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Biography of Rev. Robert L. Niehoff, S.J.
The 24th President of John Carroll University

Father Robert L. Niehoff, S.J., a vice president at the University of San Francisco (USF), was appointed the 24th president of John Carroll University during a special meeting of the university's board of directors on April 7, 2005.

Father Niehoff, a Jesuit priest, will replace Father Edward Glynn, S.J., who last December announced his plans to retire once his successor was in place. Father Glynn has served as John Carroll's president since 1998. Father Niehoff, 51, currently serves as vice president for planning and budget and associate provost for academic affairs at the University of San Francisco. He is expected to officially assume the presidency sometime in early fall 2005.

"The appointment of Father Niehoff marks the successful conclusion of a national search that began when Father Edward Glynn expressed his desire to make way for fresh leadership that would continue the extraordinary progress of the university," said John Carroll Board of Directors Chair Charles "Bud" Koch, chairman of Charter One Bank, N.A. "In Father Niehoff we've found that leader. He is an experienced executive and a spiritual leader committed to the highest values of Jesuit education. The board looks forward to working hand-in-hand with Father Niehoff as he provides the administrative, academic and spiritual leadership John Carroll needs to continue to offer excellent education to its students and to serve the Greater Cleveland community. I would like to especially thank Vincent A. Chiarucci, the former John Carroll chairman of the board of directors and retired president and CEO of Figgie International, Inc., for the direction and leadership he provided while working on the presidential search committee."

In addition, Mr. Koch expressed the board's deep appreciation for the leadership of Father Glynn. "Father Glynn provided the university with solid leadership and helped prepare it to face current and future challenges. Under Father Glynn's leadership, the university completed its largest development campaign to date and erected the Dolan Center for Science and Technology and Don Shula Stadium. We are grateful for his leadership and commitment to John Carroll over the years."

"Since my initial interview for the position of university president began, I have been impressed by the sense of community and commitment at John Carroll," said Father Niehoff. "I am looking forward with great anticipation to learning more about the JCU community and joining with it to successfully achieve the university's common mission."

"My experience has centered on inclusiveness and transparency in decision-making," said Father Niehoff, "and a large piece of that process is the ability to actively engage the university community in the process, including faculty, staff, administrators, students, alumni and the board."

"By creating these avenues of communication, we will define our goals as a university and continue to define our common mission," said Father Niehoff. "Engagement of the entire JCU community means learning together how best to respond to the community around us and fulfill the Jesuit mission which calls us to help build a kingdom in which justice is a reality for all people."

Prior to joining the University of San Francisco in 1996, Father Niehoff worked in higher education, non-profit organizations, and church and Jesuit community administration.

Father Niehoff joined the Society of Jesus in 1972 and completed a B.A. degree in philosophy, two master's degrees in theology, an MBA at the University of Washington, and a Ph.D. at Gonzaga University located in Spokane, Washington. Since ordination in 1982, he has served as: treasurer of the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley; associate treasurer of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus; financial officer of the Archdiocese of Nassau, in the Bahamas; financial analyst, co-director for Mission and Identity, and assistant to the vice president for Student Life at Gonzaga University. Joining USF in 1996 as associate dean in the School of Education, he became associate provost in fall 2000. In January of 2002, he was given the additional title and duties of vice president, planning and budget.

Father Niehoff is currently on the board of directors at Wheeling Jesuit University, where he also serves on the board of trustees, the executive committee, and is chairperson of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee. He is a member of the Academic Affairs and Finance Committees of Saint Louis University's board of trustees and a member of the University Mission and Financial and Business Affairs Committees of Regis University's board of trustees. He also serves on the board and as chair of the Audit Committee of the board of directors of the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology and serves on the Finance Committee of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus where he also chairs the Audit Committee. Prior board service includes: the board of directors, Gonzaga Preparatory School; board of members, Gonzaga Preparatory School and Gonzaga University; Oregon Province Spirituality Commission and Secondary Schools Commission.

John Carroll University, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a liberal arts university grounded in the Jesuit, Catholic tradition. The university has some 3,350 plus undergraduates and just over 750 graduate students. The U.S. News & World Report's 2005 annual college guide ranks John Carroll University among the top five master's-degree-granting universities in the Midwest and first in graduation/retention rank. Originally founded as St. Ignatius College in 1886, the university was renamed in 1923 to honor America 's first Catholic bishop, John Carroll of Maryland. John Carroll is one of 28 Jesuit colleges and universities located in the United States.

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