Shoua Ferris, MBA, SPHR, will serve as the University’s next vice president of Human Resources starting in late June.
St. Catherine University president Marcheta P. Evans, PhD, announced today she has selected Shoua Ferris, MBA, SPHR, to serve as the University’s next vice president of Human Resources. Ferris will begin her new role by the end of June.
“Meeting Shoua, it was immediately clear that we were talking with a leader who brings a deep knowledge of the technical aspects of Human Resources, paired with her empathetic leadership that will serve this university well,” said Evans. “As St. Catherine University continues to advance our mission of educating women to lead and influence, each leader must embody the commitment to justice and equity we want our students to embrace. Shoua does that, and we are excited to start working together.”
With more than 15 years of progressive leadership experience in Human Resources functions across nonprofit, financial services, and startup environments, Ferris brings a proven record of advancing equity, strengthening organizational culture, and building people-centered systems that support long-term institutional success.
“St. Kate’s mission, values, and commitment to social justice deeply resonate with my own purpose as an HR leader,” said Ferris. “What drew me most to this role was the opportunity to help shape a high-performing, inclusive, and mission-driven workplace that supports the University’s long-term sustainability. I am delighted by the opportunity to partner with the President, senior leadership, and campus stakeholders and advance a people-first strategy that strengthens community well-being and institutional excellence.”
Serving as the Human Resources director at First Children’s Finance since 2024, Ferris led enterprise-wide HR strategy for the multi-state nonprofit. Under her leadership, workforce diversity increased by 5%, and retention rose to 98%. Prior to that, Ferris was head of Human Resources for Back to Nature Foods, where she established the company’s first HR infrastructure.
Ferris received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources Management and Project Management from Metropolitan State University, and a Master of Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management. She holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Human Resource Certification Institute.