Dominican University President Donna Carroll has received the 2017 Villager of the Year Award from the Wednesday Journal.

Carroll was honored primarily for her support of undocumented students, her leadership regarding the university's sanctuary campus resolution, and her role in inspiring the Village of River Forest's adoption of a welcoming ordinance protecting undocumented individuals. She was also commended for her solid leadership of the university during her 24-year tenure. The university recently was ranked in the top 20 Midwest regional universities by US News & World Report.