OMAHA, Neb. —

The College of Saint Mary inaugurated their eighth president on Friday.

Heather Smith began her role back in July of 2023.

She's been getting to know the campus and undergoing a "new president's boot camp."

Smith spent 25 years in health care at Children's Nebraska.

She said the calling for education came from her daughter.

"It really wasn't something I never thought of. And I'm a single mom and talked to my daughter and she said, mom, you've spent your whole life empowering and educating me. Why wouldn't this be your next chapter? And that kind of sealed it for me," she said.

Smith has implemented a five-year plan focusing on operations, adapting academic programs, and growing the athletics program.

She also made enrollment a priority.

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