Notre Dame and Military Spouse Advocacy Network Launch Second Leadership Course for Military Spouses

The Military Spouse Advocacy Network's partnership with the University of Notre Dame has launched its second online course specifically designed for military spouses, building on the success of their initial mental wellness offering. This collaboration represents a significant commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by military families, particularly the career disruptions and leadership development needs of spouses who frequently relocate due to military service requirements.

The new course, titled Ethical Leadership with Notre Dame, was developed through collaboration between Notre Dame Learning's Office of Digital Learning and faculty from the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership at the Mendoza College of Business. This course covers essential topics including conflict management, voicing values in professional settings, and incorporating honesty and empathy into decision-making processes. The curriculum aims to equip military spouses with the skills necessary to become effective leaders who can foster resilient and flourishing communities wherever their military service takes them.

Both courses in the partnership are delivered through a combination of asynchronous content and live sessions, making them accessible to military spouses regardless of their location or schedule constraints. The mental wellness course, launched in July and developed by faculty from Notre Dame's William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families and Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, has already demonstrated significant impact. According to instructor Donna Armentrout, military spouse learners have had the opportunity to practice mental health conversations and receive immediate feedback from clinical psychology doctoral students under faculty supervision.

Jessica McManus Warnell, Rex and Alice A. Martin Faculty Director of the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership, emphasized the custom curriculum developed specifically for military spouses to enhance career readiness and leadership capabilities. The course features insights from faculty experts, including several who are veterans and military spouses themselves, providing authentic perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing military families. The ethical leadership course also includes contributions from additional Notre Dame faculty members and military community members, creating a comprehensive learning experience.

This multidisciplinary partnership involves faculty and staff from ten different organizations across the University of Notre Dame campus, spearheaded and resourced by Notre Dame Research with support from multiple academic and administrative units. The collaboration addresses a critical need for professional development opportunities that accommodate the mobile lifestyle of military families while providing high-quality education from a leading academic institution. For more information on the Leadership Institute for Military Spouses and its programs, visit https://www.leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org.