David Werda

Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives and Business Development

David Werda Headshot
Office
502N Main Building
Notre Dame, IN 46556

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Biography

David leads the revenue generation, business development, marketing, licensing, and retail teams within University Operations, Events, and Safety. 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 Lids. In addition to these partners, David works with other emerging strategic partners focused on revenue generation and strategic constituent engagement. In addition, David collaborates with Notre Dame's Athletics and University Relations divisions to envision and integrate a multi-channel constituent journey, inclusive of Experience Notre Dame, for the Notre Dame family.

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.