Notre Dame Inspired Leadership Initiative

The Inspired Leadership Initiative (ILI) was developed for accomplished individuals from all walks of life to come to Notre Dame for a one-year program to study, discern, and then launch the next phase of their lives as a renewed and richly prepared force for good in their communities and beyond. It is important to emphasize that we define "accomplished" broadly so as to incorporate those that have risen to positions of leadership in business, non-profits, and other organizations large and small, as well as those who have distinguished themselves in education, medicine, law, religious life, and other fields.ILI represents Notre Dame’s venture into "encore education"—a growing form of higher education—and is inspired by the Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University and the Distinguished Careers Institute at Stanford University. Just as these pioneering programs reflect the culture of their host universities, so, too, does the Inspired Leadership Initiative distinctively reflect Notre Dame and its rich traditions.With the support of Notre Dame’s leadership, ILI fellows:• Learn by auditing classes, attending lectures, and engaging in student projects on campus• Are mentored and supported by Notre Dame faculty and staff as they tap into the enriching academic environment of the University• Have a core and tailored curriculum designed specifically for the cohort• Enjoy the same access to campus resources and activities as full-time students• Are able to utilize the Notre Dame Global Gateways in places such as Beijing, Dublin, Rome, London, and Jerusalem• Receive an invitation to discernment, at their discretion• Have many opportunities to make a lasting impact—both for themselves and in the lives of others—through community engagement