Cheryl A. McConnell, PhD, was selected as Saint Joseph’s 29th president in March of 2023 following a period serving as interim president during a nationwide search. Prior to assuming the presidency, Dr. McConnell served for three years as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs where she oversaw the University’s academic enterprise with a particular focus on expanding the academic portfolio to meet market need and student demand. Most recently, she led the merger agreement with Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences and the historic integration of University of the Sciences, coordinating the acquisition of dozens of academic programs in health and science along with state-of-the-art campus facilities.
A national leader in Jesuit higher education, Dr. McConnell was the dean of the College of Business, Influence, and Information Analysis and the Helzberg School of Management at Rockhurst University, where she was also the associate provost for academic affairs, responsible for academic support areas and programs. In her academic roles at Rockhurst, she was active in the business community and with regional organizations. Dr. McConnell is the recipient of numerous awards including the Missouri Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Rockhurst University Faculty of the Year Award, the Helzberg School of Management Perfect Professor Award, and the Rockhurst University Excellence in Teaching Award.
Her 35-year commitment to Jesuit education has been strengthened through leadership experiences including the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU)’ Ignatian Colleagues Program and Leadership Institute, as well as the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola.
Dr. McConnell was appointed by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro as a member of the newly-formed State Board of Higher Education. Additionally, Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker invited her to serve on the city’s Eds and Meds Roundtable. Dr. McConnell serves on the Board of Directors for the AJCU, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP), the Council of Presidents for the Atlantic 10 Conference, the Board of Directors for The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and is a member of the City Avenue District Board.
After earning her Master of Professional Accountancy degree and Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Accounting from Wichita State University, Dr. McConnell earned her PhD in higher education administration from Saint Louis University. She is also a certified public accountant and a certified fraud examiner.
A proud first-generation college graduate, Dr. McConnell has published or presented more than 125 articles, papers or workshops, and she researches and speaks on higher education issues, gender issues related to career advancement and performance reviews, and the need for ethical leadership in a time of change and uncertainty.
