Marian University will add an institute dedicated to the study of civic leadership and capitalism, the university announced Oct. 25.
The Penny and Jock Fortune Institute for Civic Leadership and Capitalism will educate students about the United States’ founding values, civics and free enterprise.
“The basis of the program has been a long-standing interest as a Catholic university to make sure that people understand free enterprise, democratic republic, and what’s required of the citizens,” Marian University president Daniel Elsener told Mirror Indy.
As part of the institute, Marian will welcome a class of Fortune Scholars who will take a required curriculum of economics and government courses and participate in internships. The program is designed for students who want to pursue a career in leadership, public service or government.
Fortune Scholars will also receive “significant scholarships,” Elsener said.
But the university also wants the values of public engagement and civic leadership to be present in all areas of study at Marian.
Professors and fellows will teach and discuss a variety of topics, Elsener said, including the principles of self-governance, ethics and morality in law, fiscal and monetary policy and the art of debate.
“It will have an effect pervasively across Marian about how to successfully and artfully and civilly engage in the public square and a free-market economy and a democratic republic,” Elsener said.
The first cohort of Fortune Scholars will start as part of the 2025-26 freshman class, and the university is aiming to recruit around 10 to 15 high school seniors.
Claire Rafford covers higher education for Mirror Indy in partnership with Open Campus. Contact Claire at claire.rafford@mirrorindy.org or on Instagram/X @clairerafford.
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