Sara Ray Stoelinga Decides Not to Become President of Carroll University in Wisconsin

Last fall, Sara Ray Stoelinga was named president of Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Now, she has decided not to take the position. Dr. Stoelinga would have been the first woman president of the 170-year-old educational institution.

Dr. Stoelinga is the Sara Liston Spurlark Director of the Urban Education Institute at the University of Chicago. She has been on the staff of the institute for the past 22 years. Dr. Stoelinga also serves as a professor in the Urban Teacher Education Program at the University of Chicago.

In a letter to the board of trustees, Dr. Stoelinga wrote that “this was a very difficult decision that comes with many mixed emotions for me. I feel strongly compelled to continue my work in K-12 education and as such I have decided not to leave the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute at this time.” She apologized “for any disruption that my decision may cause.” Dr. Stoelinga said she made the decision after “deep reflection and deliberation” and “in no way reflects negatively” on the university.

A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Professor Stoelinga’s father was a professor of theology at the University of St. Thomas and her mother was director of human resources for the St. Paul public schools.

Dr. Stoelinga is the co-author of Examining Effective Teacher Leadership: A Case Study Approach (Teachers College Press, 2010) and co-editor of Effective Teacher Leadership: Using Research to Inform and Reform (Teachers College Press, 2007). She holds a bachelor’s degree and a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Chicago.