Baenninger received a
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Psychology from
Temple University in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After serving as a psychology professor on the faculty of
The College of New Jersey (formerly
Trenton State College) in
Ewing, New Jersey, and as an executive associate director with the
Middle States Commission on Higher Education in Philadelphia, Baenninger was appointed as president of the
College of Saint Benedict in
Saint Joseph, Minnesota in 2004. During her tenure at the private Roman Catholic college for women, Baenninger was "credited with building out the school’s study abroad programs, attracting international students and supporting undergraduate research. She also won praise for diversifying the student body and more than doubling the school’s endowment." In February 2014, Drew University's board of trustees chose Baenninger as Drew's 13th president and first full-term female president. She succeeded Vivian A. Bull, president emerita of
Linfield University, who as president for the interim had replaced
Robert Weisbuch after he stepped down as the university's 11th president in June 2012. The Drew Board of Trustees formally recognized Bull as the university's 12th president prior to her retirement in July 2014. On May 18, 2020 the Drew Board of Trustees announced that by mutual decision Baenninger would step down as Drew president on July 31, 2020. On July 14, 2020 the Drew Board of Trustees announced that Thomas J. Schwarz, president emeritus of
SUNY Purchase, would succeed Baenninger on August 1, 2020 as interim president. Baenninger serves as a commissioner on the
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) and is the past chair and a member of the executive committee of the
Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). Baenninger was married to the late Ronald Baenninger, a former Temple University psychology professor. ==Published writings==