Mercy McAuley president backs out days before assuming role, school appoints new leader

Jennifer Fellinger, Mercy McAuley High School's newly appointed president, backed out of the job days before she was set to start, officials said.

In her place, the board announced the appointment of alumna Denise Krueger as president of Mercy McAuley, an all-girls Catholic school in College Hill. 

Fellinger was named president by Mercy McAuley's board of directors at the end of June, after a comprehensive national search that began in January. Her contract was to begin on Aug. 1, according to the school's June announcement.

Fellinger, a 1992 Mercy McAuley alumna, announced at the time that she and her family would be moving to College Hill, about a mile from Mercy McAuley, to the house where she grew up.

But Fellinger says she and her family will now remain in Michigan due to "a significant and difficult change in personal circumstances."

"While we are devastated beyond words that we are unable to make the move, we also believe in a God that works in mighty and mysterious ways. As heartbroken as I am, I am also confident that the next President will be equally enthusiastic about Mercy McAuley's future and its promise for continued growth," Fellinger wrote in a statement.

Krueger, of Harrison, is a 1980 alumna of McAuley High School, according to Friday's news release. She has served in various roles within the school community, most recently as Mercy McAuley's board chair since 2018.

“Mercy education is my heart, my soul, and my passion,” Krueger said in a news release. “I am truly blessed to have the honor of serving this incredible school community as President. I am excited to walk alongside our employees, students, parents, alumnae, benefactors and friends in taking Mercy McAuley High School to even greater heights. We have a very strong and bright future ahead at Mercy McAuley High School, and I look forward to carrying on our mission of providing young women with an outstanding Catholic, Mercy education.”

Krueger worked at Mount St. Joseph University as a professor of mathematics for the past 16 years. She earned her bachelor's degree from Xavier University and her master's and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

Fellinger was serving as vice president of public affairs and marketing at Hope College in Holland, Michigan before she was appointed president of Mercy McAuley. She has not released further details on her  decision not to take on the role of Mercy McAuley president.

"My love for Mercy McAuley is as strong as ever, and I regret that I will miss the opportunity to lead such a strong, forward-thinking community of students, faculty, staff and alumnae. I believe with all my heart that a Mercy McAuley education is unparalleled, and that this world needs Women of Mercy," Fellinger wrote.