����vlog���Bվ

The men and women who serve as our ����vlog���Bվ University Board of Trustees work selflessly behind the scenes, and their service is vitally important to our school’s success.

Trustees are nominated by the board and approved by the Council of Sacred Heart Monastery, our sponsoring institution. Trustee terms are four years, and trustees are eligible to serve two consecutive four-year terms.

The board meets three times per year. Trustees also serve on committees, including Academic Affairs, Finance and Audit, Mission and Trusteeship, Institutional Advancement, Building and Grounds, and Student Affairs, Enrollment Management and Athletics.

The Board of Trustees is the ultimate fiduciary of ����vlog���Bվ University and is charged with the general oversight of our institutional affairs in accord with our charter, bylaws, evolving statements of mission and purpose, and institutional plans. 

2026-2027 ����vlog���Bվ Board of Trustees  

	Sister Penny Bingham, O.S.B., Prioress (C '73) Yankton, SD Sacred Heart Monastery
	Ms. Deb Fischer-Clemens, Chair (C'77) Sioux Falls, SD Retired, Avera Health
	Mr. Michael Donohoe, Vice Chair Dallas, TX Self-Employed
	Mr. Doug Ekeren Yankton, SD Retired CEO, Avera Sacred Heart Hospital
	Sister Bonita Gacnik Yankton, SD Procurator, Sacred Heart Monastery
	Mr. Shawn Gallagher Spearfish, SD Retired, Attorney Advisor at NASA Langley Research Center
	Dr. J. Lee Johnson Manitou Beach, MI Retired, Siena Heights University
	Ms. Shauna Kauth, Treasurer Bloomfield, NE Williams & Company, PC
	Ms. Holly Lien Rapid City, SD Chief Marketing Officer, Pete Lien & Sons, Inc.
	Ms. Jean Koehler Mitchell, SD  Retired, Trust Officer and Attorney
	Sister Carmella Luke, O.S.B. Yankton, SD  Sacred Heart Monastery
	Sister Barbara McTague, O.S.B.  (C '71) Yankton, SD  Sacred Heart Monastery
	Ms. Kara Payer (C '96) Wagner, SD
	Fr. Adam Patras, O.S.B. (C '89) Schuyler, NE Sub-Prior and Cellarer, Christ The King Priory Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Benedictine Mission House
	Dr. Ron Place Sioux Falls, SD President and CEO, Avera McKennan Hospital and University Center
	Sister Mary Jo Polak, O.S.B., Secretary Yankton, SD  Sacred Heart Monastery
	Mr. John Porter  Sioux Falls, SD Retired CEO, Avera Health
	Mr. Rob Stephenson Yankton, SD  President and CEO, First Dakota National Bank
	Sister Patricia Ann Toscano, O.S.B. Yankton, SD Sacred Heart Monastery
	Dr. Rachel Vannatta (C '87) Bowling Green, OH Distinguished Teaching Professor, Bowling Green State University
	Dr. Mark Brown, President Yankton, SD President, ����vlog���Bվ University