2019 Rev. William A. Toohey, C.S.C. Award for Social Justice

The prestigious Rev. William A. Toohey, C.S.C., Award for Social Justice is awarded annually to a member of the Notre Dame faculty or staff who has dedicated himself or herself to teaching and research that emphasize the social justice dimension of the Gospel in an exemplary way. 

Professor Marisel Moreno is the recipient of the 2019 Rev. William A. Toohey, C.S.C., Award for Social Justice. Described by colleagues as “compassionate, kind, phenomenal, [and] one of ND’s finest,” Moreno is being recognized for the variety of ways she has taken her classroom into the community to help students engage with issues of social justice. Her courses routinely include regular tutoring and mentoring visits to La Casa de Amistad, where she is a board member, and immersion experiences with local immigrant families. As co-creator of “Listening to Puerto Rico,” a free online learning opportunity, she has worked to elevate the voices of those impacted by Hurricane María and to generate increased support for their ongoing recovery efforts. She also serves as a mentor to underrepresented Notre Dame students through the Building Bridges program. 

Prof. Moreno received the award at the President’s Dinner for Faculty on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.