Dominican University Appoints Glena G. Temple as New President

Dominican University’s board of trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Glena G. Temple, Ph.D. as its 11th president. Temple, whose term will begin on August 2, is currently the president of Viterbo University, a Catholic Franciscan university in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

During her presidency, Temple has led Viterbo’s successful efforts to increase student retention, graduation and job placement rates, and oversaw a $2 million U.S. Department of Education grant focused on student success. She also oversaw growth in the endowment fund, from approximately $43 million to more than $60 million.  Under her leadership, the university expanded graduate enrollment and added programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Appointed as president in 2017, Temple has served Viterbo in a number of capacities for almost 20 years. She will succeed Donna M. Carroll, who has served as Dominican’s president since 1994 and led the institution through a period of extraordinary growth and academic achievement, including its ranking this year in the top 10 of Midwest regional universities by U.S. News & World Report. Carroll announced in October 2020 her intention to retire as president as of June 30, 2021.

“The board is thrilled to welcome Glena Temple as Dominican’s next president,” said Tom Abrahamson, board chair and member of the search committee. “The search process brought forward a diverse field of extremely accomplished candidates. Temple brings with her an exemplary record of achievement and leadership at multiple levels of higher education and a keen awareness of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Dominican. The board is certain that under her leadership, Dominican will continue to realize its vital mission of preparing students to pursue truth, to give compassionate service, and to participate in the creation of a more just and humane world.”

Temple was drawn to Dominican University’s mission, academic excellence, record of advancing social mobility and student success, and commitment to equity and inclusion.

“I am truly humbled and grateful for the trust placed in me by the Dominican Board of Trustees. It is an honor to follow President Donna Carroll, whose leadership inspired so many over the past 27 years. I embrace this opportunity to help build on her legacy with so many dedicated students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees and benefactors. Dominican’s justice-driven mission and values deeply rooted in the charism of the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters spoke to my heart and strengthened my desire to be a part of this amazing university,” Temple said.

A scholar in botany and plant sciences, Temple’s work has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and she has served as the author or co-author of several federal grants to improve science education at the college level. She also has written articles on higher education administration, serves as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and has been involved actively in the Council on Undergraduate Research.

Temple has held multiple leadership roles at Viterbo, including chair of the biology department, coordinator of the natural sciences division, co-director of the honors program, dean of the School of Letters and Sciences, and vice president for academic affairs before her appointment as president in 2017. She also served as dean of online and distance education for the University of Wisconsin Colleges, a unit of the University of Wisconsin System, and, earlier in her career, taught at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Minnesota and Victor Valley College in California.

Temple earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Allegheny College and a Ph.D. in botany and plant sciences from the University of California-Riverside. She also holds a master’s degree in educational policy and administration from the University of Minnesota.

Dominican University conducted an extensive national presidential search.  A 15-member presidential search committee, including representatives from Dominican’s board of trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, Sisters and student body, spent seven months reviewing and interviewing a pool of highly accomplished candidates, and unanimously recommended Temple as Dominican’s next president. The board of trustees was supported by the professional assistance of Storbeck Search, a national higher education executive search firm, and legal counsel Husch Blackwell.

"The Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters join in congratulating Dr. Glena Temple as the next president of Dominican University. Dr. Temple's passionate commitment to and experienced leadership in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion parallels our Congregation's anti-racist commitment and work toward a more humane and just society. We promise to work in partnership with her to continue the academic excellence that is the hallmark of Dominican University, and to create a future grounded in Dominican mission and values,” said Sister Colleen Settles, corporate chair of the Sinsinawa Dominican sponsored institutions.

A native of Rochester, New York, Temple has called the Midwest home since 1996. She and her husband, Stephen, have lived in the La Crosse area since 1999.

About Dominican University

Founded in 1901, Dominican University is a comprehensive, coeducational Catholic institution offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees through the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences, the Borra College of Health Sciences, the Brennan School of Business and the College of Applied Social Sciences. The university also offers a doctoral degree in information studies. U.S. News & World Report ranks Dominican University #10 of all Midwest regional master’s level universities, the best value in the Chicago area and #1 in Illinois for ensuring the social mobility of its graduates.