The 2026 Jeanie Poole O’Shaughnessy Memorial Lecture will take place at the University of Notre Dame on September 11, 2026 in the Leighton Concert Hall of the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center. Hosted in remembrance of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, this event commemorates the 25th anniversary of that day and provides an opportunity for us to honor the American spirit of resilience in the wake of unfathomable tragedy.
This year's event will feature four distinguished panelists: The Honorable Brett Kavanaugh, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States; Rev. Edward A. "Monk" Malloy, C.S.C., President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame; Jennie Bradley Lichter '04, Senior Advisor to the March for Life Education and Defense Fund; and James J. "Jimmy" Dunne III, a Notre Dame trustee and vice chairman and senior managing principal of Piper Sandler. The panelists will share their personal experiences of 9/11 and its legacy in conversation with Vincent Phillip Muñoz, director of Notre Dame's Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government.
The lecture is free but ticketed. Doors and a standby line will open at 2:30 p.m., and all guests must be seated by 3:15 p.m. Please note that bags and backpacks will not be permitted. The conversation will be livestreamed on the Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government’s YouTube channel. Inquiries about the lecture, ticket requests, or the remembrance project can be directed to CCCG Assistant Director Anna Bradley.
Due to high demand, tickets are no longer available through our team. A limited number of tickets will be available at the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center the day of our event to students, faculty, and staff with a valid Notre Dame ID. The box office will be open for standby tickets beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 11. Overflow space to view the livestream is available in Jenkins-Nanovic Halls, Room 1030.
9/11 Remembrance Recollections
As a complement to the lecture, the CCCG is providing a dedicated space to honor those who lost their lives and reflect on our community's experiences of that day. This milestone anniversary reminds us that even after a quarter of a century, personal stories of resilience and remembrance continue to bolster our love of country and shape our shared values today. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and friends are invited to share their personal stories and any applicable photographs connected to their experience of 9/11.
On the form, you may indicate whether you are comfortable having your recollection shared on the Center's website and social media channels in the days leading up to 9/11/26. You will have the option to remain completely anonymous.
Distinguished Guests
Hon. Brett M. Kavanaugh
Brett M. Kavanaugh, Associate Justice, was born in Washington, D.C., in 1965. He earned his B.A. from Yale College in 1987 and his J.D. from Yale Law School in 1990. After clerking for various federal judges—including Supreme Court Justice Anthony M. Kennedy—he served as an attorney in the Office of the Solicitor General and the Office of Independent Counsel. Between 2001 and 2006, he held several roles in the White House under President George W. Bush, including Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary. He was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2006, and was later nominated to the Supreme Court by President Donald J. Trump, taking his seat on October 6, 2018. He and his wife, Ashley Estes Kavanaugh, have two daughters.
Jennie Bradley Lichter '04
Jennie Bradley Lichter is the Senior Advisor and former president of the March for Life Education and Defense Fund, which hosts the world’s largest annual human rights event in Washington, D.C. She has extensive legal and policy experience across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. During the first Trump Administration, Jennie served as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, where she led key initiatives on religious liberty, regulatory reform, and defending the dignity of life. Her previous roles include working at the U.S. Department of Justice, serving as Deputy General Counsel for The Catholic University of America, and working as in-house counsel for the Archdiocese of Washington. A former clerk for the D.C. and Eighth Circuits, Jennie holds degrees from the University of Notre Dame, Harvard Law School, and the University of Cambridge.
James J. Dunne III
Jimmy Dunne is the Vice Chairman and Senior Managing Principal of Piper Sandler. In 1988, he co-founded Sandler O’Neill + Partners, leading it for over 30 years to become the largest independent full-service investment bank focused on the financial services sector before its acquisition by Piper Jaffray in 2020. A prominent financial industry commentator, Mr. Dunne frequently speaks on leadership and management. He holds a B.A. in economics from the University of Notre Dame, where he delivered the 2021 commencement address and received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. He is the proud father of three children.
Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C.
Rev. Edward A. Malloy, C.S.C., is President Emeritus of the University of Notre Dame, having served as its 16th president from 1987 to 2005. A full professor in the Department of Theology, he has been a faculty member since 1974 and continues to teach first-year seminars while residing in Sorin Hall, a student residence. Father Malloy is a prolific author of over 50 articles and 12 books, including People First: Reflections on Leadership (2023). He holds a doctorate in Christian ethics from Vanderbilt University, which established a Chair in Catholic Studies in his name, and has received 25 honorary degrees. He remains active on various higher education and nonprofit boards.