The Women in Pizza Conference University of Notre Dame

Rising Daughters

Our Lady of the Hearth

Women and the craft, chemistry, commerce and culture of global pizza. One day on campus with world-champion pizzaiole, Notre Dame scientists and historians, and the women building the industry.

When
Saturday, March 20, 2027
Where
Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame
Admission
Free and open to the public
Registration opens soon See the program
Carmela Cataldo smiling and holding the Caputo Cup trophy
Carmela Cataldo of Antonio’s Italian Ristorante in Elkhart, Indiana, first place in the Americana division at the 2026 Caputo Cup in Naples.

The people who make pizza, with the people who study it.

Champion pizzaiole stretch dough beside chemists. A historian explains why dough at home was women’s work while the professional oven became a man’s job. Founders and executives talk business with students from every college on campus. Then everyone eats.

  • Craft

    Live dough work from world champions, led by Carmela Cataldo and the women of the World Pizza Champions.

  • Chemistry

    Dr. Kate Biberdorf, Kate the Chemist, on fermentation, gluten and stone-oven heat, with student lab stations and live demos.

  • Commerce

    Women who run pizzerias, brands and supply chains on building a business in a trade men have long run, plus a career reception for students.

  • Culture

    Pizza’s global history, the gendered history of the kitchen, and a screening of Miss Americana Goes to Naples.

Speakers and guests

More guests to be announced.

  • Carmela Cataldo holding the Caputo Cup

    Carmela Cataldo

    Antonio’s Italian Ristorante, Elkhart, Ind.

    First place, Americana division, 2026 Caputo Cup in Naples. Member of Women in Pizza and the World Pizza Champions.

  • Brittany Saxton in a black chef’s jacket at a restaurant table

    Brittany Saxton

    Six Hundred Downtown, Bellefontaine, Ohio

    World Pizza Games champion and two-time world record holder. Member of the World Pizza Champions.

  • Gemma Cataldo holding an International Pizza Expo world champion award

    Gemma Cataldo

    Antonio’s Italian Ristorante, Elkhart, Ind.

    Two-time International Pizza Expo winner and a world champion at 18.

  • Azie Mortati holding a folded slice of pizza on a city street

    Azie Mortati

    Founder, Women in Pizza · VP of Marketing, Orlando Foods

    Built Women in Pizza into a community for women across the industry. A judge at the 2026 Caputo Cup in Naples.

  • Dr. Kate Biberdorf smiling in a blue shirt

    Dr. Kate Biberdorf

    “Kate the Chemist,” University of Notre Dame

    Professor for the public understanding of science. Leads The Chemistry of the Crust masterclasses.

  • Dr. Holly Goodson smiling, wearing glasses

    Dr. Holly Goodson

    College of Science, University of Notre Dame

    Professor of chemistry and biochemistry and associate dean for education and undergraduate programs.

  • Dr. Carol Helstosky, with gray hair and glasses

    Dr. Carol Helstosky

    Historian, University of Denver

    Author of Pizza: A Global History (2008). Opens the day on women, labor and pizza’s spread around the world.

  • Marisol Doyle in an apron holding a pizza and a plate of baked goods

    Marisol Doyle

    Leña, Cleveland, Miss.

    Named Pizza Maker of the Year in 50 Top Pizza’s 2026 USA guide. Joining by video.

Pizza and a movie

Miss Americana Goes to Naples

A documentary that follows Carmela Cataldo to the 2026 Caputo Cup in Naples, where she took first place in the Americana division. After the screening, Carmela, producer Patrick Vivirito of Notre Dame’s Italian Studies program, filmmakers Josh Long and Drew Malcolm, judge Azie Mortati and fellow competitor Jack Williams take questions from the audience.

Lunch is Carmela’s winning pizza, the Miss Americana. Lunch requires registration

The program

Saturday, March 20, 2027. Times and rooms will be posted before the event, and sessions may change.

  1. Opening

    Welcome and opening remarks

    Including the announcement of the winner of the spring residence hall pizza competition.

  2. Talk

    A Global History of Pizza, Women in Pizza and Labor in Global Food Networks

    Dr. Carol Helstosky on the gendered history of the kitchen: why dough at home was women’s work while the professional pizzaiolo was a man, and how women champions are taking the oven back. Introduced by Professor Katie Boyle, Italian Studies.

  3. Film

    Screening: Miss Americana Goes to Naples

    Introduced by producer Patrick Vivirito.

  4. Panel & lunch

    Film Q&A and lunch

    The cast and crew take questions over Carmela’s first-place pizza, the Miss Americana. Registration required for lunch.

  5. Masterclass

    The Chemistry of the Crust, live masterclass (two sessions)

    Dr. Kate Biberdorf and Carmela Cataldo. Student teams calculate hydration and test gluten strength at lab stations, take on a hand-stretching challenge, and watch thermal imaging of stone baking and dry-ice fermentation demos. The best student doughs are recognized at the end.

  6. Conversation

    World Champion Pizzaiole

    A conversation with the women world champions of pizza.

  7. Panel

    Women in Business

    A fireside conversation with Azie Mortati, Notre Dame alumnae, local business owners and industry leaders, moderated by Karen Deak of the IDEA Center, with time for student questions.

  8. Reception

    Career networking reception

    Students meet recruiters from the Orlando Foods network, faculty, guest pizzaiole and industry leaders over fresh slices and pizza fritta made with Caputo flour.

Sponsors

Sponsor and host

Mendoza College of Business

University of Notre Dame

Registration opens soon.

Admission is free and open to the public: students from every college, faculty, pizza professionals and anyone who loves pizza. Lunch requires registration. The link will be posted here.

Questions?

Email Patrick with a question

Italian Studies, University of Notre Dame · pvivirit@nd.edu