St. Ambrose University announced the addition of four senior leaders and an expanded role for its longtime academic administrator in a move that supports its merger with Mount Mercy University.
According to a St. Ambrose news release sent Thursday, Dec. 18, the appointments are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen mission integration, enhance shared operations, and support its collaboration with the Cedar Rapids-based university. St. Ambrose, Davenport, added that the leadership changes underscore their commitment to delivering a mission-driven student experience grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition.
On Aug. 1, 2024, the two eastern Iowa universities announced they had reached a “strategic combination” agreement. The agreement, announced at Mount Mercy’s campus, will place it under the leadership of St. Ambrose after a transitional period of two years, both effectively becoming one institution.
SAU announced these new appointments to its leadership team:
Amelia Blanton Hibner has been named chief mission integration officer, beginning Feb. 1, 2026. In this role, she will guide mission integration across both universities, ensuring that Catholic identity, values, and formation remain central as the collaboration advances. She currently is dean of mission integration at Visitation Academy of St. Louis. There Ms. Blanton Hibner leads mission-centered strategic planning, multi-year formation programs for faculty and staff, and extensive partnerships with academic and campus ministry leaders.
Adam Kurth has joined SAU as chief information officer (CIO). Mr. Kurth brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in information technology, finance and organizational planning, most recently as CFO and director of Technology & Innovation for the Iowa City Community School District. His experience includes major advancements in cybersecurity, enterprise systems modernization, instructional technology, and data governance. As CIO, Mr. Kurth will support the alignment of shared systems and digital infrastructure across the two campuses.
Karla Hurley has been named executive director of Strategy and Project Management. Ms. Hurley, who joined SAU in November, brings more than two decades of experience in strategic leadership and organizational integration across higher education and the nonprofit sector, including the University of Iowa where she led enterprise strategy and digital transformation. She will lead efforts at St. Ambrose to strengthen institutional
planning, unifying performance measures, and coordinating cross-campus initiatives that ensure sustained momentum and accountability.
Donna Gardner Liljegren, has joined St. Ambrose as associate vice president for Online Learning. With 30+ years experience as a faculty member and administrator, she has a proven record of expanding access and improving student outcomes through high-quality online programs. She previously led AU Online at Aurora University, growing the program from $3.4 million to more than $27 million in revenue. Her new leadership role will support the continued growth, quality, and consistency of online learning across the universities’ collaborative academic offerings.
Longtime SAU leader Pat Archer, associate provost, will assume oversight of the Accessibility Resource Center, the Academic and Career Planning Center, and the Student Success Center on the St. Ambrose campus. In partnership with Mount Mercy Provost Tom Castle, Mr. Archer also will begin coordinating parallel functions at Mount Mercy to lay the groundwork for future alignment of student-success services.
In the release, St. Ambrose President Amy Novak emphasized the importance of the new leadership team in supporting the university’s future direction. The work, she added, represents an important step toward strengthening academic support services for key student populations including first-generation students, adult learners, student-athletes and graduate students.
“Each of these leaders brings not only deep expertise, but a passion for the mission of Catholic higher education,” said Ms. Novak.
As announced last summer, the combined entity – to be called St. Ambrose University – will be led by Ms. Novak.
“Their collective talent will help us enhance student learning, align shared systems, and build a more connected and mission-centered future,” she said. “I am profoundly grateful for the wisdom and vision they bring to St. Ambrose and Mount Mercy at this pivotal moment.”
