April 2007

New vice president for student life named

Mary Oling-Sisay has been named vice president for student life effective July 1, 2007. She will succeed Dick Rankin ’65, who retires this summer.

Oling-Sisay has served for the past decade in the office of the vice president for student life at California State University at Chico. She has worked as director of judicial affairs and director of special projects, as well as serving as a member of the president’s senior management team.

“We are delighted to welcome Mary Oling-Sisay this summer to succeed Richard Rankin as vice president for student life,” said president William Hynes. “She is a seasoned student-life professional who was the unanimous selection of our campus-wide search committee from a field of 65 candidates nationwide.

“Born and raised in Uganda, Africa, her philosophy and leadership experience in student affairs matches with the intensive student-centered mission of St. Norbert College. She will also be the first woman to serve in this position, and the first person of color to serve on the president’s cabinet.”

Oling-Sisay has a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Southern California, an M.A. in public communications from Fordham University and a B.A. in literature and linguistics from Makerere University in Uganda.

Before leaving Uganda in 1972, she was the information officer and head of the Pan-African News Agency. In addition to English, she speaks 10 African languages and has working knowledge of Swahili and French.

For a look back at the career and contributions of Dick Rankin, who is retiring after 29 years at St. Norbert, watch for the summer issue of the St. Norbert College Magazine.