In 1979, the Notre Dame Institute opened its doors to lay students and started offering evening courses on the Marymount University campus in Arlington, Virginia, in addition to its summer program in Middleburg. Soon after, Bishop Thomas Welsh entrusted the Institute with the theological education and pastoral formation of candidates for the Permanent Diaconate of the Diocese of Arlington. Rev. John Hardon, S.J., was an early and long-time professor at the Institute. NDI incorporated in Arlington, Virginia, and moved its offices to the diocesan chancery offices in Arlington. Msgr. Kevane was the Chairman of the Board, Rev. William Kaifer, S.J., was vice-chairman, and Deacon Daniel Resendes was secretary/treasurer; these three were to continue to direct NDI for many years. Dr. O’Donnell and Fr. William Saunders sign the merger documents. The class of 1982 was the last to receive the M.A. degree from the Angelicum, as the Institute received approval of Arlington, was appointed president of the Institute in to grant degrees from the Commonwealth of Virginia 1992. In June 1994 he moved the Institute to its present in 1983. At this time, NDI started to offer evening and facility in Alexandria, Virginia, finally combining offices, weekend classes at Bishop O’Connell High School in classrooms, and library at one location. He also led the Arlington, and the summer program was transferred Institute to full accreditation by SACS, built up the from Middleburg to Marymount University. library collection, and greatly improved the Barbara Murphy, a 1982 graduate, served the financial stability of the Institute. Father Institute in various capacities over almost Saunders served as President of NDI until two decades, as Dean, professor, director of the merger of the Institute with Christendom admissions and of oversees programs, and, College in 1997. On February 1 of that year, finally, as a member of the Board of Directors. the Notre Dame Institute became the Notre A spirituality concentration was added to the Dame Graduate School of Christendom catechetics program in 1984. In 1986, Rev. College (NDGS), with Father Saunders as Franklin McAfee, a priest of the Diocese of its first Dean. Arlington, replaced ailing Msgr. Kevane as director of the Institute. During his tenure Father Saunders served as Dean until (until 1992), the Institute often held classes at 2002 when he stepped down to focus on St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Springfield, his parish work as the founding Pastor of where Father McAfee was pastor. In June Msgr. Eugene Kevane. Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in 1990, the Institute was granted candidate Potomac Falls, Virginia. Fr. Saunders was membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and aided in the transition from NDI to NDGS by long-time Schools (SACS). NDI employee, Mr. Luther Niehoff, who continued to contribute greatly to the growth and development of the Reverend William P. Saunders, a priest of the Diocese graduate school until 2006 when he retired after 15 years at NDI/NDGS. Mr. Niehoff died of cancer on April 22, 2010.
Grad School employees: Registrar & Business Officer Heidi Kalian, the late Luther Niehoff, Dean Kris Burns, and Librarian Joseph Arias.
Following Fr. Saunders’ departure as Dean in 2002, the college tapped founding faculty member Dr. Kristin Burns, who had been teaching philosophy courses for the graduate program since 1991, as the new Dean of the Graduate School. Under Dean Burns, the graduate school has grown tremendously, with several new programs. In the summer of 2006, Christendom hosted the first Vita Consecrata Institute (VCI) on its Front Royal campus. Co-sponsored by the Graduate School and the Institute on Religious Life, the VCI is a program of theological study and spiritual renewal for religious, priests, and - 24 -