Mount Mercy University has established the Mount Mercy Campus Board, a mission-focused, non-governing board created to preserve the university’s local presence and advocate for its Catholic heritage and Mercy mission following its shift to a shared governing structure under the St. Ambrose University Board of Trustees.
The Cedar Rapids university, which is in the process of a strategic combination with Davenport-based St. Ambrose University, said the Campus Board is intended to keep Mount Mercy’s distinctive identity central to its future, even as governance authority now rests with the St. Ambrose board.
Board members serve as ambassadors for Mount Mercy across Cedar Rapids and the broader Corridor region, working to strengthen community connections, advance strategic partnerships and promote the institution’s values and priorities, according to the university.
Mount Mercy entered into a “strategic combination” agreement with St. Ambrose in August 2024. The agreement places Mount Mercy under the leadership of St. Ambrose after a transitional period of two years, both effectively becoming one institution.
Mount Mercy said the creation of the Campus Board reflects a shared commitment between the two institutions to preserve each school’s distinctive character amid the governance change.
“The Board is off to a very strong start, and one mark of their commitment was the Board financial giving challenge for Have Mercy Give Mercy this spring,” said Todd Olson, Ph.D., president of Mount Mercy. “Every single member of the Board made a commitment to this challenge, and that helped fuel the largest-ever total giving on this day. Along with this support, Board members are helping develop strategic partnerships for Mount Mercy across the Corridor and strengthening the visibility of Mount Mercy. I am enthused and grateful for their leadership and hard work.”
During its inaugural year, the Campus Board focused on building a foundation for long-term impact, establishing committee structures, engaging in strategic planning discussions, identifying priorities and beginning work on initiatives aimed at strengthening community engagement, supporting philanthropy, enhancing the university’s visibility and reinforcing its Mercy mission, the university said.
The board includes alumni, community leaders, Sisters of Mercy and professionals with backgrounds in business, healthcare, education, philanthropy and civic engagement, Mount Mercy said. A full list of Campus Board members, including many local business leaders, is available here.
“We have an engaged and talented Board, a shared sense of purpose, and an opportunity to strengthen Mount Mercy University’s identity, expand community engagement, and support the continued success of the strategic combination with St. Ambrose University,” said LeAnn Ridgeway, chair of the Mount Mercy Campus Board. “I am confident that, together, we can make a meaningful and lasting contribution to the future of Mount Mercy and the students we serve.”
As Mount Mercy continues its strategic combination with St. Ambrose University, the Campus Board said it will remain focused on preserving and advancing the university’s mission while advocating for students, faculty, staff, alumni and the broader community.
