Isabelle Cherney, the thirteenth president of Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has announced she will retire at the end of her current contract in June 2027.
Dr. Cherney began her presidency in July 2022. Under her leadership, Mount Mary became the first university in Wisconsin to offer reduced credit bachelor’s degree programs. The university has also significantly expanded its course offerings and increased its student retention rates. In 2023, Dr. Cherney helped to launch the Institute for the Advancement of Women and Children, which provides women with the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive personally, academically, and professionally.
Before her arrival at Mount Mary, Dr. Chereny held multiple leadership roles at Merrimack College in Massachusetts, including vice provost for graduate studies, dean of the School of Education and Social Policy, and founding director of the Merrimack Institute for New Teacher Support. She also previously served on the faculty at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, where she held a variety of key positions, including director of the honors program, founding director of the doctoral program in interdisciplinary leadership, and associate dean of the Graduate School and College of Professional Studies.
“Serving as president of this extraordinary university has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Dr. Cherney. “Mount Mary is truly a special place, grounded in faith, committed to justice, and dedicated to the flourishing of each student.”
A native of Switzerland, Dr. Cherney is a summa cum laude graduate of Creighton University, where she majored in psychology. She holds a master’s degree in developmental psychology from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and a Ph.D. in educational psychology and cultural studies from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.