³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Welcomes Rebecca Sherrick as Interim President
³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ (³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ) is pleased to announce the appointment of Rebecca Sherrick, Ph.D., as interim president beginning July 1.
Sherrick comes to ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ from Aurora University, where she served as president for 22 years, one of the longest-serving presidents in the institution's history. Sherrick brings extensive administrative experience to ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ with a successful track record of navigating the changing higher education landscape and championing initiatives that improve access for underserved students.
Sherrick's robust record of achievements during her tenure include expanding enrollment; maintaining strong financial health; investing in students through improvements to programs and operations; supporting initiatives to provide opportunities for underserved students; strengthening the university's diversity; creating the Pathways program, which provides individualized support to college students with autism; and expanding arts and culture opportunities.
"I look forward to helping to lead ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ during the next chapter of its institutional story. Saint Xavier has a long and distinguished history and a bright and promising future, and I am honored to become a part of the ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ family," said Sherrick.
Sherrick arrives on the heels of ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ's 20th president, Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D., who spent her time at Saint Xavier positioning the University for a brighter future. Under President Joyner's leadership, the University community boasted many collaborative accomplishments, including enrolling three of the largest and most diverse classes in the University's 177-year-history; improving retention while maintaining status as the most affordable Catholic university in Illinois; launching strategic initiatives to create more than a dozen new academic programs; investing in an equity and inclusion agenda; weathering the COVID-19 pandemic without layoffs or furloughs; moving the University from financial fragility to greater stability; and much more, all of which positioned ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ to invest further in its accomplished community members.
The ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ Board of Trustees' decision to appoint Sherrick as interim president was unanimous. The University looks forward to collaboratively working with her to continue ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ's current trajectory, which benefits the entire ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ community, especially students.
"Under Dr. Joyner’s vision and leadership, Saint Xavier has launched strategic initiatives, created new academic programs, and invested in ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ's diversity, equity and inclusion agenda while advancing ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ's sacred Mercy mission. We look forward to partnering with Dr. Sherrick, whose successful track record will allow her to continue to build on ³Ô¹ÏÁÔÆæ's positive trajectory while we conduct a national search for a permanent president," said Tasha Henderson, chair of the Board of Trustees.