The Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN) has announced that its Leadership Institute for Military Spouses (LIMS) will continue its partnership with the University of Notre Dame through 2027. This collaboration, which began in 2025, provides free, virtual leadership training to military spouses, a demographic often facing unique challenges related to frequent relocations and deployments.
The renewed partnership will bring a second cohort of two programs: one focused on building resilience and mental health, and another on ethical leadership for professional development. These courses, developed and taught by faculty from Notre Dame’s William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families, the Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, and the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership, are exclusively offered to LIMS alumni. Since the institute’s inception in 2020, nearly 300 military spouses from every branch of service, including veteran and Gold Star spouses, have graduated from its flagship Leadership Development Program.
The importance of this initiative lies in its direct impact on military family well-being. MSAN President and CEO Verenice Castillo emphasized the transformative nature of the training, 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.” By equipping spouses with tools in mental health wellness and ethical leadership, the program aims to foster leaders who can support their families and communities, which is crucial for military readiness and retention.
The Ethical Leadership course covers topics such as conflict management, voicing values at work, and honesty and empathy in decision-making. The mental health course series aims to dispel myths, identify risks common in military communities, and develop skills for self-care and supporting others. These skills are not just beneficial for personal growth but also for building resilient communities, a key factor in military family stability.
The partnership is a multidisciplinary effort involving 10 organizations at Notre Dame, coordinated by Notre Dame Research with support from various colleges and offices. Sonia Howell, director of the Office of Digital Learning, noted the rewarding aspect of seeing the courses reach new cohorts, underscoring the university’s commitment to serving military spouses.
This continuation signals a sustained investment in a population that often faces high stress and isolation. By providing free, accessible training, MSAN and Notre Dame are addressing critical gaps in support for military spouses, which can have long-term positive effects on military families and the broader community. The program’s growth and the involvement of a top-tier university highlight the importance of such educational initiatives in empowering those who serve alongside our nation’s heroes.
For more information, visit the Leadership Institute for Military Spouses website at leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org and the University of Notre Dame at nd.edu.
