From the Founding Director |
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Dear Friends of the ILI,
The summer is always a great opportunity to reflect on the prior year and the wonderful fellows we had a chance to accompany this past year and prepare for the next cohort which arrives in the Fall.
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I am blessed to be surrounded by a wonderful team committed to our mission, and equally pleased to announce a marvelous addition to our ILI team. Professor John Duffy will be joining the Inspired Leadership Initiative (ILI) leadership team as our Faculty Director this Fall. I have said to many that the best advocate is a convert, and John is a wonderful example of that. He was skeptical at first about having an ILI Fellow in his class but was persuaded to give it a go and has come to embrace fellows in his class and the impact of the ILI on both our fellows and the University community more broadly. John will continue to be a faculty member of the English department in addition to his work with the ILI. Please join me in heartily welcoming John to the ILI team!
In this Insights you will have an opportunity to read about one of our distinguished alumni, Mike Burton, in an article written by another of our distinguished alumnae, Mary Ellen Woods. Mike has had a vocation characterized by impact and service his whole life, and his work after the ILI is a beautiful example of how a refocus catalyzed by reflection can make for a remarkable impact on a community.
You will also find in this issue information on ways to engage with the ILI, and for those interested in learning more or joining us, there are links to resources below.
With Warm Regards,
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By Mary Ellen Woods ND '80, ILI Cohort Four
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For over 20 years, Mike Burton ND '82 (at center), had a rewarding, if challenging career, serving as a circuit court judge of the St. Louis County Circuit Court. During his tenure, he presided over the Family Court for five years, the Domestic Violence Court for twelve years, and the Treatment Court for three years.
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He was the presiding judge of Missouri’s largest circuit court for nearly two years. And then a global pandemic raged, effectively curtailing the many court-related programs that allowed him to help those who came before him in need. Burton knew all too well the perils of survivors who tried to come into the courtroom alone, without counsel: how so many victims would not appear for their court hearings, presumably because they were coerced to not appear, and how those few that did actually appear were at a disadvantage when they were on their own, without counsel.
A person of caring, and endowed with a commitment to help others find better outcomes, Mike was torn. Fortunately for him, his victims, and broadly, the residents of St. Louis County, a series of decisions led him back to the University of Notre Dame and the Inspired Leadership Initiative (ILI). Mike would become a Fellow in Cohort 3 of the program.
While visiting – digitally, of course – with dear family friends, Patrick Horvath and his wife, Michelle Sienkewicz, Burton learned that Patrick was interested in ILI and might be heading to Notre Dame. Almost coincidentally, Mike learned that the board of his wife’s non-profit, Join Hands ESL, Inc. had granted her a lengthy sabbatical. If Mike were to be accepted, he and Sheila ND ’84 could join their friends in a year-long fellowship at their alma mater. Mike would enroll in a variety of classes and join other Fellows in The Human Journey, a two-semester seminar all Fellows participate in that examines life’s big questions, spiritual discernment, and life design. As it would happen, Great Books – the examination of classic texts and life’s fundamental questions – would be a most formative experience for Mike. He describes his ILI experience as an opportunity, “surrounded by incredible people,” at a place that wants to make the world a better place. Read more.
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Mary Ellen Woods is an ILI Alum (Cohort 3, 2021-2022). While her background is in technology leadership, writing was a goal that Mary Ellen realized as an ILI fellow, and something she continues to be engaged in after her time in the ILI.
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Opportunities to Learn More |
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Are you interested in learning more about the ILI? The ILI Leadership team holds periodic Exploration Sessions (in-person and virtual) which provide an in-depth overview of the ILI program. A schedule of Exploration Sessions for the upcoming academic year can be found below. Visit our website or use the links below to express interest or register!
Virtual Exploration Sessions
We will hold Virtual Exploration Sessions throughout the upcoming academic year via Zoom. These sessions are scheduled for the following dates: September 10, November 21, January 9, and February 19.
We invite you to register to attend an upcoming Virtual Exploration Session on our website.
In-Person Exploration Sessions
The ILI will hold an In-Person Exploration Session at the Notre Dame campus in Chicago on September 17 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. CT. This session will be an opportunity to hear directly from, and engage with ILI leadership.
Prefer to visit us on Notre Dame's main campus? The ILI Leadership team will host a limited number of invited individuals for an In-Person Exploration Session on October 9-10 as part of our annual ILI Signature Event. This event will include the elements of other Exploration Sessions as well as an immersive opportunity to engage with ILI leadership, fellows, and alumni, as well as Notre Dame faculty and broader community members.
We encourage you to express your interest in attending either in-person Exploration Session by completing the 'In-Person Exploration Session Interest Form' on our website. Please note: These events have limited capacity, so our team will reach out with an invitation if space permits.
We look forward to these opportunities to share more about ILI, and to engage with you directly. If you have any questions, please contact us at ili@nd.edu or 574-631-8070.
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Cohort 7 Admissions Application Available September 1 |
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| We will begin accepting applications for our 7th cohort (which begins August 2025) on September 1.
Please make note of the following application deadlines:
Early Admission | Round 1: October 20
Round 2: January 18
Round 3: March 9
We strongly encourage those interested in applying for the 7th Cohort to take advantage of the Early Admission round.
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Join Us! Football Friday Open House with the ILI |
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Will you be on campus for a football game weekend this fall? If so, make plans to stop by 329 DeBartolo Hall to connect with staff, current fellows, and alumni to learn more about the Inspired Leadership Initiative! Open House will be held from 2-3 pm on the Football Fridays listed below. Refreshments will be provided.
Friday, September 6 - Notre Dame vs. Northern Illinois
Friday, September 20 - Notre Dame vs. Miami (Ohio)
Friday, September 27 - Notre Dame vs. Louisville
Friday, October 11 - Notre Dame vs. Stanford
Friday, November 8 - Notre Dame vs. Florida State
Friday, November 15 - Notre Dame vs. Virginia
Pre-registration is not required.
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Connect with ILI on LinkedIn |
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Do you follow the Inspired Leadership Initiative on LinkedIn? If not, click below to follow us today for updates from campus, admissions information, events, and more!
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