St. Scholastica's Presidential Search

Search Co-Chairs

• Ed Crawford, Chair of the Board of Trustees
• Chris Dolan, Trustee Emeritus

Search Committee Members

• Rhonda Kazik, Trustee
• Tom Renier, Trustee
• Mimi Stender, Trustee
• Tom Wedige, Trustee
• Amy Bergstrom, Associate Vice President of Inclusive Excellence
• Kristina Church, Director of Institutional Effectiveness/Research
• Sister Kathleen Del Monte, Associate Vice President for Mission Integration
• Owen Erickson, Student
• Brenda Fischer, Dean of the Stender School of Leadership and Professional Studies
• Katie Halaas, Director of Non-Traditional Admission
• Pablo Palafox, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry
• Amy Pocrnich, Assistant Professor of Accounting, Finance, and Economics
• Kaisa Syvaoja, Director of the Master’s in Occupational Therapy Program and Assistant Professor
• Sister Jeanne Ann Weber, Prioress

Why is confidentiality so important in a search process?

Many candidates will hold key positions at other institutions and will submit an application only if confidentiality is guaranteed. Members of the search committee have signed an agreement that secures confidentiality for all discussions, documents, and deliberations related to the search.

What is the role of the search committee chairs?

The search chairs are the official spokespersons for the search committee and, thus, the only individuals authorized to speak on behalf of the search committee and the search process. The chairs will provide regular updates to the campus community and can address any questions or concerns from members of the community through the duration of the search.

What information can search committee members share with me?

The information search committee members are able to share with the campus community is limited. The committee members are bound by a code of conduct that requires they not share any information discussed during search committee meetings, nor any information related to candidates, even after the search has closed.

Whom do I contact if I want to share specific information or if I have a question about the search?

Please contact the search chairs or search consultant with any information or questions.

Will there be regular updates on the search?

Yes, the search chairs will provide regular updates to the campus community at critical points in the search, and these updates will be posted to this website.

How can I make a nomination?

Nominations can be submitted in confidence to CSSPresident@academicsearch.org. If you are considering nominating someone, please carefully review the qualifications and experiences as outlined in the position profile before submitting a nomination. Your nomination will go directly to the search consultants, who will reach out to the nominee. The search consultants will not provide your name to the nominee, but you are free to do so.

Are internal candidates treated any differently from external candidates?

Internal candidates are vetted in the same way as external candidates. All candidates are assessed based on the criteria identified in the position profile. The committee very carefully selects the strongest candidates, either internal or external, for further consideration based on the required and desired qualifications.

How will members of the campus community participate in the search process?

Many members of the campus community met with the consultants during the initial campus visit. The information shared during this visit is particularly valuable during the recruiting phase of the search process.

When will the appointee take office?

The announcement of the new president is expected in March 2026 and the new president will assume office upon President McDonald’s retirement in July 2026.

The College of St. Scholastica has selected Academic Search as consultants to conduct the presidential search. For nearly five decades, Academic Search has offered executive search services to hiring education institutions, associations, and related organizations. Academic Search was founded by higher education leaders on the principle that we provide the most value to partner institutions by combining best practices with our deep knowledge and experience. Our mission today is to enhance institutional capacity by providing outstanding executive recruitment services, executive coaching, and transition support, in partnership with our parent organization, the American Academic Leadership Institute.

Maya Kirkhope, Vice President and Senior Consultant