Institute Mini Viewbook

THE LEADERS OF

TOMORROW

LEARNING FROM THE LEADERS OF TODAY

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.

5050 Ave Maria Boulevard Ave Maria, Florida 34142

TRAINING THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW

EVERY JOURNEY HAS A BEGINNING.

THIS IS OURS.

AND IT COULD BE

YOURS, TOO.

WE’VE GOT INNOVATION IN OUR DNA

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.

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.

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.

THE INSTITUTE AT AVE MARIA UNIVERSITY unites the

Catholic liberal arts core curriculum with personal and professional formation. Students in The Institute acquire the skills, experiences, and networks they need to effectively renew culture as they live out their vocations and careers. It is the liberal arts applied.

SCHOLARS 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.

SCHOLARS WILL: 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

Life is challenging. Scholars in The Institute at Ave Maria University graduate ready to meet those challenges.

“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.”

“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.”

—POPE ST. JOHN PAUL II, EX CORDE ECCLESIAE, 23

—LILIANA H., THEOLOGY, ‘28

FELLOWS 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 & ADVISORS 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 —SCHOLAR MATTHEW B., ACCOUNTING AND MARKETING, ’26

MEET OUR LEADERSHIP 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.

OUR LEGACY CONTINUES 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.

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