Leanna Fenneberg

Dr. Leanna Fenneberg serves as Senior Vice President for Student Life at Duquesne University, where she provides leadership for a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services that support student success, belonging, engagement and well-being, and overall campus safety.  As a proud first-generation graduate, she believes in the power of education to transform lives. A NASPA Pillar of the Profession, she brings more than 25 years of experience in higher education and student affairs and a deep commitment to advancing the potential of every student through a holistic, relationship-centered approach to the student experience. 

Leanna's leadership is grounded in servant leadership, collaborative partnership, and the belief that learning and development extend across the full collegiate experience. At Duquesne, she is particularly committed to bringing the University's Catholic and Spiritan mission to life through the ways students are known, supported, challenged and inspired to use their gifts in service to others. Her connection to mission-centered education spans both her personal and professional journey. She earned two of her three degrees at Catholic universities and has spent more than two decades of her career serving Catholic higher education institutions. Her scholarly interests also reflect this commitment, with doctoral research focused on the spiritual development of college students. 

Across her career, Leanna has provided leadership across the full spectrum of functional areas that support the lives of students.  Prior to joining Duquesne in 2024, she served as Acting Vice Provost for Student Life at Creighton University and Vice President for Student Affairs at Rider University. She began her career at Saint Louis University, where she served for 18 years in progressively responsible leadership roles, including ten years as Assistant Vice President for Student Development where she led campus-wide student success initiatives. 

Leanna is an active national leader in the student affairs profession. She has served on the NASPA Board of Directors as Director of Knowledge Communities, co-chaired the Women in Student Affairs and Student Affairs Partnering with Academic Affairs Knowledge Communities, and directed the Alice Manicur Symposium for women and non-binary professionals aspiring to senior student affairs leadership. Her professional contributions also include peer-reviewed publications, numerous national presentations, and teaching in master's and doctoral programs in higher education administration. 

Her commitment to service extends beyond higher education to the communities in which she lives and works. Leanna has served on nonprofit boards including the Central Institute for the Deaf and the Mercer Council on Alcoholism and Drug Addiction and volunteered for two decades with Shriners Hospitals for Children. In Pittsburgh, she was recognized as the American Heart Association's 2026 Woman of Impact and Leadership Pittsburgh's Class XLIII. 

• Ph.D., Higher Education Administration, Saint Louis University 
• M.S., Student Personnel Services, University of South Carolina 
• B.A., Broadcast & Electronic communication and psychology, Marquette University