“I was speechless,” Sorg, 41, said. “For days, I was overwhelmed with gratitude.”Sorg, currently vice president of enrollment management at JCU, will take the reins from retiring president Alan R. Miciak on June 1. Sorg is the first woman and the 27th president in the Jesuit university’s 140-year history. “Being named the first woman to serve as president is an honor I hold with enormous respect — not just for what it means to me, but for what it means to our community,” Sorg said.

Sorg’s story is rooted in a family history defined by hard work. Her grandmother was a bus driver and her grandfather an auto mechanic, both in Independence — backgrounds she says instilled in her a strong sense of discipline and appreciation for everyday dedication.

“I come from a family where showing up and doing your job well really mattered,” Sorg said. “There’s a lot of pride in that kind of work, and it shaped how I see leadership.”

She still lives in her hometown. “Living in Independence keeps me grounded. It’s a close-knit community, and that sense of connection is something I carry with me into my work every day.”

Sorg graduated from Independence High School in 2002 and from Baldwin Wallace University in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in English. She went on to earn her master’s degree in higher and postsecondary education from Columbia University and a master of fine arts in experience design from Miami University.

Before joining JCU in 2023, Sorg served as the chief admissions officer at Ursuline College and held student-facing positions at The University of Akron, Baldwin Wallace University and Barnard College in New York.

As she prepares to lead JCU, Sorg emphasized that her approach will be people-first.

“This role is about listening,” she said. “It’s about understanding what students need, what faculty are experiencing and how we can move forward together as a community.”

Her life in Independence has also helped shape her perspective on Northeast Ohio and the role a university can play within it.

“There’s a strong sense of pride in this region,” Sorg said. “People care deeply about where they live, and I think John Carroll has a real opportunity to be a partner in that — to support students while also engaging with the broader community.”

Sorg said she hopes to foster a sense of openness and accessibility as president. “I want people to feel comfortable reaching out,” she said. “Whether it’s a student, a parent or a member of the community, I want them to know their voice matters. “It’s been really meaningful to hear from people here,” Sorg said. “There’s a lot of encouragement, and it reminds me that this is bigger than just one position — it’s about representing a community.”

As higher education continues to evolve, Sorg said she is focused on guiding the university with clarity and purpose.

“There are challenges, but there are also so many opportunities,” she said. “My goal is to build on John Carroll’s strengths while continuing to grow and adapt.” Through it all, she remains grounded in the values that shaped her.

“I carry my background with me in everything I do,” Sorg said. “It reminds me to stay focused, to work hard and always to put people first.”