Dr. Mary Laverty Funke has been elected as the next President of Baltimore’s Institute of Notre Dame. She will take office July 1.
Funke was once Dean of Students at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. At the time, the college’s president was School Sister of Notre Dame Kathleen Feeley, was has served as IND’s interim president since July 2010.
“So I know well her talents, her intelligence, her ‘can do’ attitude toward every situation, and, most important, her living the S.S.N.D. spirit day by day,” Sister Kathleen said in a letter to the IND community.
Funke, who has held several executive positions, is currently the President of N Street Village in Washington, D.C., a community of comprehensive services providing hope and a better future for women in need. She has held leadership roles at the American Chemical Society in D.C. and Catholic Charities of Baltimore.
“Beginning and ending my career in Catholic education with the S.S.N.D.s is an honor, and I believe part of the G-plan (God plan),” Funke said. “As soon as I walked through the front door, I was engulfed with the spirit of IND … high energy, kindness, sharp minds.”