Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This podcast episode features Heather Reynolds, Managing Director of the Notre Dame Poverty Initiative and the Michael L. Smith Managing Director, Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO), who shares how Notre Dame’s research has shaped policy changes—such as expanding access to high school diplomas for adults—and helped nonprofits implement programs that truly work. With more than 100 projects in 30 states, LEO’s evidence-based approach is cutting through political divides to create solutions that lift people out of poverty.
We’re also joined by Tracy Kijewski-Correa, the William J. Pulte Director of the Keough School’s Pulte Institute for Global Development. She discusses how her experiences—from being a first-generation student at Notre Dame to leading post-disaster rebuilding efforts—have shaped her work in helping communities build resilience. She also explains how the Keough School’s approach to poverty extends beyond economic hardship, addressing social, psychological, and environmental challenges to foster true human flourishing.
By collaborating with policymakers, local leaders, and global networks, Notre Dame is bridging the gap between poverty research and real-world impact. Listen to the full episode of Notre Dame Stories to learn how Notre Dame is driving change—and why this work matters.
Show links:
Episode page (https://stories.nd.edu/podcasts/fighting-poverty-research-helping-our-communities/)
Fighting For website (https://fightingfor.nd.edu/)
Fighting to improve education policies (https://fightingfor.nd.edu/2024/fighting-to-improve-education-policies/)
Notre Dame Poverty Initiative (https://strategicframework.nd.edu/initiatives/poverty-initiative/)
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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:43 Heather Reynolds shares her Notre Dame story
02:56 How Notre Dame can help non-profits
04:53 Why investing in evidence-based programs is so important
06:15 Heather Reynolds shares how her conviction to solve poverty at its roots stemmed from her adoption experience
09:30 Notre Dame's commitment to poverty research domestically and globally
10:53 How the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) has helped shape education policy in America
13:28 How Notre Dame works across political lines to influence policy as a means for good
14:12 How the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) helped shape the Evidence-Based Policy Act
15:20 Types of poverty research that the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) focuses on
17:33 How the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) and Notre Dame are helping combat the opioid crisis in America
19:42 How Notre Dame alum Paul Farrell has helped victims of the opioid epidemic fight pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors
22:51 The importance local partners have on research at the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO)
23:54 Investing in poverty research
27:17 Tracy Kijewski-Correa shares her Notre Dame story
29:54 To build resilient communities, you have to visit on their darkest day
31:29 How Notre Dame helped victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
34:00 Three pillars that make Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs different
36:00 Working with policymakers and investing in evidence-based policies
37:00 Scaling interventions through global partnerships to seed change
37:40 Why Notre Dame must be a leader on issues like poverty
38:27 Thinking globally but working locally is a model for success in affecting change
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Notre Dame Stories is the official podcast of the University of Notre Dame. It was created by the Office of Public Affairs and Communications and hosted by Jenna Liberto with Executive Producer Andy Fuller. It was produced by Jenna Liberto, Josh Long, and Staci Stickovich. Videography was done by Zach Dudka, Josh Long, Tony Fuller, and Michael Wiens. Original music was provided by Alex Mansour. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
This podcast episode features Heather Reynolds, Managing Director of the Notre Dame Poverty Initiative and the Michael L. Smith Managing Director, Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO), who shares how Notre Dame’s research has shaped policy changes—such as expanding access to high school diplomas for adults—and helped nonprofits implement programs that truly work. With more than 100 projects in 30 states, LEO’s evidence-based approach is cutting through political divides to create solutions that lift people out of poverty.
We’re also joined by Tracy Kijewski-Correa, the William J. Pulte Director of the Keough School’s Pulte Institute for Global Development. She discusses how her experiences—from being a first-generation student at Notre Dame to leading post-disaster rebuilding efforts—have shaped her work in helping communities build resilience. She also explains how the Keough School’s approach to poverty extends beyond economic hardship, addressing social, psychological, and environmental challenges to foster true human flourishing.
By collaborating with policymakers, local leaders, and global networks, Notre Dame is bridging the gap between poverty research and real-world impact. Listen to the full episode of Notre Dame Stories to learn how Notre Dame is driving change—and why this work matters.
Show links:
Episode page (https://stories.nd.edu/podcasts/fighting-poverty-research-helping-our-communities/)
Fighting For website (https://fightingfor.nd.edu/)
Fighting to improve education policies (https://fightingfor.nd.edu/2024/fighting-to-improve-education-policies/)
Notre Dame Poverty Initiative (https://strategicframework.nd.edu/initiatives/poverty-initiative/)
---
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:43 Heather Reynolds shares her Notre Dame story
02:56 How Notre Dame can help non-profits
04:53 Why investing in evidence-based programs is so important
06:15 Heather Reynolds shares how her conviction to solve poverty at its roots stemmed from her adoption experience
09:30 Notre Dame's commitment to poverty research domestically and globally
10:53 How the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) has helped shape education policy in America
13:28 How Notre Dame works across political lines to influence policy as a means for good
14:12 How the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) helped shape the Evidence-Based Policy Act
15:20 Types of poverty research that the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) focuses on
17:33 How the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) and Notre Dame are helping combat the opioid crisis in America
19:42 How Notre Dame alum Paul Farrell has helped victims of the opioid epidemic fight pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors
22:51 The importance local partners have on research at the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO)
23:54 Investing in poverty research
27:17 Tracy Kijewski-Correa shares her Notre Dame story
29:54 To build resilient communities, you have to visit on their darkest day
31:29 How Notre Dame helped victims of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti
34:00 Three pillars that make Notre Dame's Keough School of Global Affairs different
36:00 Working with policymakers and investing in evidence-based policies
37:00 Scaling interventions through global partnerships to seed change
37:40 Why Notre Dame must be a leader on issues like poverty
38:27 Thinking globally but working locally is a model for success in affecting change
-----
Notre Dame Stories is the official podcast of the University of Notre Dame. It was created by the Office of Public Affairs and Communications and hosted by Jenna Liberto with Executive Producer Andy Fuller. It was produced by Jenna Liberto, Josh Long, and Staci Stickovich. Videography was done by Zach Dudka, Josh Long, Tony Fuller, and Michael Wiens. Original music was provided by Alex Mansour. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
