IWA announces new President and CEO

Incarnate Word Academy is proud to announce Sammie H. Grunwald as its fourth president and CEO in the school’s 144-year history. She officially began June and assumed the role as president and CEO on July 1.

Grunwald previously served in Catholic healthcare as the Foundation’s Manager of Annual Giving and Marketing for CHRISTUS Spohn Health System. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in marketing and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in Catholic School Leadership. She has taught at the college level as an adjunct professor and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive.

In addition, Grunwald has served on numerous boards and committees in the community and the Diocese of Corpus Christi including the IWA School Board, Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi and the Mother Teresa Shelter.

As a parent of IWA alumna Hannah Grunwald ’12, and parishioner of St. Pius X Catholic Church, she understands and appreciates the value of a quality Catholic education.

“IWA does a wonderful job of graduating well-rounded, community-minded members of society and I am very fortunate that my daughter, Hannah, is one of them.”

Looking forward to her first year as IWA president and CEO, Grunwald says, “I have the greatest respect for Incarnate Word Academy and love for the Sisters and feel very blessed to be able to lead this remarkable team as we continue to build programs and facilities that strengthen our mission to reflect Jesus the teacher.”

Grunwald succeeds Charles D. Imbergamo, who had been at IWA since 2009 before accepting the position of president and CEO of Cristo Rey Tampa High School in Tampa, Florida. The first IWA president, named in 1988, was Sister Martha Ann Snapka, IWBS (currently IWA Planned Giving Officer and Foundation Liaison) and the second president was Sister Anna Marie Espinosa, IWBS (currently Director of Vocations for the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament).