MSAN and University of Notre Dame Extend Partnership for Military Spouse Leadership Programs Through 2027

The Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN) has announced the extension of its partnership with the University of Notre Dame for the Leadership Institute for Military Spouses (LIMS) by MSAN through 2027. This collaboration, which began in 2025, underscores MSAN's ongoing mission to create stronger military families through education, empowerment, and support. The University of Notre Dame will continue to offer two non-credit programs designed specifically for military spouses, with the second cohorts of each program set to begin.

The 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, focus on building resilience and mental health skills, as well as ethical leadership for professional development. The online content was crafted in partnership with the university's Office of Digital Learning, part of Notre Dame Learning.

Verenice Castillo, MSAN President and CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the renewed collaboration: "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 highlighted that the programs equip military spouses to serve as stronger leaders, mentors, and advocates.

Sonia Howell, director of the Office of Digital Learning, noted the goal of reaching as many military spouses as possible: "It is deeply rewarding to know the courses are continuing to reach new cohorts of learners."

Since the inception of the flagship Leadership Development Program in 2020, nearly 300 military spouses have graduated, representing every branch of service, including veteran and retiree spouses and Gold Star and surviving spouses. These alumni are active volunteers and advocates in their communities. The two new programs are exclusively available to LIMS alumni, providing advanced training in mental health and ethical leadership.

The Ethical Leadership course addresses conflict management, voicing values at work, and honesty and empathy in decision-making, aiming to foster resilient communities. The mental health course series focuses on dispelling myths, identifying risks common in military communities, and developing wellness skills for spouses and their networks.

The MSAN-Notre Dame partnership is a multidisciplinary effort involving faculty and staff from ten university organizations, spearheaded by Notre Dame Research. This includes support from the Office of Military & Veterans Affairs, the College of Arts and Letters, the Mendoza College of Business, and others. The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to serving military families.

For more information on LIMS and its programs, visit leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org. Follow LIMS on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.