Marion Short and her family have a long history with Notre Dame. She and her late husband, Robert Short, established one of the first chairs in Notre Dame's law school, held by Thomas Shaffer as emeritus and now occupied by Steven Smith, one of the nation's foremost scholars in the field of law and religion. Her seven children boast a total of ten Notre Dame degrees. Her son, Brian, sits on Notre Dame's Law School Advisory Council, and her daughter, Elizabeth, has taught in Notre Dame's Alliance for Catholic Education program. Mrs. Short recently retired from the board of the University of St. Thomas, where she served on a committee that advised the formation of a new Catholic Law School. The School of Law is based on the philosophy that law is a healing profession, and it will emphasize public service throughout the curriculum and in the community. This school is one of three such efforts in the United States and is directed by David Link, formerly of Notre Dame Law School. Mrs. Short's generous endowment will fund journals, reference materials, and equipment in the Center's offices on the campus of Notre Dame. The Marion Short library is the only place on campus where such materials are found together and will both assist the Center's scholars and attract other faculty and students.
