The Record

Baenninger renews contract: Five more years

By: Anna Martin

After announcing in mid September she would be leaving St. Ben’s as soon as her contract ended this year, President MaryAnn Baenninger has decided she will stay at St. Ben’s for another five years. Baenninger and Kathy Cooney, Chair of the Board of Trustees, discussed this decision throughout the fall and announced it to the public Dec. 9. Baenninger said she had originally decided to leave St. Ben’s because of family issues and her husband Ron’s illness.

“She felt it would be better for her and Ron to be on the East Coast, where she could have support from her family,” Cooney said.

Knowing her contract would end this year, Baenninger had to make a decision.

“She was proactive and knew it would be a good time to announce she was leaving,” Cooney said.

After Ron’s successful surgery, however, Baenninger accepted the Board’s invitation to reconsider her decision. Throughout her time at St. Ben’s, Baenninger said she has gone through a lot with her family.

“I think we came to realize it is highly unlikely that so many hard things are going to happen (during my next contract) be- cause so many things have already happened,” Baenninger said. “We only have one parent left and my dad is very healthy. Sometimes you make decisions on what happened in the past and you have to make them on what is going to happen in the future.”

While Cooney and Baenninger talked about the possibility of Baenninger remaining at St. Ben’s, most of the Board members were informed about Baenninger’s decision the morning of their first Board meeting of the year, in early December. When the news was announced, the Board’s reaction was overwhelmingly positive.

“There was spontaneous applause and the Board gave an enthusiastic endorsement,” Cooney said. “The board feels that (Baenninger) has been an amazing part of the college and her decision to stay was just heart- warming to everyone.”

The decision for Baenninger to stay was not solely hers. The Board of Trustees had influence as well.

“Since she had already resigned, she needed the Board to ask her to reconsider,” Vice President of Student Development Mary Geller said.

After Ron recovered from his surgery, the Board continued to urge Baenninger to re-examine why she was leaving. She said her final decision, however, was not immediate.

“Not that I didn’t take them seriously, but I felt I made this decision and I should stick with it,” Baenninger said. “In meeting with the Board, they convinced me there really was an opportunity to stay.”

While there was no salary increase for Baenninger in the new contract, there were many things the Board and Baenninger discussed to make staying in Minnesota more appealing.

“What we did talk about was ways to give me more ability to spend time with my family,” Baenninger said. “There were also some possibilities for sabbatical, meaning that I could take some time away if it is okay with the Board Chair. My salary hasn’t changed. It’s not like they have offered me big salary incentives.”

Baenninger has also had conversations with her children and extended family about the possibility of having them travel to Minnesota more often. Her children, who live both in Minnesota and Chicago, are on board for making this work.

“We have talked to them more about coming here,” Baenninger said. “We are switching our family base.”

For President Baenninger, staying at St. Ben’s for the next five years will allow her to continue many of the projects she started during her previous term. She will oversee the construction of the new academic building, the HCC renovation and expansion and the college’s centennial year in 2013.

“Contemplating leaving St. Ben’s and comparing it with other institutions affirms how great an institution St. Ben’s is, and if I have challenges in my personal life within the next five years, we will have to figure out a way to deal with them,” Baenninger said.

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