Morgan Munsen is a program manager in the Nanovic Institute for European Studies. Notre Dame Sustainability sat down with Morgan to learn more about her and discuss her role in shaping sustainability on campus.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work on campus.
I'm a triple domer, and I studied Neuroscience/Psychology at Notre Dame for my bachelor's, master's, and PhD. Besides loving the study of human behavior, I'm passionate about music: I sing (individual performances and in choral ensembles), play piano, handbells, French Horn, and percussion, and I'm learning the accordion and cornet. On campus, I serve as the senior research and partnerships program manager for the Nanovic Institute for European Studies, directing and supporting research initiatives and partnerships so that the Institute and its partners can realize ambitious research goals. I also manage several important Institute programs, including the prestigious Laura Shannon Book Prize and the Catholic Universities Partnership. I'm a wife, mom of two delightful young boys, and member of Christ the King Catholic Church.
How have you implemented sustainability into your role or office more broadly?
Two years ago, I encouraged the Nanovic Institute to dedicate a new budget line towards research and programming around the topic of sustainability (in line with the University's Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative and the Sustainability and Environmental Justice priority within the Keough School's Strategic Plan), and I now lead all efforts on this topic within the Institute. Looking back on our first year and a half, there are three signature programs I'd like to highlight:
First, in partnership with Notre Dame Sustainability and Notre Dame Global (Study Abroad), we created a Sustainability Research Fellows program open to students studying abroad in Dublin, Galway, London, and Rome. These students receive funding to create and conduct independent research projects during their semester abroad that allow them to gain cross-cultural insights on sustainability topics that they share in presentations once they return to campus the following semester. The inaugural cohort had diverse projects, from urban agriculture in Rome to citizen science and water quality monitoring in Ireland, ESG investing in the EU to plastics regulation in Galway. The upcoming Spring '26 cohort will investigate topics such as the environmental impact of data centers in Dublin, efforts to improve youth mental health through climate action in London, the growth of sustainable tourism in Rome, and the success of Italian luxury fashion brands in implementing sustainable practices.
Second, in concert with my co-instructor and colleague Roy Kimmey, I designed a research immersion trip in Ireland on the topic of sustainability research, education, advocacy, and policy. In Dublin, students engaged with academics from Trinity College Dublin and Dublin City University, visited the Irish National Archives, and met with both a sitting Irish senator and Dublin city councillor who advocate for sustainable solutions. Moving west, they discussed sustainability initiatives and research with faculty and administrators at the University of Galway. The week concluded with a trip to the island of Inis Oírr to study biodiversity and sustainable farming practices, alongside a visit to the Cliffs of Moher to discuss ecotourism and conservation. Exploring archives, classrooms, and the beautiful Irish countryside provided opportunities for Fellows to gather insights from a variety of key environmental actors in different sectors. This trip served as an important component of their semester-long course in European Studies research methods and as a springboard for the development of their independent research projects.
Third, we partnered with the Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies to bring former Irish Green Party leader Eamon Ryan to campus for an extended visit. During the week he spent with us, he delivered a President's Forum lecture on "Cultivating Hope and Climate Action: What We Can Learn from Ireland", met with sustainability faculty from all across campus, and engaged undergraduate and graduate students on topics from Irish Green Party politics to global climate financing. Eamon was a gracious visitor and provided a lot of food for thought for our campus community.
When did you first become interested in sustainability, and what's your favorite sustainability topic?
I first took on sustainability as a sustained (ha!) and intentional worldview in college when I became a vegetarian. My sister encouraged me to watch the 2014 documentary "Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret", and it opened my eyes to the impacts large-scale animal agriculture has on the planet and forced a moral reckoning where I eventually decided I no longer wanted to consume meat. From there, I continued to learn more and more about the global crises we're facing due to human overconsumption, exploitation/extraction, pollution, and general lack of care for our common home, and felt compelled to do my part in my personal and professional life to make a positive impact. As a Catholic, I found much inspiration in Pope Francis' Laudato Si', and have run sustainability action challenges on social media during Lent, incorporating faith, prayer, and works. Right now, my favorite sustainability topic is probably the circular economy, as it involves proper stewardship of resources, creative innovation in systems and processes, and engaging communities. I live out this passion as the founding admin of the South Bend (Far East) Buy Nothing group and member of the admin team of the new group in my hyperlocal area after my recent move.
What is one sustainability tip or action would you recommend people take on in their daily lives, whether at home or on campus?
If you asked me for one sustainability tip, it would be to take your time, money, and effort and become part of some larger organization or movement. Individual actions are important, but I truly believe that the big wins that we need to impact global progress on climate and environmental issues will come from the strategic and coordinated efforts of groups of concerned and educated citizens.
Related to sustainability, what gives you hope for the future?
What gives me hope is that the conversation on sustainability is increasingly including ideas of climate justice, and an insistence on a just transition that sees clearly the unequal impacts of climate change.
Do you know an individual or team who should be highlighted for their sustainability work? Submit a nomination for them here! Their story may be shared on our monthly Green Ambassador newsletter.
Do you know an individual or team who should be highlighted for their sustainability work? Submit a nomination for them here! Their story may be shared on our monthly Green Ambassador newsletter.
Originally published by at green.nd.edu on December 05, 2025.