We thank God for our Prioress Sister Nicole Kunze! We look forward to your leadership as we serve God's people now and into the future! God bless you, always!
Following a period of prayer and discernment, the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, Bismarck, have re-elected Sister Nicole Kunze, OSB, as prioress. Sister Nicole began her ministry as prioress after succeeding Sister Nancy Miller in 2016. She has served a four-year and a six-year term consecutively. In a process led by the Holy Spirit, she has agreed to serve another six-year term.
Directly following election, Sister Nicole was formally re-installed as prioress on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in the presence of the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery and election facilitator, Sister Kimberly Porter of St. Walburg Monastery, Covington, Ky., and Sister Nancy Bauer of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minn., and president of the Monastic Congregation of Saint Benedict.
“I am deeply humbled by the trust my monastic community has placed in me to serve another six years,” shares Sister Nicole. “As prioress, I appreciate the relationships I have with each sister, and I am grateful that these women support me. I continue to learn from their wisdom, holiness, and lived experience. I have grown in my faith and understanding of our monastic life, the richness of the Benedictine charism here and around the world, and our sponsored ministries. I cherish and appreciate the love and prayerful support surrounding me.”
Born and raised near Valley City, N.D., to Allen and Marilyn Kunze, Sister Nicole is the oldest of three children. She became acquainted with the Sisters of Annunciation Monastery as a student at the University of Mary where she received her undergraduate degree in biology. Sister Nicole earned a Ph.D. in chemical education from the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colo. At graduation, she was presented with the Graduate Dean’s Citation for Outstanding Dissertation. She completed ten years of service at the University of Mary where she was associate professor of chemistry. Sister Nicole was honored with the University of Mary Regents’ Award for Teaching Faculty in 2011. Sister Nicole was conferred an honorary doctoral degree from Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa.
A member of Annunciation Monastery since 1996, Sister Nicole taught chemistry and biology at St. Mary’s Central High School for five years prior to attending graduate school. Within the monastery, Sister Nicole serves on the monastic council, sponsorship council and finance council. Sister Nicole will continue to provide leadership in the Sisters’ sponsored ministries: CHI St. Alexius Health, the University of Mary and Ministry on the Margins. She serves as president of the board at the University of Mary, vice president of the Ministry on the Margins Board of Directors, and Secretary/Treasurer for the CHI St. Alexius Health Board of Directors. Sister Nicole is vice president of the Monastic Congregation of St. Benedict council and is the immediate past chair of the Conference of Benedictine Prioresses.
As the spiritual and administrative leader of the monastic community, Sister Nicole will guide the sisters in the implementation of their long-range plan. “I am excited about the directions our community has chosen for the futures,” she says.
Sister Nicole, age 53, is an avid sports fan of the Minnesota Twins, the Minnesota Vikings and the University of Mary Marauders. She enjoys walking, riding bike and looking for wildflowers.
“Our sisters came to Dakota Territory to serve the needs of the people, and we will continue to serve out of that courageous spirit into the future. We continue to invite women to be open to God’s call in their own lives to become sisters. As monastic women, we strive to deepen our spirituality and enrich the lives of others through prayer and service,” said Sister Nicole.
