On July 1, Susan M. Donovan will become the fourth president of Bellarmine University in Louisville, Kentucky. She currently serves as executive vice president of Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore.
Bellarmine University is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church. It enrolled its first students in 1950 and awarded its first degrees in 1954. Bellarmine University enrolls more than 2,600 undergraduate students and about 1,200 graduate students, according to the latest U.S. Department of Education data. Women make up 65 percent of the undergraduate student body.
Dr. Donovan has been on the staff at Loyola University Maryland for 32 years. In addition to her current role, she has served as dean of students, vice president for student development, dean of residence life, and acting president.
Dr. Donovan is a graduate of Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, where she majored in communication. She holds a master’s degree in higher education from Florida State University and a Ph.D. in higher education from Saint Louis University.