Dr. Marcheta P. Evans Sworn in as 12th President of St. Catherine University
By Mia Timlin
On Nov. 1, President Marcheta P. Evans walked onto the O’Shaugnessy stage for her inauguration at the 12th President of St. Catherine University to an instrumental rendition of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.” The song would set the tone for the rest of the ceremony—one of light-hearted jokes, a closeness of community and joyful music.
The ceremony was led by Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice and St. Kate’s alumna Anne McKeig, who welcomed all to the ceremony and responded in awe to the powerful opening invocation vocals of Jevetta Steele with a “wow—I was gonna say ‘holy shite’ but that’s probably not allowed. I’m for sure fired now.”
The afternoon featured several speakers including Sister Jill Underdahl of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who gave the sponsorship greeting while delving into the history of St. Catherine University. There was a focus on the radical commitment of women like the Sisters to do good, with Underdahl sharing that in 1836 six sisters were asked to travel from Le Puy, France to St. Louis, Missouri to start a school for deaf children. This was at the request of Bishop Joseph Rosati who had been advised to “ask the Sisters of St. Joseph, because they will do anything.”
This initial journey led to four sisters making the journey up from St. Louis on the frozen Mississippi to “the second-highest hill in St Paul,” where they built what has become St. Catherine University.
Chair of the St. Catherine University Board of Trustees Samantha Hanson shared the cumulation of this radical commitment to do good that she and the Board saw within President Evans.
“Dr. Evans is a wise and experienced leader,” Hanson said. “She’s a compassionate wife and mother, sister, daughter and aunt. A tireless advocate for women and girls and our community, and an unapologetic champion for the liberal arts, for professional preparation and for all things St. Kate’s. She is the president we sought, we wanted, we dreamed about and we need.”
After her installation, Evans was welcomed into the community by Archbishop Bernard A. Hebda of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, President Suzanne M. Rivera of Macalester University, President Lamont O. Repollet of Kean University, Student Senate President Luul Adam and Faculty Senate President Stephanie de Sam Lazaro.
“Dr. Evans will be the first African American woman to serve as the president of this institution,” Adam said. “This university has come a long way by becoming a space where women can pursue education and leadership. I want to acknowledge that while we celebrate this progress there is still a long road ahead, especially in supporting BIPOC women within our community. I am optimistic about the opportunities and changes Dr. Evans will bring to this institution. We as students hope that you use this powerful position to inspire and influence women to live lives on their own terms, to build the kind of confidence they need to speak and see themselves as individuals and be able to use their voice.”
Evans was then introduced by her three daughters, Brittany McGhee, “the youngest, the engineer,” Morgan McGhee, “the middle, the school food dietician,” and Dr. Martina P. McGhee, “the eldest, the educator.”
The three sisters spoke on the impact they’ve watched their mother have on the college student’s she’s served while growing up.
“While at UTSA she spear-headed what later became known as the civil rights bus tour,” Dr. Martina McGhee said. “She and other faculty took students across the university on a week-long bus trip to major cities in the deep south. Now I can’t personally imagine being on a bus with 40 undergraduate students for a week, so she’s brave for that one alone, but I loved hearing about her students [sharing] how transformational this experience was. I would come home for a visit on a random weekend and there would be students just at our kitchen table doing a puzzle, or out at dinner with us. They just really loved her.”
Before musical ensemble Sounds of Blackness closed off the ceremony, Evans took to the podium to address the St. Kate’s community as the newly-inaugurated president. “I am deeply humbled to stand here as the 12th President of St. Catherine University and to share this historic moment with each of you. You know, I feel the incredible weight of history, hope and responsibility. As the first Black woman in this role, I stand as a testament to the resilience and vision of this institution and this community. I am filled with pride, not only in this personal milestone, but what it represents for St. Catherine University. A community that values inclusion, justice and the boundless potential in each and every moment.”
Outside the ceremony, a reminder of the mission of the institution to lead and influence that Evans had just become the leader of—a group of students from the St. Kate’s Students for Justice in Palestine calling for divestment and disclosure through the mouth of a megaphone.
