Following last spring's graduation of Alexa and Arjun, the inaugural Maritain Fellows presidents, the Center is pleased to introduce their successors, Mark Mikhail and Nicholas Ramirez!
Nicholas Ramirez, the graduate chapter president, is a second-year PhD student in Moral Theology. Nick graduated from the MTS program at Notre Dame in the spring of 2025. Both as a MST student and first-year PhD, Nick was a graduate Maritain Fellow officer, where he showed tremendous initiative in welcoming visiting speakers, participating in our lectures and discussion groups, and even organizing a Jacques Maritain reading group. We are grateful and excited to have Nick's leadership as president of the graduate chapter of the Maritain fellows in the coming year.
Reflecting on his time at the Center thus far, Nick comments,
The Maritain Center has greatly enriched my intellectual life at the University of Notre Dame by affording me many opportunities to more deeply engage in the Catholic intellectual tradition under the tutelage of St. Thomas Aquinas and Jacques Maritain. As a Maritain Fellow, I have had the privilege of listening and conversing with faithful and accomplished guest speakers, of partaking in several reading groups on the works of Jacques Maritain, and of being supported in presenting my research related to the Catholic intellectual tradition at various conferences.
In the coming academic year, Nick is looking forward to the Maritain Center's upcoming lectures and the continued growth of the fellows program. He is especially excited for the speakers and events we will be hosting, and look forward to welcoming both new and familiar faces at these events!
Mark Mikhail, the president of the undergraduate chapter of the Maritain Fellows, is a second-year student double majoring in Biological Sciences and Theology. Mark was also a Maritain fellow last year and a regular contributor to the community here at the Center.
Reflecting on his first year, Mark writes,
In pursuit of holiness, I thought theological knowledge was something that was good but not that important. However, when I came to the University of Notre Dame and found the number of individuals who love engaging in deep intellectual Theological discussions, I knew that it was something that I loved and wanted to pursue. I realized the gift of intelligence can be directed towards deepening our understanding of God. Ever since then, I have deliberately pursued learning theology in and outside of class.
The Maritain Center has enriched my experience at Notre Dame by creating a space where intellectual life and personal formation come together in a meaningful way. Through its events and community, I’ve been able to engage deeply with philosophical and theological questions that go beyond the classroom. It has provided a place where I can intellectually engage with my peers, outside of class, in matters that are of great interest to me. Additionally, I have benefited a lot from many of the talks that the center held.
This year Mark is looking forward to expanding his theological and philosophical knowledge through reading and by engaging with many inspiring intellectuals at the Center. As president, he hopes to provide opportunities for the fellows to nourish their hearts and minds through the Center's programming.