THE INSTITUTE AT AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY provides professional formation and preparation to students from all academic disciplines. Through classes, hands-on experiences, mentorships, and more, The Institute prepares students to bring the light of Christ into contemporary society with excellence.
EVERY JOURNEY HAS A BEGINNING. THIS IS OURS. AND IT COULD BE YOURS, TOO.
Thomas S. Monaghan started Domino’s Pizza in 1960 with about $70 dollars in his pocket. By 1985, he was opening three new locations per day and growing Domino’s into a billion-dollar business. But then, he noticed that the life he was leading of opulence and of trying to impress others was at odds with the Catholic faith he loved.
After a time of prayer and reflection and with a desire to serve the Church, he sold his company.
In part, he used the money from the sale of Domino’s to found Ave Maria Institute in 1998 in Michigan, and it later became a college. By 2003, Ave Maria College moved to southwest Florida and became a university at the heart of the new town of Ave Maria, also founded by Tom.
Ave Maria University currently offers rigorous academics across 35 majors, 34 minors, and 5 graduate programs including education, business, and theology—educating more than 1,400 students.
And now: The Institute at Ave Maria University .
AMU students—Scholars—in The Institute gain real-world experiences that will challenge them, broaden their horizons, and prepare them for their future vocations or careers, all within an authentically Catholic environment.
Build on the liberal arts core curriculum
Develop practical skills that complement their majors
Receive masterclasses from successful Catholic leaders and professionals
Learn from AMU’s world-class faculty
Obtain internships
Create networks within desired industries
Work in small groups to design, develop, and deliver projects
Acquire skills in presenting and public speaking
Develop a network of professional connections
Choose tracks and activities that speak to their interests
Develop conversational speaking skills, comportment, and poise
Deepen their appreciation of the arts
Launch into the profession, grad school, or vocation of their choosing
Graduate with a level of formation that gives them an advantage over their peers
“IT HAS ALSO BEEN SUPER FUN TAKING THIS JOURNEY WITH MY FELLOW SCHOLAR FRIENDS. AS SOMEONE DOUBLE MAJORING IN THEOLOGY AND ECONOMICS, I PARTICULARLY APPRECIATE HOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THE INSTITUTE IS SO WELL ROOTED IN THE CATHOLIC FAITH.”
—SCHOLAR ANSELM H., THEOLOGY AND ECONOMICS DOUBLE MAJOR, ’27
“STUDENTS … SHOULD REALIZE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL LIFE, THE ENTHUSIASM OF BEING THE TRAINED ‘LEADERS’ OF TOMORROW, OF BEING WITNESSES TO CHRIST IN WHATEVER PLACE THEY MAY EXERCISE THEIR PROFESSION.”
—POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II, EX CORDE ECCLESIAE, 23
“THE INSTITUTE IS PREPARING ME TO TAKE CHARGE AND BE RESPONSIBLE IN SITUATIONS THAT CHALLENGE ME AND TAKE ME OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE. THANKS TO THE INSTITUTE, I AM CONFIDENT I WILL BETTER PREPARED TO FACE WHATEVER GOD HAS PLANNED FOR ME IN MY UPCOMING TIME AT AVE MARIA AND BEYOND.”
—LILIANA H., THEOLOGY, ‘28
AMU faculty who share their wisdom and experiences with Scholars through research, instruction, and connections to the marketplace. Our world-class faculty offer guidance to small groups of Scholars, sharing the fruit of their own academic journeys and experiences.
“THE COMMUNITY WE’VE BUILT THROUGH SMALL GROUPS, MENTORS, AND FELLOWS HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE, AND AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE TO BE PART OF.”
—SCHOLAR MATTHEW B., ACCOUNTING AND MARKETING, ’26
“AS AN INSTITUTE FELLOW ONE OF THE MOST REWARDING ASPECTS OF MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROGRAM IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE INTERDISCIPLINARY DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STUDENTS. IT’S ENCOURAGING TO SEE STUDENTS FROM ALL MAJORS WORK TOGETHER TO LEARN VALUABLE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS.”
—MARY HUNT, MBA, MS, PHD (C), ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF BUSINESS & PSYCHOLOGY, INDUSTRIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Mentors consist of alumni and other Catholic professionals who aid Scholars by meeting individually with Scholars, teaching short courses, or hiring our students.
Mentors commit to a deeper level of participation and support Scholars individually.
Advisors are Catholic professionals who have become the best in their respective fields and guide The Institute through instruction and by identifying emerging skills needed within the changing marketplace. Advisors do not have a required level of commitment.
MENTOR QUOTE TBD
THE INSTITUTE AT AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY EMBRACES A SPIRIT OF INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN OUR LEADERSHIP.
THOMAS S. MONAGHAN FOUNDER AND CHANCELLOR
Thomas S. Monaghan, who started Domino’s Pizza in 1960 and grew it into a billion-dollar business, founded AMU and grew it into a vibrant, rigorous, and authentically Catholic university.
MARK MIDDENDORF
PRESIDENT OF AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY
Mark, founder of Lighthouse Catholic Media (LCM), a lay apostolate that became the largest producer of Catholic audio talks, is President of Ave Maria University.
DAN SCHRECK DIRECTOR
Daniel Schreck has two decades of experience spanning Wall Street, nonprofits, entertainment, and public service and is a board member for various nonprofits.
Started by the founder of Domino’s Pizza, Thomas S. Monaghan, Ave
Maria University carries on his entrepreneurial legacy rooted in a liberal arts core curriculum and cultivating relevant and dynamic majors and innovative programs—such as The Institute at Ave Maria University— all within a vibrantly Catholic community. Ave Maria University is preparing Catholic leaders and renewing culture, one student at a time.
Find out more about The Institute at Ave Maria University.