Laurie Joyner Appointed President of St. Norbert College

Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D., has been named the ninth president of St. Norbert College, effective July 12th, 2023. Joyner will become the first woman to lead the institution in its 125-year history. She will take over from Thomas Kunkel, who has successfully led the college on an interim basis for one year.

“I am honored and humbled to have been selected as the ninth president of St. Norbert College. The college’s rich Catholic, Norbertine tradition and deep commitment to the liberal arts is powerful in preparing graduates for lives of meaning, leadership and service,” Joyner said. “SNC is a well-respected college based on its reputation of academic excellence, engaged students, an abundance of faculty and staff talent, a strong sense of community, and successful graduates who maintain strong connections with the college.”

 “Dr. Joyner brings a wealth of presidential experience to St. Norbert College,” said Fred Schmidt, chair of the college’s board of trustees. “More importantly, she possesses the skill, passion and values that the college needs in its next leader.”

  “As a community, we look forward to working with Laurie in sharing and growing the Norbertine tradition and values at St. Norbert College,” said Norbertine Abbot, Dane Radecki, O. Praem.

Joyner brings extensive leadership experience to St. Norbert College. She leaves St. Xavier University in Chicago where she has been president since 2017. Prior to St. Xavier, Joyner served as president of Wittenberg University in Ohio and in multiple vice presidential and dean roles at Rollins College in Florida.

A noted leader in Catholic higher education, Joyner was recently elected to the board of the Association of Catholic Colleges & Universities. She is a two-time recipient of “POWER 50” (2014, 2015), an award honoring the most influential female executives in the Dayton, Ohio, region. 

Laurie and her husband Jay have three sons: Jay, Alexander, and Christopher.