An inclusive, Catholic, and diocesan community of learners, St. Ambrose University empowers all Ambrosians to act courageously, to seek wisdom through faith and reason, to work for justice and to lead lives of service.
Get to know the inspiring individuals who form St. Ambrose University’s leadership team. With diverse backgrounds and expertise, they collaborate to shape our university’s future, ensuring an inclusive learning community for all.
An inclusive, Catholic, and diocesan community of learners, St. Ambrose University empowers all Ambrosians to act courageously, to seek wisdom through faith and reason, to work for justice and to lead lives of service.
We believe that people at all stages of life need educational opportunities. That’s why we offer learning programs with student-centered teaching that result in baccalaureate and professional graduate degrees as well as non-degree offerings at the undergraduate and graduate levels. To meet the needs of our diverse student body, we use a variety of delivery formats in the Diocese of Davenport and throughout the state of Iowa. We collaborate with other organizations to offer further opportunities around the world.
Amy Novak, EdD, became the 14th president of St. Ambrose University on Aug. 7, 2021. Under Dr. Novak's leadership, St. Ambrose has implemented innovative technology in the classroom through augmented and virtual learning; reimagined learning across one's lifespan by adding a host of certificate and online program opportunities; and invested in partnerships with local and regional businesses to ensure students are equipped with the skills they need for success in the workplace upon graduation.
Dr. Novak’s career in higher education began at Dakota Wesleyan University in her native Mitchell, South Dakota, in 2003. Before entering higher education, she worked in the private sector as she, her husband Ken, and their growing family traveled the country and the world during Ken's career in the U.S. Air Force. The Novaks both are graduates of the University of Notre Dame.
Email presidentsoffice@sau.edu to schedule an appointment.
Amy C. Novak, EdD, became the 14th president of St. Ambrose University on Aug. 7, 2021, and was inaugurated on Oct. 1, 2021, accepting her charge with a focus on inclusivity and collaboration under the invitational theme, Come To The Table.
At St. Ambrose, Dr. Novak has prioritized finding new and innovative models of teaching and learning as we enter a new era of work. She is partnering with community leaders to address employer needs, and celebrating the university's historic commitment to Catholicity, social justice, and service.
Under her leadership, St. Ambrose launched a new strategic plan, Agile Ambrose, designed to prepare the university to meet the evolving needs of learners across their lifespan. Dr. Novak's efforts include collaborating with businesses to pilot XR technologies in classrooms, launching St. Ambrose University's Nano Nagle Online Nursing Program to support place-bound learners across America, and securing grants to support work-based learning initiatives. These achievements have helped the university ensure learning remains relentlessly relevant while honoring the importance of cultivating skills embedded within the traditional liberal arts disciplines.
The university's recent enrollment growth and success in retention is a testimony to the development of an agile culture on the campus that embraces change and best practices in student learning and engagement.
In January 2024, the university will open Higgins Hall for Innovation and Human-Centered Design. This learning laboratory will transform how we educate and deliver a customized experience for our students, creating a person-centered delivery model for higher education that prepares our learners for the next generation of work and community service.
Initiatives such as the Innovation Summit, where Dr. Novak convenes business and community leaders from across the Midwest, have helped guide her vision for the university's future. In the initial summit, St. Ambrose University sought input on how it can prepare its students to meet business, industry, and nonprofit needs in a new age of human work. The most recent summit focused on fostering a growth mindset around learning that is developed in the classroom and built for the workplace.
Novak earned a Doctor of Education degree in interdisciplinary leadership from Creighton University in 2014, a Master of Science in social and applied economics from Wright State University in 1997, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Notre Dame in 1993.
Dr. Novak is a passionate advocate for students and speaks frequently on issues of innovation, workforce development, leadership, and faith. She serves as the president of the NAIA Council of Presidents and is active in national, regional and local associations. She and her husband Ken are parents to eight children and delight in welcoming nearly 3,000 other students to the St. Ambrose table.
St. Ambrose University is pleased to announce it has formally applied for full membership in the Heart of America Athletic Conference.
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On a quiet evening at Christ the King Chapel, Vince Thomas ’23, DPT ’25 and Abby (Cowan) ’23 stood among friends in a space that had become central.
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St. Ambrose University is proud to announce the Ambrose Pathway grant, a need-based tuition support opportunity.
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