Donna M. Carroll, Ed.D., President of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU), will deliver the keynote speech at Mount Saint Mary College’s 63rd annual Commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 15 and Saturday, May 16.
Dr. Carroll, a distinguished leader in Catholic higher education, will address hundreds of bachelor’s and master’s degree candidates.
“My heart belongs to Dominican higher education,” said Dr. Carroll. “It shaped my life and my faith, and so I am delighted to address the 2026 graduates of Mount Saint Mary College – and to talk about the values that we share. Commencement is a celebration of accomplishments and the beginning of a next chapter. I am confident that the Mount's Catholic Dominican education has fortified graduates for the challenges and opportunities ahead.”
Dr. Carroll’s career in higher education began in student affairs, eventually leading her to various leadership roles, including appointments as an academic dean and a chief advancement officer. In 1994, she became the 10th president of Dominican University in Illinois, where she served as the institution’s first lay leader and was recognized as one of the youngest college presidents in the country.
After 28 years as a college president, including a year as interim president of North Central College, Dr. Carroll now serves as the President of the ACCU. This role allows her to advance Catholic higher education nationally and mentor a new generation of lay leaders.
A hallmark of Dr. Carroll’s leadership is her outspoken advocacy for the rights of underserved students. Her contributions have earned her numerous accolades, including the Strangers No Longer Award from the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Moral Courage Award from Faith in Public Life, and the Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, CSC Award for outstanding contributions to Catholic higher education.
Dr. Carroll received her bachelor’s degree in English from Wellesley College and her master’s and doctoral degrees in higher education administration and counseling from the University of Cincinnati. She has also received honorary degrees from Fordham University, Edgewood College, and Albertus Magnus College.
Mount Saint Mary College, ranked a Top-Tier University by U.S. News & World Report, offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs for careers in healthcare, business, education, social services, communications, media, and the liberal arts. The Mount was founded by the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh in 1959, with the Dominican Pillars of service, community, study, and spirituality as their guide. More than six decades later, aiding the community remains a central part of the college’s mission.