SOUTH BEND, Indiana – Susan Ostermann, an associate professor of global affairs at the University of Notre Dame, has declined an appointment to lead the Liu Institute for Asia and Asian Studies, following weeks of criticism over her public advocacy for abortion rights. The decision, announced Thursday by Mary Gallagher, dean of the Keough School of Global Affairs, comes after mounting pressure from Catholic bishops, student groups, and fellow faculty members.
Ostermann, who joined Notre Dame in 2017, was slated to begin her directorship on July 1, 2026. Her appointment, announced January 8, 2026, quickly drew fire due to articles she co-authored arguing in favor of legal abortion. In one essay, published with former Notre Dame professor Tamara Kay, Ostermann and Kay asserted that “almost 90 per cent of abortions occur during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy when there are no babies or fetuses,” and characterized abortion as a safe procedure with no long-term negative consequences.
Bishop Kevin Carl Rhoades of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, in whose jurisdiction Notre Dame resides, was among the most vocal critics. He released a statement describing Ostermann’s views as an attack on the pro-life movement and accusing her of using “outrageous rhetoric” in her writings. Rhoades also took issue with Ostermann’s characterization of the pro-life position as rooted in “white supremacy and racism” and her assertion that misogyny is “embedded” in the movement. He argued that her appointment created “confusion in the public mind as to Notre Dame’s fidelity to its Catholic mission.”
The controversy prompted a demonstration organized by students Luke Woodyard and Gabriel Ortner, initially planned as a protest against Ostermann’s appointment. Despite Ostermann’s decision to decline the directorship, Woodyard confirmed that the demonstration, dubbed “March on the Dome,” will proceed as scheduled on February 27. Organizers from the Sycamore Trust, a group involved in the demonstration, stated that their concerns extend beyond a single appointment.
Gallagher, in her email to Keough School students, expressed gratitude for Ostermann’s “willingness to serve and for the thoughtfulness with which she approached this decision.” Ostermann will remain a faculty member at the Keough School. The Liu Institute, Gallagher stated, “remains… committed to supporting its faculty, students and staff as they carry forward this important work.”
Ostermann’s research focuses on regulatory compliance, comparative politics, and environmental regulation, with a particular emphasis on South Asia. She has also served as a consultant for the Population Council, an international research organization that advocates for “sexual and reproductive health, rights and choices.”
