Justin McManus || South Bend, Indiana

Assistant Director, Band of the Fighting Irish

Hello, everyone! My name is Justin McManus, and I’m incredibly excited to be joining this team and have the opportunity to work with you all. I am currently in my eighth year as an assistant director with the University Band program here at ND, and also serve as an instructor with the Moreau First Year Experience course and faculty member in the Music Department. I’m originally from Connecticut, and attended the University of Connecticut for my undergraduate and graduate degrees (a fact of which I’m reminded every time the UConn and ND women’s basketball teams meet)! Prior to selecting a major, I wrestled with three passions that still drive many of my interests today: music, food, and politics. I am an avid lover of EDM, homemade pizza, and engaging in conversations that aim to move from the political to the personal. 

Many of my current professional activities and educational philosophies stem from a conversation I had several years ago with a graduate of Notre Dame’s ACE program, which ended in the two of us agreeing that while the concept of changing “the” world may sometimes feel overwhelming, to changing “a” world on a daily basis is not only attainable, but desirable for each of us. To that end, I am looking forward to working with my wonderful peers and this entire group to help each other create and understand their individualized framework for affecting change, exploring our meaning, and creating beautiful moments. We have so much to learn from each other, and I’m grateful to be going on this journey with you!