Search for St. Norbert College’s President

Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D., has been named the ninth president of St. Norbert College, effective July 12, 2023. 

“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 says. “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.”

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.

Prior to Rollins, Joyner served on the faculty and held administrative positions of increasing responsibility at Loyola University New Orleans, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology, graduating magna cum laude. From there, she went on to receive her master’s and doctoral degrees in sociology from Tulane University, also in New Orleans.

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, and received the Woman of Distinction Leadership Award from the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio in October 2014.

In addition to her numerous published works, she has participated as a keynote speaker and expert panelist for national conferences on a range of areas, including higher education trends and challenges, leadership development, nonprofit governance and effective university-community partnerships.

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

The search for St. Norbert College’s ninth president began in summer 2022. With the assistance of Academic Search Inc., located in Washington, D.C., the college saught an exemplary leader with a thorough understanding of the Catholic and Norbertine traditions, the identity of St. Norbert College, and the challenges and opportunities facing private liberal arts institutions. As the college’s next president, Joyner will pursue an ambitious agenda to enhance the position of St. Norbert College as one of the preeminent Catholic liberal arts colleges in the nation.

Leadership Profile
Read more about the college and president position, including a leadership agenda and a full list of desired attributes.

Process and Timeline
The search process began in summer 2022 and concluded in spring 2023.

Search Committee
See who was involved in the selection process for the president.