St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge combines the rich scholarly tradition of the University of Cambridge with a dynamic, modern academic environment. The Gothic Revival architecture is complemented by picturesque grounds featuring an orchard and even a hidden garden, maintained by the students. With students representing over 70 nationalities, St. Edmund’s is one of the university’s most diverse colleges.
Against this backdrop, University of Notre Dame alumni Jacob Sherer ’24 and Brian Joseph ’24 will spend the next year pursuing an MPhil in Politics and International Studies, as two of the first students on a postgraduate program available to Notre Dame alumni. This initiative, allowing Notre Dame students to learn from some of the world’s leading experts in their fields, stems from the strengthening partnership between St. Edmund’s College and Notre Dame.
Founded in 1896 with a distinctive Catholic ethos, St. Edmund’s College has been dedicated to inclusive education from its inception, making it a natural partner for Notre Dame.
"The Catholic founders of St. Edmund’s College were committed to ensuring no one was excluded from the best higher education on the basis of faith or identity," said Catherine Arnold, Master of St. Edmund’s College.
Today, the college fosters a diverse community of scholars from over 75 countries, preparing them to become ethical leaders in a global context.
In an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world, this graduate program aims to enhance cultural understanding, global perspectives, and academic excellence, equipping Notre Dame participants with the skills to become strong global citizens capable of addressing global challenges.
A unique research opportunity
The success of this initiative is best illustrated through the stories of the students it serves.
While at Notre Dame, Sherer majored in political science and minored in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE), and European studies with the Nanovic Institute. His journey to Cambridge started during his junior year when he studied abroad in London. It was in the UK, specifically through the Kennedy Scholars Program, that first sparked his passion for academic research. During a class trip to Cambridge, he engaged with scholars at St. Edmund’s, and solidified his desire to continue his education there.
“I appreciated St. Edmund’s College and its focus on serving a ‘higher purpose’ beyond oneself. Notre Dame champions a similar creed when it asks us to be a ‘powerful force for good’ in the world around us,” he said.
For Sherer, the opportunity to study at Cambridge means continuing work on research that aims to be communicated beyond academia, with the intent of enhancing people's lives. After returning from London, he completed his senior thesis as part of the Glynn Family Honors Program and won the John Roos Prize for Best Thesis in American Politics.
“Growing up in small-town Wisconsin, I never imagined that I’d be able to study at such a world-class university while also continuing my work to better understand and advocate for the rural communities in which I was raised," he said. "In short, this is a dream come true!”
Joseph majored in the Program of Liberal Studies at Notre Dame and wrote his senior thesis on the influence of Ancient Greek and Roman rhetorical theory on US Senator Daniel Webster’s 1850 speech, “The Constitution and the Union.” Attending Cambridge will allow him to continue this research, focusing on the rhetoric and statesmanship of the nineteenth-century British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone.
“The opportunity to attend Cambridge as a Notre Dame Global-St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge Graduate Program Fellow is simply remarkable. Notre Dame has consistently believed in me, even when I may have doubted myself,” Joseph said.
Both Sherer and Joseph highlight the program’s commitment to allowing students to delve deeply into their research interests under the guidance of world-renowned experts.
Real stories, real impact
Maria McKenna, director of the Transformational Leaders Program, said the initiative's mission is built on a common commitment to equity, ethical globalism, and the co-existence of faith and reason.
"The partnership between Notre Dame and St. Edmund's College, Cambridge is exciting and unique," she said. "I am especially grateful for how this partnership is helping historically marginalized students find access to higher education at one of the world's most learned institutions."
For current students, especially those in mission-based scholars programs at Notre Dame, this program represents a tangible opportunity to advance their academic and professional goals. As the program continues to flourish, it aims to inspire current and future Notre Dame students to pursue their academic aspirations.
Scholars during his time in the London
Undergraduate Program.
Joining the legacy of excellence
The program exemplifies the significant impact of strategic partnerships in higher education. Michael Pippenger, vice president and associate provost for internationalization at Notre Dame, said the importance of such collaborations between the two programs "exemplifies the transformative power of global partnerships in higher education.”
The partnership between St. Edmund’s College, Cambridge, and Notre Dame fosters international cooperation among faculty, scholars, students, and administrators in education, research, and outreach.
"By bringing together diverse perspectives, resources, and expertise, we create unique opportunities for our students and faculty to engage in research and cross-cultural exchanges,” Pippenger said. “These partnerships not only enhance academic quality but also prepare our community to address complex global challenges with innovative and inclusive solutions.”
Looking ahead, the program aims to inspire others with its success and the stories of the students who bring it to life. The objective is to continue supporting and expanding initiatives that promote inclusion, excellence, and global engagement.
Originally published by at global.nd.edu on August 20, 2024.
