After an extensive nationwide search, Notre Dame High School in West Haven has named Robert F. Curis its next president. He will assume his responsibilities on July 1.
Curis will be the first lay president in school history and 11th overall Notre Dame leader since the school opened in the Fall of 1946. He replaces current President Br. James Branigan, CSC, who announced last April that he would be leaving Notre Dame at the end of the school year to assume new administrative responsibilities for the Congregation of Holy Cross in Austin, TX establishing and directing the Holy Cross Schools Sponsorship Office for the Moreau Province.
Following Branigan’s announcement, the Board of Directors appointed a Search Committee to begin the selection process. Those members, aided by Education Access Strategies, traveled a road that eventually led to Robert being the unanimous choice of both the Search Committee and the Notre Dame Board of Directors.
The process was finalized at a Feb. 25, meeting when the Board of Directors forwarded its selection to the Board of Members (Congregation of Holy Cross leadership), who accepted the recommendation and made the formal appointment. Robert officially accepted the position later that same night.
A native of West Hartford, Curis comes to Notre Dame from The Whitby School in Greenwich, where he is currently the Assistant Head of School and CFO/Dean of Business Affairs.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my introduction to the Notre Dame community throughout this process,” said Curis. “One consistent theme that I heard across conversations with students, faculty, administrators and directors/trustees was a desire for the incoming leadership to build upon the extraordinary legacy of the Holy Cross brothers. I also understand that this legacy is committed to continuous improvement for their institutions. I share this passion for improving and supporting our educational institutions. I look forward to getting to know the young men, their families and the staff and administrators, and alumni community that make Notre Dame such a special place.”
Board of Directors Chairman Joseph Dooley stated in his letter to the community, “This position requires a proven educator with the leadership skills and management capacity to run a school like Notre Dame. The President must be an effective communicator, strategic thinker, and possess significant advancement and development experience.”
Dooley added, “All involved felt that Robert exemplified the qualities and attributes necessary to be a successful President, following the spiritual guidance and truly transformative leadership of the school under the tenure of Brother James Branigan, C.S.C.”
Curis described the moment after he received the phone call offering the position.
“When the search committee shared the good news, our family reacted as if: we were just accepted into the college of our dreams based on the great ND education students receive; made a huge play to help Notre Dame beat one of our rivals on the athletic field; nailed a musical or theatrical performance in Collins Auditorium; combined with all that, the feeling you have after volunteering your time to better the community. It was very gratifying and humbling to have such a positive outcome from a very thorough search process,” he said.
Branigan was pleased with the selection.
“I am extremely happy that Robert has accepted the position to be Notre Dame’s next President,” he said. “His qualifications are outstanding and his previous work experiences will allow him to continue to move Notre Dame in a positive direction for all the young men who walk through our doors. I look forward to assisting Robert in the transition over the next few months and also to working with him in my future role as Director of the Holy Cross Schools Sponsorship Office, Moreau Province.”
In addition to his current position at The Whitby School, Curis previously served as Head of the American University in Kosovo, establishing that institution as the leading private university in the region. He also served as the Director of The European Centre of Minority Issues in Kosovo. While there, he established the Pristina School of Politics and led a multi-ethnic standing technical working group focusing on education, healthcare, finance, and youth issues. Robert has also served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Albania, a teaching fellow at the Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford, and as a Holy Cross Associate Volunteer in Portland, OR.
Curis has a strong foundation from the Congregation of Holy Cross having served in the Holy Cross Associates Domestic Volunteer Program and graduated from the University of Notre Dame with an honors degree in English and International Peace Studies in 1989. He received a masters degree in Foreign Service with an Honors Certificate in International Business Diplomacy from Georgetown University in 2000. He currently resides in Stamford with his wife, Edlira, and their three children: Emma (11), Reamon (8), and Fiona (7).
Curis sad he is excited to start his new life’s journey at Notre Dame.
“I was attracted to Notre Dame because I am a proud product of the Holy Cross mission,” he said. “I felt an immediate pull to join this community and serve others within the the context of this leadership role and I am very enthusiastic to answer that call.”