About

The Eugene D. Fanning Center for Business Communication assists members of the Notre Dame community in achieving their academic, intellectual, and professional goals by providing instruction and guidance on writing, speaking, and other dimensions of human communication. At the heart of this mission is a concern for the individual, a focus on ethics and integrity in business, and a commitment to advancing the College and the University.

Notre Dame is a recognized leader among top-tier business schools that have made a serious commitment to developing communication skills and integrating those skills with management strategy and theory.

The Fanning Center was established in the autumn of 1990 and, in August of 1996, was dedicated in memory of Notre Dame graduate and Chicago business executive, Eugene D. Fanning. Two years later, the Fanning Center, its faculty and programs became a part of the Department of Management in the Mendoza College of Business.

The Fanning Center exists to influence the ways in which both students and faculty see the role of writing, speaking, listening, and other communication behaviors in the workplace. Curricular coursework is available to both graduate and undergraduate students, along with a number of workshops, tutorials, and other not-for-credit experiences

Letter from the Director

For 30 years, the Fanning Center for Business Communication has promoted business communication excellence within the Mendoza College of Business. We activate this mission in four ways:

• World-class academic experience
• Thought leadership
• Outreach and engagement
• Strategic partnerships

Over the years, our curriculum has responded to the changing business environment. What has not changed is the commitment of every Fanning Center faculty member to provide individual instruction to students in the core areas of business writing, speaking, and communication strategy. As you realize from our high number of student consultations, we're making an impact on their learning experience. As we begin a new decade, we look forward to what's possible and reflect back on the visionary insights of the late Gene Fanning and Mendoza dean emeritus, Jack Keane, as well as of founding director Prof. James O'Rourke, without whom our work would not be possible.

Amanda G. McKendree, Ph.D.
Arthur F. and Mary J. O'Neil Director
Teaching Professor of Management & Organization
Mendoza College of Business