David Werda
Assistant Vice President, Hospitality and External Partnerships
Biography
David leads the hospitality teams, inclusive of Morris Inn, Rohr’s, Café J, McKenna Conference Center, Ivan’s, Legends, and Three Leaf catering as well as the University’s licensing and retail portfolio.
He is a key leader for Notre Dame, interfacing with colleagues from across the institution and serving as the University's primary relationship manager with Barnes & Noble College (BNC), Fanatics, and LidsU. In addition to these partners, David works with other emerging strategic partners focused on revenue generation and strategic constituent engagement.
Before joining Notre Dame in 2022, David served as Vice President of Business Development for LidsU, where he led the development of new business opportunities as well as the cultivation of existing partner development opportunities. With over 20 years in the higher education retail sector, he began his career with the Follett Higher Education Group before becoming the Director of Campus Stores Strategy at Fanatics, Inc.
David holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Criminal Justice and Sociology from American International College in Springfield, MA, where he was a 4-year football letterman and senior year captain. He is a member of South Bend/Mishawaka Leadership Signature Class '43.
David and his wife Katie hail from New England, and now live in Granger with their twin sons Maxwell and Calen, and their silver labrador retriever Easton.