St. Catherine University has elected Fontbonne University’s President, Nancy Blattner to its Board of Trustees. Dr. Blattner is the fifth newest trustee to join the board this year for St. Catherine University. Three trustees joined the board in February and another one started in October.
“I am extremely humbled and honored by the invitation to serve as a member of the board of St. Catherine’s University,” shared Dr. Blattner. “I look forward to continuing my connection to the mission and charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph after my time at Fontbonne concludes.”
A lifelong Catholic and devout CSJ Associate, Dr. Blattner fell in love with Catholic higher education during her initial tenure at Fontbonne in 2004 when she served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty until 2009. Thereafter, she assumed the presidency of Caldwell University, a Catholic Dominican university in Caldwell, New Jersey, where she served for 11 years. Dr. Blattner assumed the role of president of Fontbonne University in July 2020.
“Through their common bond with the Sisters of St. Joseph, St. Catherine’s and Fontbonne are inextricably linked. During my visit to St. Kate’s last year, I saw Fontbonne Hall on the campus and was so appreciative of the university’s recognition of our foundress, Mother St. John Fontbonne,” said Dr. Blattner. “Despite our geographic distance and St. Kate’s commitment to serving women during their undergraduate collegiate experience, I think our two institutions share a common heritage and similar values. My commitment to the Sisters of St. Joseph and to my Catholic faith will continue through my service on St. Kate’s board.”
Located in St. Paul, Mn, St. Catherine University has worked with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province since 1905 to enable their complementary missions to flourish. St. Catherine’s mission is based on three core principles: women, catholic, and liberal arts.
Dr. Blattner said, “As I began to think about retirement after Fontbonne’s closing, I am thrilled to be able to remain active in Catholic higher education. After more than 45 years in higher ed and with the last 20 being at Catholic universities, I am looking forward to remaining connected to my passion—education—through my service on St. Kate’s board. Although I will need time to familiarize myself with St. Kate’s strategic plan and the vision for the university’s future, I hope I can make a positive impact as the university positions itself for the future.”
St. Catherine’s University welcomes a rich diversity of students, with a baccalaureate college for women at the heart of the University and graduate and adult colleges for women and men. Committed to excellence and opportunity, St. Catherine University develops leaders who act with integrity. Their mission is based on three core principles — women, Catholic, and liberal arts.
“I think I was asked to join the board at St. Kate’s because the newly inaugurated president there, Dr. Marcheta Evans, and I were colleagues at independent institutions in New Jersey when I served as the president of Caldwell University, and she was the president of Bloomfield College,” shared Dr. Blattner. “I respect Marcheta’s strong commitment to the college’s mission and her dedication to providing access to students desiring to achieve a college degree. When she asked if I would consider joining the board at St. Kate’s to provide a ‘higher education perspective,’ I was delighted to once again work with her in our common goal to provide a faith-based education to students.”
Dr. Blattner holds a B.S. in Secondary Education/English and an M.A. in English from Southeast Missouri State University and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.
