Family roots run deep for Ann Firth, vice president and chief of staff in the Office of the President. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Germany, seeking opportunity.
“My parents were immensely proud of being US citizens and their life here,” Firth said, “but they also thought it was important for their children to understand their roots.
“Every summer we would travel back to visit relatives in Germany. My mother and father were the only ones in their families to emigrate. So in some sense, I grew up in a typical immigrant family. But there was a richness in going back to visit this large extended family that was very formative for me in terms of who I am today.”
In the same way that family roots run deep, so do the values instilled by Firth’s parents. Her mother and father underscored the importance of education as the path to success and to becoming a global citizen. When she enrolled at Notre Dame as an undergraduate, the daughter of immigrants who grew up in a German-speaking household found something more than she expected.
“Leaders must dream big and be willing to work for the things that they believe in. There’s no substitute for having courage in life and in leadership.”
“When I got here, I felt like I finally belonged somewhere,” Firth recalled. “I remember how powerful that was for me, and it’s really important to me that other people experience that sense of belonging here.”
Firth majored in political science and German and considered a potential career in international relations. As an undergraduate, she studied abroad in Innsbruck, Austria, making it easier to visit her German relatives—including her grandmother, whom Firth describes as a very important influence in her life.
Firth earned her bachelor’s degree and then a Juris Doctor from Notre Dame. She practiced law in Chicago for a time, but questioned if the legal profession was the right long-term fit. Mindful of the principles imparted by her parents, Firth felt drawn to return to the world of higher education. When extended family connections brought her back to South Bend, she applied for a role at Notre Dame and was named the inaugural director of the Office of Residence Life. That led to a 20-year career in Student Affairs, during which she oversaw a diverse portfolio that included strategic planning, student welfare and safety, and oversight of the Career Center and Campus Ministry. She also played a key role in establishing the Gender Relations Center and served as the chair of the Committee on Sexual Assault Prevention and deputy Title IX coordinator.
“I hope I’ve been a good mentor and role model for the students and colleagues I’ve been privileged to work with,” Firth said. “I think one of the obligations of leadership is to be a generous mentor and advocate for others, especially for those who are finding their path.”
Now in the Office of the President for the past 13 years, Firth holds a multifaceted position that impacts many areas of the University. Serving as a key adviser to University President Rev. John Jenkins, C.S.C., Firth is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the office. A significant portion of her job involves communication, whether acting as the primary liaison to the University’s Board of Trustees, keeping senior University leaders informed of important issues, or collaborating with the Office of Public Affairs and Communications on a wide variety of communications and initiatives. Yet this is only a part of her contribution. She serves on multiple committees on behalf of Father Jenkins and is routinely tasked with working on and leading special projects.
As just two of many examples, Firth co-chaired, with Vice President for Undergraduate Enrollment Micki Kidder, the University-wide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the admission of undergraduate women at Notre Dame. She also served as a member of the Trustee Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which issued its report in 2022. She counts this work as a privilege to undertake.
“I think that it has mapped a course for us which is fully congruent with our Catholic identity and mission,” she said. “It roots our efforts with regard to diversity and inclusion in our Catholic mission, which calls all of us to treat each other as beloved creations of God. So I think at a time when other places are struggling to talk about their efforts to be more diverse and inclusive, we’re fortunate in that our efforts are rooted in our most deeply held beliefs.”
As someone who has the perspective of a Notre Dame student, alumna, parent (her five children are all graduates of the University), and leader, she believes Notre Dame’s success flows from its faithfulness to its founding principles as a Catholic university. Firth points to the new strategic framework as a clear example of this mission-aligned approach, distinctive among major global research universities. She’s energized by being part of a place that seeks to make distinctive contributions to solving the world’s most pressing problems.
Distinctive, authentic contribution is not just the responsibility of an institution like Notre Dame; Firth believes it is an obligation of individuals who aspire to leadership as well, whether at Notre Dame or elsewhere.
“It took me a while to figure out that for me to be really effective as a leader, the best thing I could do is be myself,” Firth said. “Authenticity in leadership is really essential. I like to think I bring my whole self to my work and that all of the experiences I’ve had throughout my life have helped to shape me as a leader.
“Leaders must dream big and be willing to work for the things that they believe in. There’s no substitute for having courage in life and in leadership. And these qualities should always be coupled with kindness and compassion. I wish these things for anyone aspiring to be a leader.”
