Meet The President
Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D., brings extensive leadership experience to Saint Xavier University in Chicago as the institution's 20th president. Prior to SXU, Dr. Joyner served as president of Wittenberg University in Ohio as well as in multiple vice presidential and decanal roles at Rollins College in Florida.
Prior to Rollins, President Joyner served on the faculty and held administrative positions of increasing responsibility at Loyola University New Orleans, where she also earned her bachelor's degree in sociology, graduating magna cum laude. From there, she went on to receive her master's and doctoral degrees in sociology from Tulane University, also in New Orleans.
President Joyner is a two-time recipient of "POWER 50" (2014, 2015), an award honoring the most influential female executives in the Dayton, Ohio region, and also received the Woman of Distinction Leadership Award from the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio in October 2014.
In addition to her numerous published works, she has participated as a keynote speaker and/or expert panelist for national conferences on a range of areas, including higher education trends and challenges, leadership development, nonprofit governance and effective university-community partnerships.
President Joyner is said to be a "mission-driven educator and accomplished university administrator who is passionately committed to institutional success."