Robbyn Wacker president of St. Cloud State University in Minnesota announced that she will be leaving her position on June 30, 2024. Her contract expires on that date.
“Serving as SCSU’s president has been an honor and a privilege,” Dr. Wacker said. “I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve our amazing students, faculty, staff, and administrative leaders. This decision was extremely difficult; however, I feel great about what I and my leadership team have accomplished in the past six years, and the time is right to hand the reigns over to the next leader.”
Earlier this year, Dr. Wacker announced major budget cuts and faculty layoffs to offset a projected $24.5 million budget shortfall brought about by years of declining enrollment. In 2010, enrollments at St. Cloud State University were more than 18,000. Today, total enrollments are just over 10,000, although this year there was a promising rebound in new first-year enrollments. More cuts and layoffs are expected.
Dr. Wacker was appointed as the twenty-fourth president of the institution in 2018, becoming the first woman to be SCSU’s permanent president. Earlier, she was a tenured professor of gerontology at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. She also served as senior campaign advisor in the Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Dr. Wacker joined the faculty at the university in 1990. She served as dean of the College of Health and Human Sciences from 1996 to 2005. From 2011 to 2017, Dr. Wacker was senior vice president and provost.
Dr. Wacker holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Northern Colorado. She earned a Ph.D. in sociology from Iowa State University.