The Military Spouse Advocacy Network (MSAN) announced that the University of Notre Dame will continue its partnership with the Leadership Institute for Military Spouses (LIMS) by MSAN through 2027. This collaboration brings free, virtual training programs to military spouses, focusing on mental health resilience and ethical leadership. The announcement was made on September 1, 2026, from San Antonio, Texas.
The partnership will support second cohorts for two non-credit courses developed by Notre Dame faculty. The mental health course series aims to help military spouses dispel myths about mental health, identify risks common in military communities, and develop wellness skills for themselves and their families. The ethical leadership course covers conflict management, voicing values at work, and decision-making with honesty and empathy, with the goal of fostering leaders who build resilient communities.
These programs are exclusively available to alumni of LIMS by MSAN, which has graduated nearly 300 military spouses since its inception in 2020. Graduates represent all branches of service, including veteran and retiree spouses, as well as Gold Star and surviving spouses. They have become volunteers, advocates, and changemakers in their communities.
Verenice Castillo, MSAN President and CEO, expressed enthusiasm for 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 said. The courses are designed to equip spouses to serve as leaders, mentors, and advocates.
Sonia Howell, director of the Office of Digital Learning at Notre Dame, noted the rewarding nature of reaching new cohorts. "It is deeply rewarding to know the courses are continuing to reach new learners," she stated. The online content was developed with the university's Office of Digital Learning, part of Notre Dame Learning.
The MSAN-Notre Dame partnership is a multidisciplinary effort involving faculty and staff from ten university organizations, including the William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families, the Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, and the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership. The project is spearheaded by Notre Dame Research with support from various offices and colleges.
This continued partnership underscores the importance of providing military spouses with tools to navigate challenges and enhance their leadership capabilities. By offering these free programs, MSAN and Notre Dame aim to strengthen military families and communities.
For more information about LIMS and its programs, visit leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org. Follow LIMS on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
