As we at Notre Dame celebrate the achievements of our many graduating students, the Maritain Center would like to issue a special congratulations - and thanks! - to two in particular: Arjun Wasan (B.A. in Philosophy, with German minor) and Alexa Kawlewski (J.D., 2026).
Alexa and Arjun are the inaugural presidents of the Graduate and Undergraduate chapters of the Maritain Students Fellows. Both serving since the program's inception in 2024, Arjun and Alexa have created a community of fellows devoted to exploring the Catholic intellectual tradition and its power to speak to our intellectual and practical problems today. Their creativity has been integral to the program's success. As Director Cory writes,
Our Fellows program owes its existence to Arjun and Alexa, who originally approached the Maritain Center with their vision for empowering students to organize activities that promote a deeper exploration of philosophical questions on campus in light of the Catholic intellectual tradition. We are incredibly proud of what this student-led initiative has become in just two short years. Under Arjun's and Alexa's leadership, the Maritain Fellows has grown to 70+ students, organized numerous lectures and reading groups, and inspired the popular "Cercle d'Etudes" seminar. As Arjun and Alexa pass the baton to Mark and Nick, we know they will shine in all their future endeavors, and are deeply grateful for the lasting impact they have made on intellectual life on campus.
Alexa is excited to see the Fellows' connection with the broader ND community grow in the coming years. The opportunity to travel to Chicago and meet with Maestro Honeck while seeing a performance at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was one of her favorite memories of the program and she looks forward to seeing the Fellows continue to explore where their interests and connections take them, even off-campus.
After graduating from Notre Dame Law School, Alexa and her husband Nathan will move to the D.C. area and prepare for the birth of their first child! Alexa plans to stay at home and care for the newest member of their family before taking the bar exam in February 2027 and entering practice. Arjun plans to pursue graduate education in international relations and will continue to be working on building the Carlsbad Institute for Social Thought.
Congratulations, Alexa and Arjun, on your graduation. And thank you for your service to the Maritain Center!
Want to read more about Alexa and Arjun's experience in the Fellows Program?