The Military Spouse Advocacy Network has launched the second course in its partnership with the University of Notre Dame, focusing on ethical leadership development for military spouses. This initiative represents a significant advancement in supporting military families through specialized education programs that address both personal development and professional readiness.
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. The curriculum covers essential leadership topics including conflict management, voicing values in professional settings, and incorporating honesty and empathy into decision-making processes. This course follows the successful July launch of a mental wellness course developed by Notre Dame's William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families and Veldman Family Psychology Clinic.
Both courses are delivered through a combination of asynchronous content and live sessions, making them accessible to military spouses who often face relocation challenges and unpredictable schedules. The mental wellness course has already demonstrated significant impact, with military spouse learners practicing mental health conversations and receiving real-time feedback from clinical psychology doctoral students under faculty supervision. Donna Armentrout from the Veldman Family Psychology Clinic noted that the experience has been enriching for both learners and facilitators.
The ethical leadership course features instruction from Jessica McManus Warnell, Rex and Alice A. Martin Faculty Director of the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership, and Kristen Collett-Schmitt, associate dean for undergraduate and specialized master's programs in the Mendoza College of Business. The curriculum includes contributions from multiple Notre Dame faculty members and military community experts, creating a comprehensive learning experience tailored specifically for military spouses. The course aims to enhance career readiness and leadership capabilities within both organizational and community contexts.
This partnership represents a multidisciplinary effort involving faculty and staff from ten University organizations, spearheaded by Notre Dame Research with support from multiple colleges and departments. The initiative has received recognition from military leadership, including Admiral Christopher W. Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who provided a testimonial for the program. His wife, Christine Grady, appears in introductory videos for both courses, highlighting the personal connection to military family challenges.
Verenice Castillo, founder and CEO of MSAN, emphasized the importance of this collaboration in building strong community leaders and advocates among military spouses. The program addresses the unique challenges faced by military families, particularly the career interruptions and relocation difficulties that frequently affect military spouses' professional development. By providing access to Notre Dame's educational resources and expertise, the partnership enables military spouses to develop leadership skills that benefit their communities and enhance their career opportunities.
The Leadership Institute for Military Spouses continues to expand its offerings through this partnership, with information available at https://www.leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org. The program represents a model for how academic institutions can partner with military support organizations to address specific needs within the military community while contributing to broader societal goals of leadership development and community resilience.
