Kathleen Jagger

Dr. Jagger came to Newman from Thomas More University in Crestview Hills, Kentucky. She joined the university in 2015 as vice president of Academic Affairs and dean of the College. Dr. Jagger was appointed acting president in July 2018, serving in that role through May 2019, and then was dean of the College of Arts and Science from 2019-2020. Like Newman, Thomas More was founded by religious sisters to train Catholic school teachers and provide college education for women. Known as Villa Madonna College at its inception, the Benedictine Sisters of Covington, Kentucky, started the school in 1921. While founded by one order, soon after it was sponsored by two others: Sisters of Notre Dame and Congregation of Divine Providence and all three remain sponsors today.

From 2002-2012, Dr. Jagger served in numerous administrative and leadership roles at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, including interim vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the College. She began her career at Transylvania as professor of biology. From 1983-2002, Dr. Jagger worked at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. She taught for 19 years and served as professor of microbiology and public health. Dr. Jagger taught graduate and undergraduate students at Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio, in its department of microbiology and immunology from 1979-1983.