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ACCU Announces Dr. Donna M. Carroll as Its Next President Washington, DC—The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) welcomes Dr. Donna M. Carroll as its next president beginning July 1, 2024. Dr. Carroll has served as the executive director of the Association since September 2023, sharing leadership duties this past academic year with ACCU President Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, CM, who is stepping away from the role to begin work on two scholarly projects. Dr. Carroll was the unanimous choice of the Board of Directors as the Association’s next president. Prior to joining ACCU, Dr. Carroll served with distinction as president of Dominican University, IL, from 1994 to 2021. She had also completed a two-year appointment as an Interfaith America Fellow, helping navigate their higher education practice, while simultaneously serving as interim president of North Central College from 2022-2023. “The ACCU Board is excited that Dr. Carroll has agreed to serve as the next President of our organization,” said Arvid Johnson, ACCU Board of Directors Chair and president, University of St. Francis. “While her nearly three decades of service as a Catholic college president is impressive, even more impressive is her regional and national advocacy on behalf of the most vulnerable students who our institutions serve. We look forward to working with Dr. Carroll to help to advance Catholic higher education and to celebrate and promote its positive impact.” Anne Prisco, president at Holy Family University, shared that “the ACCU membership is fortunate to have Dr. Carroll stepping into the presidency, and [that her] expansive experiences in higher education and commitment to Catholic higher education will serve us well.” She has served as a presidential mentor over the years and is admired for her commitment and dedication to Catholic higher education. H. James Williams, president, Mount St. Joseph University, spoke to her commitment to the sector, saying, “As a member of the ACCU Board of Directors and President of an ACCU member institution, I am pleased that Dr. Donna Carroll has agreed to bring her many years of experience in Catholic higher education leadership to bear on the extant opportunities and challenges attendant to our institutions. Once again, the ACCU is blessed with truly outstanding leadership.” A counselor educator by discipline, Dr. Carroll speaks and writes about leadership, vocation, and resilience. Her contributions to ACCU have been significant over many years. In addition, she has been a facilitator for the Council of Independent College (CIC) Presidential Vocation and Mission Seminar since 2013 and enjoys coaching new and aspiring college presidents. “The invitation to lead the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities is an unanticipated blessing, allowing me to continue to serve a sector of higher education for which I care deeply,” says Dr. Carroll. Dr. Carroll is recognized nationally as an outspoken advocate for immigration reform and the rights of undocumented students. She has received numerous academic, civic, and diocesan awards for her justice-oriented leadership. In 2022, ACCU honored her with the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, CSC Award, its highest honor, for her significant services and contributions to Catholic higher education. The ACCU Board of Directors, its staff, and the larger membership expressed great gratitude to outgoing president Fr. Holtschneider for his 5 years of service as ACCU President along with many years of dedicated commitment to the association and the Catholic higher education sector. Dr. Carroll shared, “Fr. Dennis’ contributions to ACCU have not only strengthened the Association internally, but also raised the visibility and impact of ACCU as the voice of Catholic higher education nationally.” The ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, founded in 1899, serves as the collective voice of Catholic higher education. Through programs and services, the Association strengthens and promotes the Catholic identity and mission of its member institutions so that all associated with Catholic higher education can contribute to the greater good of the world and the Church. Downloadable PDF
Washington, DC—The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) welcomes Dr. Donna M. Carroll as its next president beginning July 1, 2024. Dr. Carroll has served as the executive director of the Association since September 2023, sharing leadership duties this past academic year with ACCU President Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, CM, who is stepping away from the role to begin work on two scholarly projects.
Dr. Carroll was the unanimous choice of the Board of Directors as the Association’s next president. Prior to joining ACCU, Dr. Carroll served with distinction as president of Dominican University, IL, from 1994 to 2021. She had also completed a two-year appointment as an Interfaith America Fellow, helping navigate their higher education practice, while simultaneously serving as interim president of North Central College from 2022-2023.
“The ACCU Board is excited that Dr. Carroll has agreed to serve as the next President of our organization,” said Arvid Johnson, ACCU Board of Directors Chair and president, University of St. Francis. “While her nearly three decades of service as a Catholic college president is impressive, even more impressive is her regional and national advocacy on behalf of the most vulnerable students who our institutions serve. We look forward to working with Dr. Carroll to help to advance Catholic higher education and to celebrate and promote its positive impact.”
Anne Prisco, president at Holy Family University, shared that “the ACCU membership is fortunate to have Dr. Carroll stepping into the presidency, and [that her] expansive experiences in higher education and commitment to Catholic higher education will serve us well.”
She has served as a presidential mentor over the years and is admired for her commitment and dedication to Catholic higher education. H. James Williams, president, Mount St. Joseph University, spoke to her commitment to the sector, saying, “As a member of the ACCU Board of Directors and President of an ACCU member institution, I am pleased that Dr. Donna Carroll has agreed to bring her many years of experience in Catholic higher education leadership to bear on the extant opportunities and challenges attendant to our institutions. Once again, the ACCU is blessed with truly outstanding leadership.”
A counselor educator by discipline, Dr. Carroll speaks and writes about leadership, vocation, and resilience. Her contributions to ACCU have been significant over many years. In addition, she has been a facilitator for the Council of Independent College (CIC) Presidential Vocation and Mission Seminar since 2013 and enjoys coaching new and aspiring college presidents.
“The invitation to lead the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities is an unanticipated blessing, allowing me to continue to serve a sector of higher education for which I care deeply,” says Dr. Carroll.
Dr. Carroll is recognized nationally as an outspoken advocate for immigration reform and the rights of undocumented students. She has received numerous academic, civic, and diocesan awards for her justice-oriented leadership. In 2022, ACCU honored her with the Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, CSC Award, its highest honor, for her significant services and contributions to Catholic higher education.
The ACCU Board of Directors, its staff, and the larger membership expressed great gratitude to outgoing president Fr. Holtschneider for his 5 years of service as ACCU President along with many years of dedicated commitment to the association and the Catholic higher education sector. Dr. Carroll shared, “Fr. Dennis’ contributions to ACCU have not only strengthened the Association internally, but also raised the visibility and impact of ACCU as the voice of Catholic higher education nationally.”
The ASSOCIATION OF CATHOLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, founded in 1899, serves as the collective voice of Catholic higher education. Through programs and services, the Association strengthens and promotes the Catholic identity and mission of its member institutions so that all associated with Catholic higher education can contribute to the greater good of the world and the Church.
Downloadable PDF