Lydia Haggar Novakov ’68 has lived her life in a way that truly embodies the Ursuline mission.
She is an extraordinary leader, committed to a life of service, not only to Ursuline Academy but to the entire North Texas community and beyond.

Lydia Novakov’s Ursuline education began in kindergarten and continued in elementary school
when the Sisters were teaching at Christ the King. Following her high school years at Ursuline
Academy, she attended Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. She returned to Dallas to teach Government at Ursuline for two years before enrolling at The University of Notre Dame for graduate school. After earning her Master’s Degree in American Government, she would again return to teaching at Ursuline.

Her enthusiastic engagement and loyal support for Ursuline has been constant over decades.
In the 1980s, as a member of the Ursuline Academy Board of Governors, Lydia was active in the Renaissance Campaign, the Academy’s first major fundraising effort. She was also instrumental in formation of the Alumnae Office. She served as Alumnae Board President from 1979-1983 and received the Academy’s first Distinguished Alumnae Award in 1984. Most recently she has served on the Board of Trustees and the Trustee Committee of the Board.

In Dallas, Lydia has held leadership and advisory roles in every major Catholic community program and initiative. She was recipient of The Catholic Foundation Award in 2022, along with her husband Dan Novakov. She has been tireless in her work to support education, healthcare, and essential social programs to meet the needs of children, families, and seniors.

Lydia’s current activities include work with the Catholic Diocese of Dallas Finance Council,
Hoblitzelle Foundation, UT Southwestern Medical Center, The Catholic Foundation Advisory
Council, Town of Highland Park Town Council, Crystal Charity Ball Committee, Junior League of
Dallas, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and The Senior Source.

Lydia and Dan Novakov are members of Christ the King Catholic Church. They have two children, Isabell and Daniel, and three granddaughters.