About
Vision
The Inspired Leadership Initiative (ILI) empowers accomplished individuals who have completed their chosen career to reimagine their future. Through a transformative journey of discovery, discernment, and design, participants shape who they want to be in the next chapter of their lives while developing the skills and perspective to become a powerful force for good in their communities and beyond.
We define "accomplished" broadly to include those who have excelled in business, education, non-profit organizations, and and other areas in life. Our focus is centered on a discerned personal transformation that provides direction for a person’s future. This is connected to, but intentionally distinct from, the idea of finding a specific career. However, many of our fellows do identify a clear and purposeful next step by the end of the program.
ILI represents Notre Dame’s first venture into "encore education"—a growing form of higher education—and is inspired by programs at other leading universities. Just as the other pioneering programs reflect the culture of their host universities, so too is ILI infused by Notre Dame's ethos and rich traditions.
Engagement
ILI fellows are mentored and supported by Notre Dame faculty and staff as they tap into the enriching academic environment of the University. They have a wealth of resources available to them, with a core and tailored curriculum at its center, complemented by community engagement, an invitation to spiritual exploration and access to Notre Dame's domestic and global gateways and centers.
With the committed support of the University's administration, ILI fellows learn by:
- Engaging in our core course, the Human Journey, and other core elements
- Auditing classes, attending lectures, and engaging in student projects on campus
- Enjoying open access to campus resources and activities
- Learning from the other fellows as they form a powerful and lasting community
- Discovering opportunities to make a lasting impact—both on themselves and in the lives of others—through community engagement and service projects
Explore Stories
View all storiesSample some of Notre Dame's unique and inspiring stories that help to illustrate the ethos and reach of the University:
“Many highly accomplished leaders reach a stage in their lives when they wish to find new ways to be forces for good in their communities and in the wider world. This program will serve as a catalyst for intellectual challenge, spiritual growth, and discernment about sharing their gifts in the next chapter of their lives.”
—Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., Notre Dame President Emeritus
Endorsed and Supported by the Deans' Council
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G. Marcus Cole
The Law School -
Martijn Cremers
Mendoza College of Business -
Patricia Culligan
College of Engineering -
Mary Gallagher
Keough School of Global Affairs -
Michael Hildreth
The Graduate School -
Kenneth Scheve
College of Arts & Letters -
Stefanos Polyzoides
School of Architecture -
Steven Corcelli
College of Science
Program and Faculty Advisors
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Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Policy
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Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology
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Director of the Undergraduate Studies for the Consulting for Impact Minor, Teaching Professor
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Keough-Hesburgh Professor of Global Affairs; Interim Director, Ansari Institute for Global Engagement with Religion
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Professor of History and Global Affairs
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Professor of Psychology
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Director of Graduate Studies of Italian, Pizzo Family Chair in Dante Studies, Ravarino Family Director of Italian and Dante Studies Center
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Associate Professor of Philosophy
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Professor of Theology and McGrath-Cavadini Director of the McGrath Institute for Church Life
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Frank M. Freimann Professor of Computer Science and Engineering
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Director of Graduate Studies Professor Concurrent Professor, Gender Studies; Fellow, Nanovic Institute for European Studies
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Department Chair and Associate Professor, American Studies
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Associate Professor, Industrial Design
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Associate Teaching Professor and Executive Director, Kroc Institute of International Peace Studies
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Director, Cushwa Center for the Study of American Catholicism and Professor, Department of American Studies and Department of History
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Lilly Presidential Fellow, Snyder Family Mission Professor, Department of Political Science
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Brian and Jeannelle Brady Family Director of the Notre Dame International Security Center (NDISC)
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Associate Teaching Professor, Global Health Practice
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Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, C.S.C., Professor of the Humanities and Director, Initiative for Global Europe, Keough School of Global Affairs
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President of the University of Notre Dame
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Professor of English and Faculty Director, ILI
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Keough-Hesburgh Professor of Music History and Liturgy, Emeritus
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Henkels Family College Professor of History
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Madden-Hennebry Family Professor; Thomas Moore and Judy Livingston Director, Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies
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Vice President and Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education
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McMeel Family Professor in Shakespeare Studies Concurrent Faculty in English
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Associate Professor, Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures
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Professor Professor of Peace Studies, Keough School of Global Affairs
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Teaching Professor; St. Andre Bessette Academic Director of the Master of Nonprofit Administration Program Management & Organization
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Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., Professor Emeritus of Peace Studies
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Rev. Edward (Monk) Malloy, C.S.C.
President Emeritus and Professor of Theology
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Associate Professor John J. Cavanaugh Associate Professor of the Program of Liberal Studies Director, de Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture
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Assistant Teaching Professor and Associate Director, University Writing Center
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Professor of Theology
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Wilsey Professor of Theology
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Charles and Jill Fischer Provost
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Senior Associate Director, Education, Schooling, and Society, Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Africana Studies, and Faculty Co-Director, AnBryce Scholars Program
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Senior Associate Director, Academic Affairs, Institute for Social Concerns and Director, Poverty Studies Interdisciplinary Minor
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Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs; Associate Teaching Professor
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Associate Professor, English
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Professor of Spanish
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Professor of the Practice, Pulte Institute for Global Development and the McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business, Keough School of Global Affairs
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Robert & Marion Short Professor of Law and Professor of International Peace Studies—Kroc Institute
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William J. Pulte Director, Pulte Institute for Global Development, Interim Director, McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business, and Professor of the Practice, Keough School of Global Affairs
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Professor Emerita, Film, Television The William T. Carey and Helen Kuhn Carey Chair in Modern Communication
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John T. Ryan Jr. Professor of Business Ethics; Honors Program Faculty Director; Interim Academic Director of the Business Ethics and Society Program; Concurrent Professor of Political Science Business Ethics and Society
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Teaching Professor Co-Director, Catholic Social Tradition Minor
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Research Professor of Economics, LEO Director of Research
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Professor of Political Science and Concurrent Professor of Law
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Professor of the Practice and Director, Catholic Peacebuilding Studies
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Teaching Professor of International Development and Co-Director, Integration Lab
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Associate Teaching Professor, Philosophy
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Fellow, Nanovic Institute for European Studies and Professor of the Practice, Art History
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Professor and Department Chair, Philosophy
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Professor of Religion, Ethics, and Peace Studies
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Associate Professor Concurrent Associate Professor, Department of History; Faculty member, Program in History & Philosophy of Science
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Wilsey Family College Professor of Philosophy; Director: Notre Dame Ethics Initiative
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Executive Fellow, Global Policy Initiative; Adjunct Professor of the Practice, Global Affairs
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Professor Emerita, Studio Art and Faculty Fellow, Institute for Latino Studies
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John G. Sheedy, M.D., Director of the Ruth M. Hillebrand Center for Compassionate Care in Medicine
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Teaching Professor and Director, Legal Writing Program
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Tocqueville Professor of Political Science, Concurrent Professor of Law , Founding Director of ND’s Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government.
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Teaching Professor, Theology
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Professor Emeritus