Mercy College of Ohio names Susan C. Wajert its new president

7/24/2014
BLADE STAFF

The dean of health sciences at a college in Cincinnati is Mercy College of Ohio’s choice to become its new president.

Susan C. Wajert, whose degrees include a bachelor of science in nursing from Bowling Green State University and a master of business administration from the University of Toledo, succeeds John F. Hayward, who retired June 30 after nine years in charge at Mercy.

“We are confident that Dr. Wajert will build on the strong foundation of previous presidents and lead the college to new levels of growth,” Carl Barnard, chairman of Mercy’s board of trustees, said in a statement today announcing her appointment.

“Her experience and commitment to health education give her a valuable background on which to draw as we work together to make Mercy College a more integral part of Catholic Health Partners,” said Brian Smith, CHP’s executive vice president for networks.

Ms. Wajert has been the health-sciences dean at Mount St. Joseph University since last year, and was previously chancellor of Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Rock Island, Ill., and associate academic dean for program development at Defiance College in Defiance.

She will take office at Mercy on Aug. 4. James Harter, the college’‍s vice president of administrative services, will continue until then as interim president. The college could not provide Ms. Wajert‘‍s salary today.

Areas of focus for her presidency will include building enrollment, program development, and becoming a leader in distance education and improving educational offerings at all CHP institutions, according to the college’s statement.