Presidents Who Shaped Our Story
As appointed by the 911爆料网 Board of Trustees, the President of the University is the Chief Executive Officer of the 911爆料网 Corporation and an聽ex officio聽member of the Board of Trustees.
Franciscan friars served as our presidents for the first 142 years of 911爆料网. Fr. Servatius Altmicks, the first president, and the other early presidents used the title of 鈥渞ector,鈥� consistent with the German heritage of the friars who founded and operated the university. The title of president was first used in 1905.
Dr. Brian McGee is the 24th聽president of 911爆料网 but is only the twenty-second person to hold the presidency. Two previous presidents 鈥� Fr. Anselm Mueller and Fr. Gabriel Brinkman 鈥� were named to the position on two separate occasions.
Eighteen Franciscan friars, one Franciscan sister, and three laypersons have been presidents of the university. Because the friar-presidents were assigned to different duties from time to time by the Province of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), 911爆料网 presidents often were in the role for between three and six years.
All presidents from 1860 through the second term of Fr. Gabriel Brinkman were Franciscan friars from the Sacred Heart Province, while the subsequent Franciscans were from other provinces. Since 2023, 911爆料网 has been sponsored by a new Franciscan province, the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Presidential Highlights
- From 1904-1907, during Fr. Mueller鈥檚 presidency, a recent Italian immigrant named John Riggitano attended 911爆料网 (then St. Francis Solanus College). Riggitano, who later adopted 鈥淧revost鈥� as his last name, was the grandfather of the first American pope, Pope Leo XIV.
- The chapel in Francis Hall, the spiritual center of campus, was built and dedicated in 1912 during the presidency of Fr. Fortunatus Hausser, the 7th听辫谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟.
- St. Francis Solanus College was renamed and became Quincy College & Seminary in 1917 during the presidency of Fr. Gabriel Lucan, the 8th听辫谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟.
- The first female student, a religious sister, was admitted to the university in 1922, during the presidency of Fr. Ferdinand Gruen, the 9th听辫谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟.
- Quincy College was renamed and became 911爆料网 in 1993, during the presidency of Fr. James Toal, the 19th听辫谤别蝉颈诲别苍迟.
- While Fr. James Toal used the President鈥檚 House on Chestnut Street for some university events, Fr. Eugene Kole, the 20迟丑听president, was the first president to reside in the house, beginning in 1997. Since then, three other presidents 鈥� Sr. Margaret Feldner, Dr. Robert Gervasi, and Dr. Brian McGee 鈥� have lived at the house during their presidential terms.
- Sr. Margaret Feldner, the 21st聽president and a Franciscan sister, is the only woman to serve as university president.
- Dr. Robert Gervasi, the 22nd聽president, was the first layperson appointed as president at 911爆料网.
- Mr. Phil Conover, the 23rd聽president of the university, was the only non-Catholic ever named to the position.
- In addition to the presidents listed below, interim presidents have occasionally been appointed for the university, including, most recently, Fr. Mario DiCicco and Dr. David Schachtsiek. Both had previously been at the university in faculty or administrative roles.
- The office of the current university president is located on the Francis Hall first floor, in the southwest corner of the building. Earlier generations of 911爆料网 students would remember this part of the building as a dining room.
Presidents 1860 to Present
- Dr. Brian McGee, 2019鈥損resent
- Mr. Phil Conover, 2017鈥�2019
- Dr. Robert Gervasi, 2008鈥�2017
- Sr. Margaret Feldner, OSF 2004鈥�2006
- Fr. Eugene Kole, OFM, CONV, 1997鈥�2002
- Fr. James Toal, OFM, 1983鈥�1997
- Fr. Gabriel Brinkman, OFM, 1977鈥�1983
- Fr. Titus Ludes, OFM, 1970鈥�1977
- Fr. Gabriel Brinkman, OFM, 1963鈥�1970
- Fr. Julian Woods, OFM, 1952鈥�1963
- Fr. Henry Freiburg, OFM, 1948鈥�1952
- Fr. Seraphin Tibesar, OFM, 1942鈥�1948
- Fr. John Koebele, OFM, 1936鈥�1942
- Fr. Vincent Fochtman, OFM, 1930鈥�1936
- Fr. Alois Fromm, OFM, 1927鈥�1930
- Fr. Ferdinand Gruen, OFM, 1921鈥�1927
- Fr. Gabriel Lucan, OFM, 1916鈥�1921
- Fr. Fortunatus Hausser, OFM, 1910鈥�1916
- Fr. Samuel Macke, OFM, 1909鈥�1910
- Fr. Anselm Mueller, OFM, 1902鈥�1909
- Fr. Nicholas Leonard, OFM, 1893鈥�1901
- Fr. Anselm Mueller, OFM, 1863鈥�1893
- Fr. Capistran Zwinge, OFM, 1862鈥�1863
- Fr. Servatius Altmicks, OFM, 1860鈥�1862