After a year-long search, the Board of Directors recently announced that Danielle Hermmany will be BSM’s next president. Hermanny will begin her role on Monday, May 15.

Hermanny returns to BSM after graduating in the class of 2003, and her positive experience as a student compelled her to accept the president position. “I had such a fantastic, transformational experience as a student at BSM. This role gives me a unique opportunity to work with all the amazing staff and faculty at BSM to continue to provide students with an exceptional Catholic education in the years to come,” Hermanny said in an email interview.

As an alum, Hermanny maintained connected to the community. “For a number of years after graduation I lived out of state, but I always kept up with BSM through the Crown & Shield updates, and have stayed in touch with several friends and teachers from my time here. I’m looking forward to being back on campus,” Hermanny said.

She is looking forward to strengthening this connection in her role as president. “I’m very excited to be back in the halls of BSM interacting and building relationships with students, faculty, and staff. I’m looking forward to hearing from students what makes BSM special to them and giving back to this community that has been so important in my own life,” Hermanny said.

After graduating from BSM, Hermanny received a BA in English and attended law school at the University of Notre Dame. Before attending law school, Hermanny spent a year teaching kindergarten through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, and she has a deep background in Catholic education. “Since law school I have worked exclusively at Catholic universities: writing speeches, managing the board, overseeing legal affairs, and most recently I was at the University of St. Thomas as an associate vice president,” Hermanny said.

Teachers and administrators alike are looking forward to Hermanny’s upcoming tenure as president. “I think as an alum, she’s going to be terrific. I think her experience at University of St. Thomas is going to be a real plus for us as well, and I know she’s excited to be here,” Director of Junior High Admissions Ted Freese said.

Outside of her work, Hermanny enjoys spending time with her family and being outside. “My husband and I have three young kids who we drive around to all sorts of activities. We also have the sweetest goldendoodle named Tillie. We love doing things outside together like hiking and snowshoeing, and we recently took a trip to Disney World. Personally, I really enjoy baking, gardening, and cross stitching,” Hermanny said.

In her first days as president, Hermanny offers students a piece of advice. “With the benefit of 20 years of hindsight, I would tell students that BSM is a very, very special place and you should take full advantage of everything it has to offer. BSM is a community of care where you are known– truly known– for who you are, and I hope students use their time here to find their place, explore their passions, and face challenges head on. The years will pass by faster than you can imagine, but the choices you make in your time here will help shape the person you become years in the future,” Hermanny said.