Notre Dame de Namur University Announces Sale Agreement of Nearly 100 Acres of Property to UC Investments (University of California)
Belmont, CA, May 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU), a private Catholic institution with a 174-year legacy of education and service, and UC Investments, the investment arm of the University of California system, today announced the pending sale of 96.5 acres of NDNU property, which includes the historic Belmont campus and Water Dog Lake. The transaction will ensure that the beloved Belmont campus and its legacy will continue to serve the region through a long-term investment strategy aligned with both institutions' missions. Once the transaction closes, UC Investments will lease the existing campus facilities back to NDNU for up to five years, allowing the university to continue in-person instruction while planning its next phase of its campus location. Additionally, UC Investments has committed to renovating two architectural and historical treasures on the property—Ralston Mansion and Carriage House, both listed as National and California registered Historic Landmarks. As part of the sales agreement, Water Dog Lake, the largest parkland in Belmont, will remain leased to the city of Belmont. The 50.5-acre preserve includes popular hiking trails and a stocked fishing lake which will continue to be a place for the community to enjoy. 'We are delighted to have found in UC Investments a responsible and mission-aligned steward for our beautiful and historically significant campus property,' said Beth Martin, Ph.D., president of Notre Dame de Namur University. 'This agreement ensures continuity for our students and honors the vision of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, who have been the foundation of our presence and purpose in Belmont since 1923.' 'UC Investments moved quickly to explore this unique investment opportunity close to the heart of Silicon Valley,' said Jagdeep Singh Bachher, the University of California's chief investment officer. 'Centennial investing is one of our 10 investment pillars, and we're convinced this long-term asset will greatly benefit UC, Notre Dame de Namur University, and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur for at least the next 100 years.'Said UC President Michael V. Drake, M.D, 'Values and legacy are paramount to both UC and NDNU and this agreement between our two institutions represents a critical investment in the future of higher education in California. It's a rare opportunity that will benefit generations of students to come.' About Notre Dame de Namur University Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is a Catholic, not-for-profit, coeducational institution serving adult learners from diverse backgrounds. Established in 1851 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, NDNU is the third-oldest college in California and the first authorized to grant women a baccalaureate degree. The university is WSCUC accredited and offers master's degrees in business, education, and psychology, undergraduate degree completion programs in business administration and psychology, along with teacher credential programs. NDNU maintains a strong commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and community engagement. For more information, visit CONTACT: Kurt Allen, Vice President, Marketing & Communications Notre Dame de Namur University 650-801-9011 pr@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Notre Dame de Namur University Wins Best of San Mateo Area Award for Second Consecutive Year
Belmont, CA, May 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) has once again earned top recognition as the Best Institution for Continuing Education in the 2025 Best of San Mateo Area Awards, marking the second consecutive year the university has received this honor. This year's awards drew more than 40,000 votes across 100+ categories, and once again, NDNU earned top honors in its category. The Best of San Mateo Area Award, sponsored by the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce, celebrates local businesses, nonprofits, and institutions that demonstrate outstanding performance in their respective industries. NDNU stood out among its peers for its forward-thinking academic programs, highly credentialed faculty, and deep-rooted commitment to serving adult learners and working professionals across the region. 'We are honored and delighted to be recognized once again by our community as a leader in continuing education,' said Beth Martin, Ph.D., President of Notre Dame de Namur University. 'This award is not only a reflection of the excellence in our academic programming but also a testament to the trust and partnership we have built with our students and the greater San Mateo community. At NDNU, we are committed to providing accessible, relevant, and empowering education for every learner, at every stage of life.' Founded in 1851, NDNU is one the third oldest private institutions of higher education in the state of California. The university has evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of adult learners, with a particular emphasis on graduate programs and degree completion programs in high-demand fields such as education, business, and psychology. NDNU's flexible course offerings—including evening, weekend, and online classes—are specifically designed to support busy professionals who are balancing work, family, and other responsibilities while pursuing their academic goals. 'Our approach is student-centered and mission-driven,' said Beth Martin, PhD. 'We recognize that continuing education is not a one-size-fits-all journey. That's why we've built programs that are academically rigorous yet flexible, with a strong emphasis on real-world applicability. This recognition from the San Mateo community reinforces that we are on the right path.' In addition to academic excellence, NDNU is deeply committed to values of social justice, inclusion, and social responsibility. The university cultivates a learning environment that empowers students from all backgrounds to thrive and make meaningful contributions to their communities. This holistic, values-based approach has made NDNU a trusted institution for those seeking not just a degree, but a deeper sense of purpose through their educational journey. As NDNU celebrates this back-to-back honor, it continues to expand partnerships with local industries, school districts, and nonprofit organizations to ensure that its programs remain responsive to the evolving workforce needs. The university also plans to continue to provide access and affordability for underserved student populations. For more information about Notre Dame de Namur University's continuing education and degree programs, visit About Notre Dame de Namur University Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) is a Catholic, not-for-profit, coeducational institution serving adult learners from diverse backgrounds. Established in 1851 by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, NDNU is the third-oldest college in California and the first authorized to grant women a baccalaureate degree. The university is WSCUC accredited and offers master's degrees in business, education, and psychology, undergraduate degree completion programs in business and psychology, and teacher credentials. NDNU maintains a strong commitment to academic excellence, social justice, and community engagement. For more information, visit CONTACT: Kurt Allen, Vice President, Marketing and Communications Notre Dame de Namur University 650-508-3533 pr@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
