Carolyn Noll Sorg

President, John Carroll University

Education: MFA, Miami University; master’s degree, Columbia University

Favorite Quote: “Do good and do it well.” I traveled to Lima, Peru, this spring with a group of Jesuit university leaders where I met Sr. Patricia McLaughlin, S.L. Twenty years ago, Sr. Patricia moved to Peru to open a school in one of Lima’s poorest neighborhoods. What started with desks made from overturned cardboard boxes has grown into an incredible institution that inspires young minds. Sr. Patricia’s motto for the school is “do good and do it well.”

What Motivates Me Right Now: The sacrifices of my parents and grandparents — a boiler operator, a nurse, a mechanic and a bus driver — whose hard work gave my brother and me the gift of education

What Would Surprise Someone to Learn About Me: I hold an MFA in experience design, a degree you don’t see on many college presidents’ resumes. I view university leadership through that design lens, specifically applying the principles of Radical Hospitality — the focus of my thesis — to our work at John Carroll. I’ve always believed that you can, and should, design the student experience with the same level of intention and care you would apply to any piece of art or human-centered project, shaping how we think about every touchpoint at JCU.