The Lescinski Era: A Timeline

Oct. 5, 2007
Sister Joan Lescinski, CSJ, PhD, is installed as the 13th president in St. Ambrose University history. The campus community welcomes Sister Joan and her family and friends during her inauguration on Homecoming weekend.

2008
In the fall, Sister Joan teaches her first English class at SAU. She continues to teach various literature courses each fall through 2013.

To accommodate enrollment growth, McCarthy Hall is built on the corner of Gaines and Lombard Streets. (Originally called West Hall, it is later named for Richard W. McCarthy ‘46, who made a legacy gift to the university). The building has space for 94 residents and includes 13 modern classroom spaces, including a tiered lecture hall.

Sister Joan joins the Putnam Museum Board of Trustees and Quad Cities First, an arm of the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce.

2009
In February, Sister Joan participates in building a house for Habitat for Humanity's Women's Build.

The Rock Island-Moline American Association of University Women honors Sister Joan with the Quad Cities Women of Excellence Award on Oct. 3.

The Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (MSLP) program begins. Students and faculty will enjoy a renovated building to be named the Center for Communication and Social Development. Renovations were paid with a $50,000 grant from the Iowa Scottish Rite Masonic Foundation and the Iowa Scottish Rite Davenport Valley. The Rite Care Clinic provides no-cost services to adults and children with communication disorders.

In July, the University purchases 58 acres from the Diocese of Davenport at St. Vincent's Center on West Central Park.

New Majors and Sports: MSLP, Women and Gender Studies and men's and women's bowling

2010
The Academy for the Study of Saint Ambrose of Milan is founded as the only place in North America dedicated to scholarly study and discussion of the University's namesake saint.

On Aug. 26, the $11.5 million Center for Health Sciences Education at Genesis is dedicated. It will house the programs of Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.

The estate of Rev. Joseph E. Kokjohn establishes the Rev. Joseph E. Kokjohn Endowment for Catholic Peace and Justice to further the education of St. Ambrose students in the Catholic tradition of peace and social justice.

2011
Sister Joan joins the Board of Trustees for the Higher Learning Commission.

The Quad City Chamber and Women's Connection honor Sister Joan with the Athena Award. This award celebrates women who make a difference in their communities.

Sister Joan flies with the Blue Angels.

In March, the University purchases the Orthopaedic Specialists Sports Complex on Brady Street. The 67,000-square-foot Ambrose Dome serves as an all-season practice space for Fighting Bees Athletics.

Jim's Place, an assistive technology solutions house on Brown Street, is introduced as an adaptive showcase for persons with disabilities and learning lab for occupational therapy students. It is made possible by a donation from the family of the late Jim O'Rourke.

Decades of flooding in the Cosgrove Hall parking lot end with the completion of a $1.85 million stormwater retention project.

New Majors: Mechanical Engineering, Art History

2012
An Honors Program for high-achieving students debuts in the fall.

North Hall, a modern residence hall with suites and apartment-style residences accommodating 205 students, opens on the corner of Harrison and Lombard streets, completing Residence Row.

2013
Along with a group of SAU alumni and trustees, Sr. Joan is in Vatican City on March 13 to witness the announcement of former archbishop of Buenos Aires, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, as Pope Francis I.

A $5.7 million exterior renovation of Ambrose Hall begins. It is the first extensive work done to the iconic building since 1976, and the work is completed in 2014 with the unveiling of the fully renovated clock tower, including for the first time in Ambrose Hall history, an actual clockface.

New Sport: Men's lacrosse

2014
The Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver Health Sciences Education Wing expands the SAU Center for Health Sciences Education at Genesis by 13,000 square-feet. Funded by a $1 million grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, the wing will house the new Master of Physician Assistant Studies program. Its first cohort of 30 students begins classes in June.

2015
The former Eye Care Pavilion on the corner of Locust and Harrison streets is purchased to become the new Admissions and Welcome Center, expanding the SAU campus footprint from Harrison to Gaines Streets and from West Locust to Lombard streets.

The Occupational Therapy department transitions from a master's to a doctoral program, becoming the third doctorate offered at SAU.

Sister Joan joins two boards: Board of Directors for the Association of Catholic Colleges and the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce.

In March, land at the St. Vincent's Center is sold to Assumption High School to develop athletics facilities that will be shared by SAU and other Catholic institutions.

The Interprofessional Health Clinic opens in November inside the Center for Health Sciences Education. Students from Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Social Work and Speech-Language Pathology programs provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, and communication therapy for clients at no cost.

New Major: Business and Healthcare Sales

2016
On Homecoming Weekend, SAU and Assumption High School dedicate Phase I of the St. Vincent's Center Athletics Complex: two combination soccer/lacrosse/football field turfs and a state-of-the-art softball diamond.

On Oct. 1, the small house in the middle of campus becomes the Frank and Dorothy "Jane" Folwell Center for Political Science, Pre-Law, and Leadership Studies. It features a 20-seat seminar/conference room, resource room, reception area, and faculty offices.

In April, Sister Joan celebrates her 50th year as a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet with a renewal of her vows during Mass at Christ the King Chapel.

2017
The University is accredited through 2027 by the Higher Learning Commission.

A $1 million gift from Trustee Thomas Higgins ‘67 helps create the Institute for Person-Centered Care at St. Ambrose University as well as the Master of Public Health degree program.

The 80,000-square-foot Wellness and Recreation Center opens in August. The largest capital project in University history is funded through the "Building Our Future" capital campaign, which surpasses its goal of $18.5 million in donor support by more than $1.2 million.

New Majors and Sports: Master of Science in Exercise Physiology, Data Science and Analytics, men's and women's swimming and diving, women's lacrosse

2018
In August, SAU football teams begin using a newly built locker room, storage and office facility at the St. Vincent's Athletics Complex.

New Sport: Esports

2019
The Lavonne "Bonnie" McFarlin Scholarship Program is created through a $1.38 million estate gift from the faithful former campus neighbor and her husband, Dale. The endowed scholarship fund will focus on leadership development, mentoring, and preparing students to be active citizens in their professions and communities after graduation.

The University introduces Microcredentials, an innovative way of gaining skill- and sector-specific knowledge.

Phase II of the St. Vincent's Center Athletics Complex begins.

New Majors: Bachelor of Social Work, Digital Filmmaking [Discontinued 2023], Biomedical Laboratory Science, Bachelor of Science in Nursing-Accelerated, Master of Science in Criminal Justice

2020
A newly expanded and renovated McMullen Hall opens in August. At a cost of $8.6 million, the facility becomes the first dedicated home for the College of Business.

With a $2.5 million gift in September, John Butler ‘71 and his wife Holly Herman establish the Agnes C. Renner Endowed Chair in History.

New Majors and Sports: Human Resource Management, men's wrestling, winter guard

2021
The Ann Elaine Hinkhouse Endowed Chair in Nursing is established in January with a $2.6 million estate gift from the late former nurse and SAU MBA graduate.

On August 5, Sister Joan retires after 14 years of life-enriching leadership at St. Ambrose University.

Timeline compiled and written by Darcy Duncalf '12 and Robin JB Ruetenik '15 MOL