E-Newsletter | Spring 2026
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Dear Friend of ILI,
Some years ago, I was an M.A. student studying Irish literature at University College, Dublin. One night, a friend and I traveled to the student center on campus to hear a talk by Bernadette Devlin, the Irish civil rights leader. When we arrived, the room was packed. Even the hallway was thronged with people. Standing several rows deep, we could neither see nor hear Ms. Devlin. Disappointed, we left.
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My friend suggested we go downstairs to hear an Irish musician performing there. I was not enthused. I had never heard of the musician, and anyway I wanted to see Devlin. My friend persisted. Come on, he said. Reluctantly, I agreed.
In the center of a small, sparsely attended space, I saw a tall, thin, distinguished-looking man in a jacket and tie. Across his lap was an instrument I had never seen before: a complicated assemblage of wooden pipes, silver keys, leather straps, and what looked like a leather bellows. The man said a few words of introduction then began pumping the bellows with his elbow. At the same time, his fingers, which seemed impossibly long, played over the pipes and keys. And the sounds that poured out of that instrument—deep, warm, hypnotic, ancient—were of a kind I had never heard before.
I can’t easily describe the effects that music had on me—how it poured into me, traveled through my bones, changed something inside me. After two or three tunes, I wanted to leap to my feet and yell, “Bravo! Bravo!”—which would have been kind of ridiculous given the setting. I later learned that the instrument was called the uilleann pipes—uilleann being the Irish word for elbow. The musician was Seamus Ennis (pictured below), one of the great masters of uilleann piping, whom I had the great fortune to hear despite my reluctance that evening years ago. All this, for me, was a revelation. I have never been quite the same person since.
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What changes our lives? What arrives—by design or by chance—to alter our course? As the ILI Cohort 7 fellows depart and the fellows of Cohort 8 prepare for their arrival, I am reflecting on themes of change and transformation. ILI fellows come to Notre Dame unsure of what’s ahead and where their year may lead them. In their classes with Notre Dame students, in quiet moments at the grotto, in shared meals with new friends, ILI fellows are continually offered experiences that can lead to insights, discoveries, and new designs of their lives.
We cannot easily predict what may transform us. It may come as revelation, an unexpected encounter that goes all the way down in shaping who we will become. It may come as earned realization after months, perhaps years, of study and prayer. And it may come after a year of community at ILI. Like the uilleann pipes, ILI is an intricate assemblage: people, ideas, questions, disciplines, friendships, and moments of deep discernment.
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Think of it as a year of invitation to review and reimagine the course of one’s life.
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We hope you enjoy this edition of Insights. In it you will find photos from our Cohort 7 Commencement celebration, and a feature on ILI alum Joanna Cote. Joanna came to the ILI with a particular path in mind, but found her year quite different than she originally expected. It is humbling to see the impact Joanna, like so many of our alumni, have on their communities back home.
You will also see another story about an alum, Vickie Seeger, doing great things, but doing them right here on the Notre Dame campus. And you’ll want to take a listen to the Unscripted: Beyond 60 podcast featuring ILI Founding Director, Tom Schreier.
For those of you who may be considering doing the ILI, you will find helpful information below regarding upcoming Information Sessions and events, as well as how to reach out to members of the ILI team to discuss your interest. We hope you will take advantage of one of the many opportunities to learn more about our program.
In closing, I wish you a wonderful spring and summer. I hope to see you on campus sometime soon.
Best,
John
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Congratulations Cohort 7! |
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Congratulations to the members of Cohort 7 for their recent completion of the ILI program! Members of the cohort celebrated with family, friends, professors, students, and other invited guests at a Commencement Brunch and Dinner on Thursday, April 30. They recently returned from their ILI Capstone Immersion trip, which was an opportunity for them to spend some time together as a cohort before returning home. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors!
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Alumni Feature | Joanna Cote (Cohort 3) |
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Joanna Cote’s curiosity with prisons began at a young age. On the street where she grew up, there were neighbors who went to jail and she would find herself wondering “Where are they going?” and “What happened to them?” Now, she finds herself walking through prison doors on a regular basis.
Cote’s journey began when she started working at Homeboy Industries, a gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in Los Angeles. It was there that she learned about the justice system, mass incarceration, and the impacts of trauma on all affected.
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This led to certification in what is known as trauma informed or trauma sensitive yoga, as well as certification through the Prison Yoga Project. So when she arrived at Notre Dame for the Inspired Leadership Initiative (ILI) and learned that a yoga teacher was needed at Westville Prison, about 45 miles southwest of campus, she jumped at the opportunity. Cote’s daughter, a Notre Dame graduate, had taken a course offered in collaboration with the prison, and spoke highly of her experience. That made Cote’s decision to teach there an easy one.
Read more...
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Are you interested in learning more about the ILI? Whether you choose to join us in person or connect with us online or by phone, we'd love to share more about our program with you!
Virtual Information Sessions
We hold virtual Information Sessions throughout the year via Zoom. These sessions provide an in-depth overview of the ILI program, including life as an ILI fellow, academic and community engagement opportunities, core elements of the ILI program, and more!
Our next session will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
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Experience ILI On Campus
The ILI Leadership team will host a limited number of invited individuals for an on-campus Exploration Session September 16-17, 2026 as part of our annual ILI Signature Event.
Meet current fellows and alumni, attend panels featuring Notre Dame faculty members and students, and experience firsthand what the ILI is all about.
Interested in attending? Request an invitation below and we will be in touch with more details.
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Football Friday Open House
Will you be on campus for a home football game weekend in the fall? Join us at an ILI Football Friday Open House! Held from 2-3 p.m. in the ILI Lounge at 329 DeBartolo Hall, we invite you to stop by anytime to connect with staff, current fellows, and alumni to learn more about the ILI. A short presentation will take place at 2:15 p.m., and refreshments will be provided.
Fall 2026 Dates: Sept. 11 and 18, Oct. 9, and Nov. 6, 13, and 20
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Connect with the ILI Team
Still have questions, or want more information? Visit our website or reach out via email at ili.admissions@nd.edu or by phone at 574-631-8070. If you are planning to visit campus, we'd love to meet in person!
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ILI Alum Vickie Seeger: Working to Find Solutions to End Poverty
This spring, ND Works featured Vickie Seeger, ILI Cohort 2 alum, who serves as Managing Director of Notre Dame's Poverty Initiative. Her work is driving innovative solutions to end poverty.
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| Living with Purpose - Beyond 60: Unscripted Podcast with Tom Schreier
In this podcast, ILI Founding Director Tom Schreier sat down for a conversation with Ruth Williams-Brinkley and Fawn Lopez to discuss questions one may have when approaching a transition from a career.
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Follow our LinkedIn page for the most up to date news and announcements.
If you have any questions about our program, please contact us at ili@nd.edu or 574-631-8070.
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