The Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN) has announced the continuation of its partnership with the University of Notre Dame through 2027 for the Leadership Institute for Military Spouses (LIMS) by MSAN. This collaboration, which began in 2025, aims to provide free, virtual, and meaningful training to military spouses, focusing on resilience, mental health, and ethical leadership.
The renewed partnership will bring second cohorts for two distinct programs: one centered on building skills to promote resilience and mental health, and the other on ethical leadership for professional development. These courses, developed and presented by faculty from the William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families, the Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, and the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership, are designed to equip military spouses with practical tools to navigate challenges and support their communities. The online content was crafted in collaboration with the university's Office of Digital Learning, part of Notre Dame Learning.
Verenice Castillo, MSAN President and CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the continued partnership, stating, "Their continued investment in our military spouse community and the return of this transformative training reflect a shared commitment to empowering military spouses with the knowledge, confidence, and leadership skills to create lasting change." She emphasized that the programs are designed to help military spouses become stronger leaders, trusted mentors, and compassionate advocates.
Sonia Howell, director of the Office of Digital Learning, noted the goal of serving as many military spouses as possible. "It is deeply rewarding to know the courses are continuing to reach new cohorts of learners," she said.
Since its inception in 2020, nearly 300 military spouses have graduated from the LIMS flagship Leadership Development Program. Graduates represent every branch of service, including veteran and retiree spouses and Gold Star and surviving spouses. The two new programs are exclusively available to LIMS alumni, providing advanced training in mental health and ethical leadership.
The Ethical Leadership course addresses topics such as conflict management, voicing values at work, and honesty and empathy in decision-making. The goal is to cultivate leaders who foster resilient and flourishing communities. The mental health course series aims to dispel myths, identify risks common in military communities, and develop skills for wellness promotion, self-care, and emotional resilience.
The partnership is a multidisciplinary effort involving faculty and staff from ten university organizations, spearheaded by Notre Dame Research with support from the Office of Military & Veterans Affairs, the College of Arts and Letters, the Mendoza College of Business, and others. This collaborative approach underscores the university's commitment to serving military families.
The extension of this partnership is significant because it addresses the unique challenges faced by military spouses, offering them free, high-quality education that can enhance their personal and professional lives. By investing in these programs, MSAN and Notre Dame are helping to build stronger military families and communities, which is vital for overall military readiness and well-being.
