Lizzie Henningfeld

Biography

Lizzie (Mikes) Henningfeld joined the IDEA Center in February 2024 as the Senior Associate Director, Finance & Operations. In her present role, Henningfeld oversees the day-to-day building operations within Innovation Park and manages the internal business operations and financials for the IDEA Center and its respective business units, including the Innovation Lab, ESTEEM Graduate Program and Commercialization teams amongst others.

Before joining the IDEA Center leadership team, Henningfeld was a member of the Finance, Operations & Administration team within Notre Dame Global, where she was responsible for international business administration and financial management across the University of Notre Dame’s Global Network. During her tenure in Notre Dame Global, Henningfeld was instrumental in modernizing various global offices’ approaches towards international banking, budget planning, financial reporting, and operations management by enhancing and integrating the systems and services provided in each locale to align with central university standards and procedures. Her first role at the University was in the Notre Dame Athletics Department, as Media Services Coordinator within Fighting Irish Media. During her time in the Athletics Department, Henningfeld managed the press box hospitality operations, directed media credentialing for all 26 varsity sports teams, and served as the communications director for the Fighting Irish men’s and women’s swimming and diving and fencing programs.

Prior to Notre Dame, Henningfeld worked in the hospitality and foodservice industry, spending time in the front of house and within kitchen staffs at restaurants and private clubs in Minnetonka Beach, MN; Miami, FL; Scarsdale, NY; Washington D.C., and throughout the greater metro-Detroit area. She earned her Executive Masters of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, and holds a Bachelors in Hospitality from Johnson & Wales University and an Associates in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America. A proud Minnesotan, Henningfeld currently resides in South Bend with her husband, Brent, and two dogs, Elsa and Kaner; together, they enjoy entertaining and cooking for friends and family.