A Conversation with President Donna Carroll

Dan Haley, publisher of the Wednesday Journal, did a video interview with Donna Carroll shortly before her last day as president of Dominican University. Carroll will retire at the end of June, after 27 stellar years at the helm of the institution. In a far-ranging and intimate conversation, Carroll shared reasons for her decision to retire, some of her most memorable accomplishments, and what she plans on doing during her next chapter. She also discussed how Dominican has responded to the coronavirus pandemic and how higher education will adapt in a post-pandemic environment.

"We've developed a skill set and we've got students who have enjoyed the flexibility [of online learning] and some staff who have proven that they can work more efficiently remotely, so we have to take all of those factors into play as the institution plans ahead for the future. It will look somewhat different--and it should," she said.

"I challenge my colleagues when they say, 'I can't wait to get back to normal.' I say we're not going back to normal--we're moving forward, bringing with us traditions and practices that are effective, and blending them with what we've learned over the course of the last 18 months," she said,

You can watch the video interview here.