- Joan Lescinski
Sr. Joan Lescinski, CSJ,
PhD , is the 13th president ofSt. Ambrose University inDavenport, Iowa . A native of Albany,New York , she is the first woman to lead theuniversity in its 125-year history. Lescinski, who is also a noted scholar inEnglish literature , took office in the summer of 2007, succeeding Dr.Edward Rogalski , who retired after 20 years as the university’s president.Lescinski has taught at the college level since 1974. From 1979-1991, she worked as a professor of English at the
College of St. Rose in Albany, New York; from 1991-1993 she served as associate dean, academic affairs and professor of English atAvila University inKansas City, Missouri ; and from 1993-1998 she served as vice president of academic affairs, dean and professor of English atFontbonne University inSt. Louis, Missouri , before becoming president and professor of English atSt. Mary-of-the-Woods College from 1998-2007.St. Mary-of-the-Woods College , "The Woods", is the oldest Catholicliberal arts women's college in theUnited States . She led SMWC to record gains in enrollment, facilitated the development of institutional strategic and master plans, and introduced several undergraduate and two new graduate academic programs. SMWC invested $10 million in campus facilities and experienced a significant increase in its number of donors. Lescinski led the most ambitious capital campaign in SMWC’s history with $25 million raised, exceeding their campaign goal by 20 percent.
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