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, offering two specialized training programs for military spouse alumni. This collaboration, which began in 2025, aims to equip military spouses with essential skills in ethical leadership and mental health wellness, supporting their roles as community leaders and advocates.
The courses, developed 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 address the unique challenges faced by military families. The Ethical Leadership course focuses on conflict management, voicing values at work, and fostering honesty and empathy in decision-making. The Mental Health Wellness series aims to dispel myths, identify risks, and build skills for emotional resilience and self-care. These programs are offered exclusively to LIMS alumni, ensuring that graduates can continue to develop their leadership capabilities.
“I am incredibly excited and deeply grateful to welcome the University of Notre Dame back to the MSAN family,” said Verenice Castillo, MSAN President and CEO. “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.”
The partnership is a multidisciplinary effort involving faculty and staff from ten organizations at Notre Dame, including Notre Dame Research, the Office of Military & Veterans Affairs, and the Mendoza College of Business. “When we worked with members of the Notre Dame faculty to develop these two non-credit offerings for MSAN, it was with the goal of serving as many military spouses as possible,” said Sonia Howell, director of the Office of Digital Learning. “It is deeply rewarding to know the courses are continuing to reach new cohorts of learners.”
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. These programs have been instrumental in fostering a network of passionate volunteers and advocates who provide critical support to their communities.
The continuation of this partnership underscores the growing recognition of the vital role military spouses play in maintaining resilient military families. By investing in their education and leadership development, MSAN and Notre Dame are helping to create a stronger support system for the entire military community. As the programs expand, they promise to have a lasting impact on the lives of military spouses and the families they serve.
For more information about the Leadership Institute for Military Spouses and its programs, visit leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org.
