Leadership

The Benedictine Sisters are governed by an elected Prioress General and a three-member General Council.

Prioress General - Sister Pat Nyquist
Sister Pat, a native of Moorhead, Minn., joined the Benedictine Order in 1974 and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. She is a member of the American Benedictine Formation Conference and served as prioress of the sisters’ Clyde community from 2005 - 2008  She was elected prioress general in June 2008.

General Councilor - Sister Cheryl Morehead 
Sister Cheryl is from Albert Lea, Minn. She earned degrees from Corbett College in Crookston, Minn., and the University of North Dakota. She made her entrance with the Benedictine Sisters in 1989 and was the subprioress of the Clyde community from 1998 to 2002 and again from 2005 - 2008. She was elected to the general council in June 2008.

General Councilor - Sister Ruth Elaine Starman 
Sister Ruth Elaine is an Elgin, Neb., native and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and computer science from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She entered the Benedictine Sisters in 1993 and has served as the congregation’s vocation director since 2005. She plays the organ, piano, guitar and harp and plays for community liturgies.  She was elected to the general council in June 2008.

General Councilor - Sister Dawn Annette Mills 
Sister Dawn Annette was born in Gary, Ind., and entered the Benedictine Sisters in 1975. She completed a master’s program at the Institute for Culture and Creation Spirituality at Holy Names College in Oakland, Calif. She is an accomplished author and presents workshops on a variety of religious subjects throughout the country. Most recently she headed the sisters’ correspondence department, which answers prayer requests, handles direct mailings regarding prayer intentions and keeps the records for the Association of Perpetual Adoration. She was elected in June 2008.

The Clyde and Tucson communities are governed by an elected Prioress and appointed Sub-Prioress.

Clyde Prioress - Sister Pat Nyquist is serving as superior for the Clyde community


Tucson Prioress - Sister Ramona Varela

Tucson Sub-Prioress - Sister Joan Ridley

 
The Dayton community is governed by a Superior who is appointed by the Prioress General after the deliberative vote of the General Council.

Dayton Superior - Sister Gladys Noreen