President Barbara McDonald set to retire July 1, 2026

President Barbara McDonald, Ed.D., announced her retirement from The College of St. Scholastica, effective July 1, 2026. St. Scholastica Board of Trustees Chair Ed Crawford, along with the Board of Trustees, will lead the search process for the next College president over the coming months.

“It has been an absolute privilege and honor to serve as the president of The College of St. Scholastica and the greatest joy of my career,” said McDonald. “I am proud of the College’s accomplishments — especially given the many challenges higher education has faced in recent years — and I attribute our success to the deep dedication and commitment of our Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students to our Catholic Benedictine mission and to the values that guide our decisions and our work.”

McDonald took the helm at The College of St. Scholastica in August 2019 and was inaugurated as the thirteenth president of The College of St. Scholastica in February 2020, just in time to lead the College through the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic. “At a time of unprecedented disruption in higher education — when both the nation and its institutions were deep in crisis management — we were fortunate to have the steady leadership of President McDonald,” said Dr. Ryan Sandefer, vice president of academic affairs and interim vice president of enrollment management and student affairs. “Her calm, focused, and unwavering commitment to students, faculty, and staff proved essential as we navigated the profound challenges of the moment. From addressing critical health and safety concerns to managing the pedagogical complexities of transitioning to hybrid learning, and confronting the far-reaching financial implications, her leadership provided the clarity and stability we needed most.”

Board Chair Ed Crawford said, “Throughout her tenure, President McDonald has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to advancing our Benedictine and Catholic values. Her leadership has embodied the principles of community, respect, stewardship, hospitality, and love of learning that define the St. Scholastica experience. Under her guidance, this institution has continued to foster an environment where students can develop intellectually, spiritually and ethically.”

Upon her retirement in 2026, Dr. McDonald will have served in K-12 and higher education for nearly 38 years, spending twelve of those years as president and the last seven at St. Scholastica. Highlights of her tenure at St. Scholastica include the completion of the $64.5 million A Second Century of Saints campaign and the subsequent opening of the new Student Center in Duluth. In addition, McDonald implemented building improvements, including significant IT infrastructure and a $1.2 million renovation at the CSS St. Cloud campus. Under her leadership, the Saints joined the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) in 2022 and several athletic facilities improvements were completed, including the naming of the Kenny Harkins Field. Recently, the College’s six schools merged into three “powerhouse” schools — the School of Arts and Sciences, the Stender School of Leadership, Business and Professional Studies, and the School of Health Professions — and added doctoral, graduate and undergraduate programs to further diversify and strengthen the academic portfolio.

Beyond the physical and virtual walls of the College community, McDonald continued to build strong relationships within the community, state and region through her work on various boards, including the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce and APEX, among others. In 2023, the endowed position of Essentia Health Dean of the School of Health Professions was established to formalize and strengthen the ties between healthcare workforce needs and innovation, providing continuous pathways for healthcare students to enter critical care positions. The College’s commitment to collaboration with K-12 and higher education partners to serve students of all ages in the Twin Ports region is reflected in St. Scholastica’s engagement through the College’s Center for Experiential Learning — a hub for students to explore high-impact practices (HIPs) through internships, study abroad programs, and more — and the newly launched Center for Professional Training and Lifelong Learning.

“Dr. Barbara McDonald has been an inspiration to all of us these past six years as she guided the College through challenging times while embodying the Benedictine values she espoused. Her dedicated care for the College community, the Sisters of St. Scholastica Monastery, and the wider community has been a gift. We will miss her collaboration and leadership as we wish her the best in her retirement,” said Sister Beverly Raway, prioress of St. Scholastica Monastery.

McDonald concluded, “I cannot express enough how much the St. Scholastica Benedictine community means to me and how grateful I am to the Benedictine Sisters and the Board of Trustees for their support over the years. I look forward to leading the College and our new strategic plan forward in the coming year as we prepare for the transition.”