Rev. Timothy Lannon named president of Creighton University
Creighton University
September 11, 2010
The Creighton University Board of Directors has elected the Rev. Timothy R. Lannon, S.J., as the University’s 24th president. Fr. Lannon, currently president of Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, will assume his new position at Creighton on July 1, 2011, succeeding the Rev. John P. Schlegel, S. J., who will step down after a highly successful presidency spanning 11 years.
“The members of the Board of Directors are delighted that Fr. Lannon, a 1973 Creighton graduate, has accepted our invitation to bring his considerable talents home to his alma mater,” said Creighton University Board of Directors Chair William Fitzgerald. “We were looking for a leader with a passion for education, who also can advance the University within the framework of the current mission and values—and we found him in the person of Fr. Lannon.”
“Fr. Lannon’s commitment to scholarship, research, teaching and service to others in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition is not only the essence of his character, but central to Creighton’s ongoing pursuit of academic preeminence,” Fitzgerald added.
“We set a very high bar for what we wanted and expected in our next president, including academic excellence, executive leadership, fundraising experience and more,” said vice chair of the Creighton Board of Directors and chair of the Presidential Search Committee Bruce Rohde. “Fr. Lannon is a perfect fit.”
A nationally respected university administrator, Fr. Lannon has served as president of Saint Joseph’s University since 2003. Under his leadership, Saint Joseph’s created a university-wide strategic plan, enhanced the campus infrastructure and footprint, doubled the University’s endowment and launched the most successful fundraising campaign in its history. Collectively, these and other achievements generated national recognition for the university and its pursuit of educational excellence.
During Fr. Lannon’s tenure, Saint Joseph’s added faculty chairs and student scholarships and expanded service-learning and online curriculum opportunities, boosting the university’s academic profile. Previously, Fr. Lannon served as an associate executive vice president and vice president for University Advancement at Marquette University. He also was recognized at Marquette for his ability to build strong relationships with alumni, parents, friends and donors.
