Notre Dame and Military Spouse Network Launch Second Leadership Course for Military Families

The Military Spouse Advocacy Network's partnership with the University of Notre Dame has expanded with the launch of a second online course specifically designed for military spouses. This initiative, which began last fall, represents a significant commitment to supporting military families through specialized education programs developed by Notre Dame faculty.

The new course, titled Ethical Leadership with Notre Dame, follows the successful July launch of a mental wellness course. Both programs 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 ethical leadership course 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.

Jessica McManus Warnell, Rex and Alice A. Martin Faculty Director of the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership, emphasized the custom curriculum's focus on enhancing career readiness and leadership skills. "We developed a custom curriculum for military spouses to enhance career readiness and leadership in their organizations and communities," McManus Warnell stated. The course covers essential topics including conflict management, voicing values in professional settings, and incorporating honesty and empathy into decision-making processes.

The impact of the partnership's first course on mental wellness has already demonstrated significant value. Donna Armentrout from the Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, who served as instructor for the mental wellness course, reported that "the course material has been incredibly well-received." Military spouse participants had the opportunity to practice mental health conversations and receive real-time feedback from clinical psychology doctoral students under faculty supervision.

This multidisciplinary project involves faculty and staff from ten different Notre Dame organizations, including the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, the College of Arts and Letters, and the William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families. The partnership has garnered high-level support, with Admiral Christopher W. Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, providing a testimonial for the ethical leadership course, while his wife Christine appears in introductory videos for both courses.

Verenice Castillo, founder and CEO of MSAN, expressed pride in welcoming Notre Dame to their network, noting that "their commitment to our military community will empower these dedicated individuals to continue making a profound difference in their lives and communities." The programs aim to build what Castillo describes as "an army of strong community leaders, mentors, and advocates" among military spouses who face unique challenges due to frequent relocations and the demands of military life.