Dunn to step down as Clarke president; She will depart after 2005-2006 school year

At an emotionally charged press conference Tuesday, Clarke College President Sister Catherine Dunn, BVM, said she would be stepping down after 22 years.

Stopping to fight back tears, Dunn opened by saying, "This is a difficult time for me."

Dunn will depart at the end of the 2005-2006 academic school year, about 16 months from now.

"There comes that time to say, 'this is right, this is the right thing to do," she said.

Her career at Clarke College spans 33 years where she worked as a teacher, a department chairperson, a resident assistant, the vice president of institutional advancement and eventually president.

Dunn, 70, is the school's 14th and longest-serving president. She also is one of the longest-serving collegiate presidents in Iowa.

Sister Catherine Dunn

* 1973: Began work at Clarke College in Dubuque after receiving her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Arizona State University.

* 1979: Served as vice president of institutional advancement after teaching in education department.

* 1984: Elected Clarke's 14th president on...