Marian University President Michelle Majewski is retiring after 37 years at the school. 'I have relished my time here,' she said.

FOND DU LAC — After 37 years with Marian University, including the past four as president, Michelle Majewski has announced she's ready to retire.

Majewski will remain at the university to transition the role to a successor.

A Succession Task Force, consisting of representatives of the current and past Board of Trustees, faculty and staff, will search for applicants to fill the position.

"I have relished my time here, supporting students, faculty and staff," Majewski said. "But my husband retired several years ago and I am looking forward to joining him as we begin the next chapter in our lives."

Holding a doctorate in clinical psychology, Majewski served the school in several roles for the past 37 years, as full-time faculty member, chairperson, professor emerita and dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.

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She had previously retired in 2018, but the university recruited her to return as acting president in April 2020 before the board appointed her Marian’s 17th president that November.

During her time at Marian, she became the founding editor of the peer-reviewed "Journal of Homeland Security Education," and had earned the James R. Underkofler Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award.

As president, she raised $12.1 million in 2021 to retire all of Marian’s debt, secured an anonymous gift of $1 million earlier this month for the university, right-sized Marian in 2023 to increase its financial stability and oversaw the recent renovation of the new nursing space in the Stayer Center on campus.

She also relaunched new programs with high-market demands, including construction management and risk management and insurance, and relaunched a graduate program in organizational leadership.

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Board of Trustees Chairman David M. Klumpyan said, "We express our deepest thanks for the many years of leadership and service provided by Dr. Majewski over the past 37 years."

Candidates interested in the presidential role can send applications and information to Sharon Fischer, executive assistant to the president, at [email protected].

Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Marian University President Michelle Majewski retiring in Fond du Lac