Julie Billiart (1751–1816) was a French Catholic nun who founded the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN), a religious congregation focused on education, primarily for poor girls, although also serving the wealthy and various other professions. She became a pioneer of modern education in France and Belgium after suffering severe paralysis for 22 years before being cured and able to walk again to continue her mission, as recounted in the book 'Julie Billiart and Her Institute'.