Notre Dame and MSAN Partnership Launches Ethical Leadership Course for Military Spouses

The Leadership Institute for Military Spouses by MSAN has partnered with the University of Notre Dame to offer two specialized online courses designed specifically for military spouses, addressing critical needs in mental wellness and ethical leadership development. The partnership represents a significant commitment to supporting military families through education and skill-building programs.

The first course, launched in July 2025, focuses on mental wellness and aligns with Notre Dame's broader commitment to addressing the nation's mental health crisis. Developed and presented by faculty from Notre Dame's William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families and Veldman Family Psychology Clinic, the course was created in collaboration with Notre Dame Learning's Office of Digital Learning to ensure effective online content delivery. 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.

September 2025 marks the launch of the second course, "Ethical Leadership with Notre Dame," developed through collaboration between the Office of Digital Learning and faculty from the Notre Dame Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership at the Mendoza College of Business. This course reflects the center's mission to inform, equip, and inspire values-based leadership, covering essential topics such as conflict management, voicing values at work, and incorporating honesty and empathy in decision-making processes. The curriculum aims to support military spouses in becoming leaders who foster resilient and flourishing communities.

Both non-credit courses are delivered through a combination of asynchronous on-demand content and live interactive sessions, providing flexibility for military spouses who often face unique scheduling challenges due to their partners' service requirements. The program's design acknowledges the particular circumstances of military life while providing high-quality educational opportunities.

The Notre Dame-MSAN partnership represents a multidisciplinary campus project involving faculty and staff from ten different organizations across the university. The initiative is spearheaded and resourced by Notre Dame Research with support from multiple university departments including the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, the College of Arts and Letters, the Mendoza College of Business, and several research centers and clinics. This comprehensive approach ensures that the courses benefit from diverse expertise and university-wide commitment to supporting military families.

For more information about the Leadership Institute for Military Spouses and its programs, visit https://www.leadershipinstituteformilitaryspouses.org. The partnership between Notre Dame and MSAN represents a meaningful investment in military spouse development, recognizing their crucial role in maintaining strong military families and communities while providing them with tools to enhance their leadership capabilities and career readiness.