Inside Education and Health Sciences

With more than 15 years of leadership in one of its signature programs, Rhonda Mercs has been named executive director of the University of Dayton’s Center for Catholic Education  — positioning the center for increased national visibility and impact in Catholic education. Mercs will assume the role July 16.

Mercs joined UD in 2007 as a counselor in the Center’s Empowering Children with Hope and Opportunity (ECHO) program and was named ECHO director in 2012. Under her leadership, ECHO expanded its reach and deepened its mission of supporting student well-being through school-based counseling and social-emotional learning programs.  earned her doctorate in educational leadership from UD in 2022 and teaches as an adjunct professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Human Services.

Mercs brings a strong devotion to the Catholic, Marianist mission and a vision for expanding the reach of the Center for Catholic Education by building upon the great work that is already coming out of the Center's existing programs. 

"I am honored to be selected as executive director of the Center for Catholic Education. This opportunity is a privilege to serve the mission of Catholic education," Mercs said. "Inspired by the Marianist charism, I want to form educators to be skilled in their profession and become deeply rooted in their faith. Through a spirit of collaboration we will continue to empower educators to become transformative leaders who educate both hearts and minds in the tradition of Mary’s enduring ‘yes’ to God’s call.”

Ali Carr-Chellman, dean of the School of Education and Health Sciences, said Mercs is uniquely positioned to elevate the Center’s national profile.

"Rhonda’s deep experience leading ECHO and her proven success in fundraising and grantsmanship make her the right person to lead the Center into its next chapter,” Carr-Chellman said. “Her work with the Peacemakers program has already raised ECHO’s visibility. We’re confident she will do the same for the entire Center for Catholic Education — not just in Ohio, but nationwide."

The Center for Catholic Education is supported by an endowment from Peggy and Victor Dubrowski. The center’s three flagship programs — ECHO, Lalanne and the Saint Remy Initiative — address critical needs in Catholic education. ECHO supports students’ well-being through counseling and social-emotional learning programs in 25 schools, reaching more than 7,600 children. Lalanne helps new teachers navigate their first years in under-resourced schools with mentorship, professional development and a supportive faith-based community. The Saint Remy Initiative strengthens Catholic identity by equipping school leaders to integrate faith across all subjects and create a distinctive Catholic learning environment.