May 7, 2008

Welder was named the college's fifth president in 1978. She is believed to be the longest currently serving woman college president in the nation. Hers is the second-longest woman's tenure as a college president since that of Sister Majella Berg (Marymount University 1960 to 1993). Welder is also one of the longest-tenured university presidents in U.S. history.

Welder, known for impacting the lives of so many in a positive way, her hospitable accessibility and knowing students and alumni by name, will continue to be active and serve the University of Mary, America's Leadership University, in various advisory capacities.

"Seeing someone who is fantastic in so many ways and who has made such a great contribution to countless people beginning to move on to the next phase of her life is difficult for us who care so much about her," commented White. "However, thinking of her great gifts to society as a whole, the university, Bismarck-Mandan, our state which she dearly loves, and the higher education community on a regional and national level, we can only wish her well with God's blessings."

Welder, a native of Bismarck and member of the Annunciation Monastery for almost 50 years, has served the university since 1963, when it was Mary College. For three decades she has helped guide the growth of what has come to be known as America's Leadership University.

During this time, Mary College expanded to university status in 1986, growing from 925 students to nearly 3,000 in 2008, and now offering 44 undergraduate majors and various pre-professional concentrations and dual-degree, pre-engineering program. It also offers master's degrees in business administration, counseling, education, management, nursing, occupational therapy, and project management, as well as a Doctor of Physical Therapy.

During her tenure as president, Welder has seen the institution gain increasing national recognition and an excellent reputation for its dedication to student placement and outcomes. The quality of its academic programs -- and particularly its emphasis on leadership -- follows her belief that an individual can grow into leadership through service, training and a Christian-based education.

Welder oversaw the expansion of the adult learning program to its worldwide online access and 16 on-site locations throughout the state, region and country, including Bismarck, Fargo, Minot, Grand Forks, New Town, and Belcourt, ND, and sites in Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri and Arizona. Most recently, U-Mary was named one of 30 top military-friendly colleges in America by Military Advanced Education magazine.

In 2006, U-Mary became a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). In July 2007, the NCAA waived the last two years of provisional status. The approval of U-Mary for active membership is believed to have been one of the quickest in NCAA history.

Welder has served on numerous boards and is actively involved in professional, civic and religious organizations at all levels. In 1998 she received the North Dakota Everyday Hero award for living "a life worthy of being a hero to others in his or her community." She received the GNDA Greater North Dakotan Award in 2002 for outstanding service to North Dakota and its business community, the 2007 Scandinavian-American Humanitarian Award and in 2004 was presented with North Dakota's highest honor, the Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award.

Welder attended the College of St. Benedict, graduated from the College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, and earned a master's degree in music from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. She is a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery and has led an extraordinary life committed to God and her community through the six Benedictine values of service, community, hospitality, moderation, prayer, and respect for persons.

The University of Mary Board of Trustees will begin the process for the selection of a new president.