Amy Novak

President

St. Ambrose University

Amy C. Novak, EdD, is the 14th president of St. Ambrose University. She was inaugurated on Oct. 1, 2021, accepting her charge with a focus on inclusivity and collaboration.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, working with faculty to equip them for the learner of the future, and celebrating the University’s historic commitment to Catholicity, social justice, and service. She has lead the effort to renovate the University’s second oldest building into a learning lab featuring opportunities for faculty and students to discover the power of emerging learning modalities including augmented and virtual reality, project-based learning, and the integration of artificial intelligence. In April 2022, Novak convened leaders from across the Midwest for the first St. Ambrose University Innovation Summit: Building the Next-Generation Workforce, seeking input on how St. Ambrose best can prepare its students to meet business, industry and nonprofit needs in a new age of human work.Dr. Novak previously served as president of Dakota Wesleyan University. During her tenure, DWU experienced record enrollment growth, updated the campus’ infrastructure, formed partnerships in the region, bolstered spiritual engagement, and launched a variety of innovative academic programs and initiatives. Dr. Novak earned a Doctor of Education degree in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, a Master of Science in Social and Applied Economics from Wright State, and a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Notre Dame.