St. Cloud State University President Dr. Robbyn Wacker Announces Departure After Six Years of Leadership

(KNSI) — St. Cloud State University’s 24th president is stepping away at the end of the academic year.

Dr. Robbyn Wacker’s last day is June 30th, which marks the end of her current contract. Wacker came to St. Cloud in 2018 after 20 years at the University of Northern Colorado and was the first woman to lead SCSU when she started in 2018.

In a press release, Wacker calls serving as SCSU’s president “an honor and a privilege,” and added, “I am proud to have had the opportunity to serve our amazing students, faculty, staff, and administrative leaders. This decision was extremely difficult; however, I feel great about what I and my leadership team have accomplished in the past six years, and the time is right to hand the reigns over to the next leader.”

Wacker was in charge of serving during some of the university’s most challenging times, including budget challenges, declining enrollment, and the pandemic. SCSU says it is turning the corner when it comes to incoming students. Its freshman enrollment was up by 16.5% this fall, the first increase since 2015. The campus also has 18.1% more students living there, and the number of students leaving with degrees is up by 11.9%.

Wacker was also heavily involved in Unleash the Future, SCSU’s first fundraising campaign in 20 years. The university eclipsed its goal of $35 million by raising around $39.8 million.

Under Wacker’s leadership, SCSU also developed new undergraduate programs in cybersecurity and environmental management, and seven new concentrations in the Masters of Business Administration program. A certificate in cannabis education is now being offered at the school, too.

Wacker is credited with serving the community off campus as part of the St. Cloud Mayor’s Downtown Development Taskforce, the Greater St. Cloud Chamber Downtown Alliance Board, the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, and the Initiative Foundation.

SCSU will begin to search in the spring for an interim president to serve a two-year term.

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