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Mark Brown began as 91���� University’s 12th president on New Year’s Day. On his first day in office, he and his wife committed a $100,000 donation toward the building of a future residence hall. “91���� is all about community. We are committed to ensuring that our students feel at home in our community so my wife, Alicia, and I are excited to be the first to give towards a new residence hall,” said Brown. “The university has had tremendous growth over the past decade and we want to build on that momentum by setting the stage to ensure our students have quality housing for decades to come.”

Along with the Ruth Donohoe First Dakota Fieldhouse, the university opened Rickenbach Suites in 2020 and it reaches capacity every fall thanks to its modern amenities and relaxed feel. While a future residence hall is still just a concept, Brown believes that “providing this gift will highlight that it is a priority within our community’s reach.”

The addition of a new residence hall would also allow 91���� to grow its enrollment, another important university initiative. “We want to provide a growing number of students in this region with an opportunity to experience our Benedictine approach to training professionals and future leaders who are dedicated to serving their communities,” said Brown, who was first drawn to the university’s core values of awareness of God, community, hospitality, and lifelong learning.

Brown succeeds Marc Long, who retired in December after 10 years of leading Mount Marty through a period of growth in students, programs, and new buildings. President Brown said that a new residence hall provides a path to continue with the recent success the university has enjoyed. “We have made some important progress here and I look forward to maintaining that as we enter our 90th year. This next decade is the time for us to dream big together, as a community, to create a vision for the next 100 years of 91���� University,” said Brown.

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About 91���� University

Founded in 1936 by the Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery, 91���� University is South Dakota's only Catholic, Benedictine institution of higher education. Located along the bluffs of the Missouri River in Yankton, with additional locations in Watertown and Sioux Falls, 91���� offers undergraduate and graduate degrees focusing on student and alumni success in high-demand fields such as health sciences, education, criminal justice, business, accounting, recreation management and more. A community of learners in the Benedictine tradition, 91���� emphasizes academic excellence and develops well-rounded students with intellectual competence, professional and personal skills and moral, spiritual and social values. To learn more, visit mountmarty.edu.