A new chapter in the rich history of St. Martin’s University has begun. “We move forward to remain relevant and use tradition to guide us,” says Jennifer Bonds-Raacke, PhD, who is the 11th president and first woman to serve in this position. Experiencing Catholic schooling throughout her life, Dr. Bonds-Raacke found that the charisms of the Benedictine order resonated deeply with her personal and professional values.
One value is listening. Dr. Bonds-Raacke is launching a listening tour to hear from faculty, students, staff, and constituency groups. “Everyone on campus is important,” she says. Her grandfather, who played a pivotal role in her life, instilled the importance of hearing all voices. “I saw the way people respected him, and not because of his job,” she recalls. His education ended at sixth grade. He listened with heart.
The Benedictine value of justice rings clearly for Dr. Bonds-Raacke who wants to ensure the 400+ people who work at the university have fair and competitive wages. She wants to see a comprehensive pay plan that benchmarks both locally and nationally. There is power in investing in people.
Hospitality, also a value, is offering warmth, acceptance, and joy in welcoming others. Dr. Bonds-Raacke talks about getting to know incoming freshman with ice cream and music at her home. She will be engaging with all of her new St. Martin’s community and feels it is her extended family.
The future for the university looks bright. Dr. Bonds-Raacke intends to grow partnerships with our local community. She brings fresh energy for innovative ideas for engagement, and continues to support graduates, who are integral contributors to the Olympia area.
Her husband, Dr. John Raacke, has joined with her on this adventure. Together they decided to make this area their home along with their daughters, Callie, who is in college and Brooke, who will be attending Timberline High School. Doc, their chihuahua, is also part of the family. “We look forward to giving back our time and talents,” she says.
St. Martin’s University offers a transformative education. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1, the education is personal and powerful. The university offers many undergraduate and graduate programs.
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St. Martin’s University
stmartin.edu
MARY ELLEN PSALTIS