Leadership

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

Prioress General - Sister Dawn Annette Mills, OSB

Sister Dawn Annette is a native of Hobart, Indiana, 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, California, and has also taken courses at St. Louis University and at the University of Notre Dame. She has also served as director of development, director of the correspondence department, as a pastoral minister and managed the altar bread department. She served as prioress of the Tucson community for six years and as its oblate director for almost 10 years. An accomplished writer, she is a member of the editorial staff for “Spirit&Life” magazine and author of the book, “The Gospel According to Dawn.” Sr. Dawn Annette is serving a 2nd 6 year terms as prioress general.

Assistant Prioress General - Sister Pat Nyquist, OSB

A native of Moorhead, Minn., Sister Pat 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 has served as treasurer general, Clyde prioress and prioress general and led the congregation's formation program.

General Councilor and Development Director - Sister Nancy Rose Gucwa, OSB

New York native Sister Nancy Rose grew up on Staten Island and was a member of the first class to admit women at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. She served in the military as a paratrooper and later worked in the banking and financial industries before entering religious life in 2006. She made her final monastic profession in 2013. During her time in community, Sister Nancy Rose has worked in the altar bread business office and in the correspondence department in the past. She has served as development director since 2014. 

General Councilor - Sister Colleen Maura McGrane, OSB

Sister Colleen Maura is a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She earned a degree in Music Therapy from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. Prior to entering the community, she worked as a music therapist and in retreat ministry. She entered in 1994 and made final monastic profession in 2000. She has worked in vocation ministry, liturgy and most recently as archivist for the congregation. She is also the editor of the monastic journal, "American Benedictine Review," and is currently translating from French into English Adalbert De Vogue's commentary on the Rule of St. Benedict.