(Cincinnati, OH) – Mercy McAuley High School’s Board of Directors announces the appointment of Jennifer Fellinger as the school’s new President. Fellinger’s appointment comes after a comprehensive national search for the most qualified candidate to lead the school and advance its mission of providing an outstanding Catholic, Mercy education to young women in Cincinnati now and into the future. Fellinger will begin her role as President of Mercy McAuley High School on August 1, 2021.

As President, Fellinger will serve as the administrative leader of the school, responsible for the overall management of the school, including its development and growth as part of Mercy Education. In this position, she will play a lead role in furthering the school’s mission, developing long-range strategic plans, and guiding enrollment growth through oversight of the leadership team, stewardship of the school’s financial resources, and building relationships with students and families, faculty and staff, alumnae, benefactors, and members of the Greater Cincinnati community.

“The world needs Women of Mercy, now more than ever,” said Fellinger. “I am energized by the prospect of equipping young women to bring compassionate change to their local and global communities. The Sisters of Mercy instilled in me a sense of purpose, a commitment to excellence and a foundation of leadership, all which continue to influence me, even today. Now, I’m thrilled to work with Mercy McAuley’s outstanding team of staff and faculty, as well as our dedicated students, families, alumnae and supporters, to carry on the tradition of Catholic, Mercy education and leadership in Cincinnati.”

A Cincinnati native and a 1992 alumna of McAuley High School, Fellinger has more than 15 years of leadership experience in academic institutions. For the past seven years, she has served as Vice President, Public Affairs and Marketing, at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. In this role, Fellinger led the 30-person public affairs and marketing division, which is responsible for the college’s brand-building efforts. In this role, she also worked closely with the departments of Development, Alumni/Family Engagement, Academics and Admissions to support fundraising, engagement, enrollment and retention goals. As a member of the President’s Cabinet at Hope College, Fellinger served as a senior advisor to the President and acted as the college’s primary spokesperson.

Prior to her role at Hope College, Fellinger served as Vice President, Marketing and Communications, at Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington. She has also served as Director of Communications with the Association of Washington School Principals in Olympia, Washington and Assistant Director of Communications at Washington State School Directors’ Association in Lacey, Washington. She also held the roles of Editor with F&W Publications in Cincinnati and Curatorial Assistant at the Cincinnati Art Museum.

“We believe that Jennifer’s character, faith, leadership, and relationship-building skills, coupled with her extensive experience in higher education, make her the best choice to lead Mercy McAuley High School and take it to even greater heights now and for many, many years to come,” said Denise Krueger, Chair, Mercy McAuley Board of Directors.

Fellinger earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Xavier University, where she graduated summa cum laude. She earned her Master of Arts degree in History of Art from The Ohio State University.

Fellinger has also been an active member of her community and has served on many boards for organizations and events such as the Downtown Holland Principal Shopping District and Tulip Time Festival in Holland, Michigan, as well as the Hands On Children Museum in Olympia, Washington. She has served as a keynote speaker, panelist and podcast guest on topics such as enrollment growth, customer experience, and student research. She was named an Honoree in the South Puget Sound Region’s “40 Under Forty” by The Business Examiner in Tacoma, Washington.

The search for Mercy McAuley’s new President began in January of 2021. The school’s Board of Directors worked with a national search firm, Gilman Partners, who generated a pool of approximately 200 potential candidates. The pool was narrowed to five candidates, who were then presented to the President Search Committee. The President Search Committee included board members, a representative from Mercy Education, alumnae from the two legacy schools (McAuley and Mother of Mercy High Schools), alumnae from Mercy McAuley High School, and a current faculty and staff member of Mercy McAuley who were elected by their colleagues to serve on the committee. The final candidates were interviewed by the President Search Committee and other key stakeholders. The process culminated with the selection of the new President by Mercy McAuley’s Board of Directors, with the support of the Mercy Education Board of Directors.

Mercy McAuley High School is an all-girls Catholic school located in College Hill. It is a sponsored ministry of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas and is a member of Mercy Education. Central to Mercy McAuley’s mission are the teachings of the Catholic Church and the Mercy Charism inspired by Catherine McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy. Mercy McAuley offers innovative, experiential academics, award-winning fine arts, competitive athletics and service opportunities, all within a faith-based community. For more information, visit www.mercymcauley.org.