Winter 2007

Mary Oling-Sisay new vice president for student life at St. Norbert College

Mary Oling-Sisay has been enjoying her role as the new vice president for student life at St. Norbert College. For the past decade she had served in the office of the vice president for student life at California State University at Chico. At California State, Oling-Sisay 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.

“Oling-Sisay 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, Oling-Sisay’s 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,” stated William J. Hynes, president of St. Norbert College.

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, Oling-Sisay 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.

She succeeded Richard Rankin, who retired in spring 2007 after 29 years at St. Norbert College.