Alliance for Catholic Education
Notre Dame, IN — Christopher Cirelli, a graduating member of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) Teaching Fellows program, has been awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for the 2025–26 academic year. Cirelli (ACE 30) has been serving as a 4th grade teacher in Oakland, California, and will travel to Italy this fall for a prestigious appointment as an English Teaching Assistant.
Cirelli is one of a select group of U.S. citizens chosen by the Fulbright U.S. Student Program to teach English and foster cross-cultural understanding in communities around the world. He joins a growing list of ACE graduates who have received this distinguished honor, demonstrating the program’s enduring impact in forming educators who lead with compassion and purpose.
“Christopher represents the very best of ACE—faith-filled, dedicated, and committed to building bridges across cultures through education,” said John Staud, Executive Director of the Alliance for Catholic Education. “His Fulbright appointment is a testament to both his excellence as a teacher and the transformative power of Catholic education rooted in service.”
As a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant, Cirelli will draw on his ACE formation and classroom experience to support English language instruction in Italian schools, promote cultural exchange, and create opportunities for mutual understanding. His award affirms his gifts as a servant leader and reflects ACE’s mission to prepare educators who make a global difference.
About the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE)
Founded in 1993, the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), part of the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI) at the University of Notre Dame, works to sustain, strengthen, and transform Catholic schools. ACE forms teachers and leaders; develops and disseminates innovative tools and research to integrate academic excellence and spiritual growth; and enhances financial accessibility and operational vitality to ensure that all children—especially those in historically marginalized communities—have the opportunity to experience the gift of an excellent Catholic education. ACE annually serves more than 300 schools and 250,000 students in over 40 states.
To learn more, visit ace.nd.edu.
About the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI)
Founded in 1996, the Institute for Educational Initiatives is home to more than two dozen programs that strive to improve education for all children—particularly those who have been historically underserved. Through teaching, research, and outreach, IEI forms scholars and educators who support human dignity and advance the common good. Anchored by the values of the University of Notre Dame, IEI pays special—though not exclusive—attention to Catholic schools as instruments of both academic excellence and integral human formation.
To learn more, visit iei.nd.edu.