The Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) announced that Fr.  Dennis Holtschneider, CM will become its next president in 2019. The goal of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities is to strengthen and promote the Catholic mission and identity of its member campuses, through the many resources, programs and services that it offers.

Among other things, the Association points to something that would be dear to the heart of St. Vincent. They move students from the bottom 20% of income distribution to the top 20% of income distribution. This is better than any other sector of higher education.

Fr. Holtschneider was listed among Diversity MBA Magazine’s “Top 100 under 50” for fostering Diverse Executive Leaders, and holds various recognitions for his work on national immigration reform. It goes without saying that Vincent dePaul would also be proud of this follower of his.

All of us associated with the mission Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission to bring Good News to the Poor” offer our congratulations and prayer.

Fr. Holtschneider will be stepping down from his position as executive vice president and chief operations officer for Ascension, the world’s largest Catholic health system, which he joined in 2017. He served as president of DePaul University in Chicago, the nation’s largest Catholic university, from 2004 to 2017. In his 13 years he led DePaul to unprecedented growth not only in numbers but national prestige.

He currently chairs the Niagara University Board of Trustees and the Institute of Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California. He has served on the boards of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the American Council on Education, and ACCU, which he chaired from 2010 to 2012. He currently chairs the Niagara University Board of Trustees and the Institute of Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of
Southern California.

“Dennis brings with him unparalleled experience with and commitment to ACCU,” said Thomas Mengler, J.D., president of St. Mary’s University in Texas, and chair of the ACCU Board of Directors. “He is known and respected by our member presidents, as well as those beyond the world of Catholic higher education, for his depth of thought and his unwavering commitment to Catholic mission. He will bring great vision to ACCU.”

He holds eight honorary degrees attesting to the acclaim of his peers.

Read the press release.