Fr. Holtschneider to step down in 2017

My dear colleagues and friends, Last Christmas, I spent the days before the New Year on retreat, reflecting on all that has been accomplished at DePaul. Many of the goals we set at the outset of my presidency for DePaul’s enrollment, finances, academic quality, new academic programs, facilities, alumni organization, national reputation and, most importantly, its Catholic and Vincentian mission have been achieved. We’ve done this together through two, six-year strategic plans. My intent had always been to conclude my service with the end of my contract in 2019. I realized, however, that this does not time well with DePaul’s planning cycle. We have work still to accomplish on Vision 2018, yet within a year it will be time to prepare the next set of university goals. Strategic plans are six-year affairs at DePaul, and the campaigns that fund them are often longer in duration. I believe, therefore, it’s best for DePaul if I step aside in the summer of 2017 so that a new leader can assist the institution to name and ambitiously pursue its next set of strategic objectives. This way, momentum will continue unabated. To do otherwise would put the university in the position of having one president define the next strategic direction for another president to manage or, if we waited until 2019, put the university into a holding pattern until then. My decision to step aside as president has been underway since my Christmas retreat. In late January, the provincial of my Vincentian congregation gave permission for this transition. I informed DePaul’s board leadership in March, at which time we decided to share this news more broadly at the conclusion of the academic year. The Office of the Secretary and board leadership interviewed and hired a search firm in early May. Please know I am not leaving for another position. While I will remain open to assignments after 2017, my present plan is to return to DePaul in my tenured faculty position following a year away from the institution to give the new president the breathing room he or she deserves. The leadership of the board of trustees will write the campus later today to describe the search process and invite the broad involvement that is DePaul’s custom. In the meantime, we have one more year together. I intend to use it aggressively not only to advance the Vision 2018 goals we set together several years ago, but also to work on the new goals emerging from our conversations about race and speech taking place these past weeks. I know I will look back on my years leading DePaul with overflowing gratitude. This is an extraordinary university by any measure, and that is primarily because of the people who make up this institution. St. Vincent often attributed the developments in his life to God’s providence, and that is the only category that can encompass my experience of having been invited into the DePaul community twelve years ago. As we enter into the “baker’s dozen” year of my presidency, know how proud and grateful I am to work alongside you every day. God bless you, Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M. President Source: President's Office email, June 13, 2016

Recent Letter from Fr. Holtschneider

A recent letter from Father Holtschneider to the DePaul Community:

Dear Colleagues, As I begin my five-month sabbatical at Harvard University later this week, I wanted to take a moment to wish you a terrific fall quarter. I am looking forward to shifting more of my time toward writing and teaching, and I will miss our community and all of you who make DePaul an extraordinary place. DePaul is in good hands as Dr. Patricia O’Donoghue assumes the interim presidency. I know she will benefit from DePaul’s highly capable senior team and that she will be able to count on all of you. Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work, which never fails to move my heart. Each summer, as we prepare the annual report on the university’s activities, I marvel at the many extraordinary initiatives which are growing and bettering this university in wonderful ways.  Even today, alumni tell me how much the university has changed “since their time,”and they’re right. All of this is your work. I look forward to returning to DePaul in January reinvigorated and ready to continue working alongside you. Please enjoy the rest of your summer and have a wonderful beginning to the 2014-15 academic year. God bless you, Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M. President Source: University email, July 29, 2014

Interim President and Interim Provost Announced

Dear Colleagues,

I’m writing to share a number of leadership decisions following the Board of Trustees meeting held over the weekend. 

1. After 10 years as president, I will be taking an academic leave this fall, from August 1 to December 31, 2014.  Harvard’s Graduate School of Education has offered me its revolving position of “president-in-residence,” where I’ll teach in a graduate course on leadership and governance in higher education and spend the bulk of my time working on a larger writing project.  I’m especially grateful to Dr. Judith McLaughlin, director of Harvard’s graduate program in higher education, for the invitation.  As some of you know, I’ve been privileged to teach in HGSE’s summer Management Development Program since 2008, and this is very much a homecoming for me.   
2. Dr. Patricia O’Donoghue will assume the role of interim president in my absence, and then plans to retire January 1, 2015.  Pat, as you know, has served as vice president for alumni outreach and engagement and interim provost at DePaul in recent years, but also served as chief academic officer of two other universities and as president at Mount Mary University in Milwaukee.    
3. Dr. David Miller will assume the role of interim provost for the 2014-2015 academic year, while retaining his position as dean of the College of Computing and Digital Media. 

During the recent consultation for an interim provost in the 2014-2015 year, Pat’s name rose constantly from all quarters of the university community, asking that she be reappointed for another year.  I spoke with Pat before meeting with our trustees, and she confirmed her intention to retire in January 2015, but agreed to accept this new role if asked.   I trust that your vote of confidence will follow her as she temporarily assumes the presidency. 

After Pat’s, David’s name was most frequent among the university community’s suggestions for interim provost.  A number of respondents spoke of the positive way in which he worked closely with faculty leadership these past two years to help draft a more effective faculty handbook, one that has received the strong endorsement of Faculty Council as each chapter received a vote of approval.  Others noted his quiet, steady leadership of CDM as dean and his long service and knowledge of the university.  I have relied on his knowledge at important moments over the years, finding his judgment balanced and wise.  I am glad that he received such a strong endorsement from the university community, and I know he and Pat will work together well when I am away.

I apologize that I was unable to inform you of my planned academic leave when I first consulted you on the question of selecting an interim provost.  This had to be affirmed by DePaul’s board at its March 1^stmeeting, and the announcement had to be coordinated with Harvard.  I simply couldn’t “announce” something that wasn’t yet finalized in all its aspects.  And yet, I wanted to know your thoughts as the board and I considered the leadership for the coming year. 

During the course of that consultation, more than a few faculty proposed that DePaul consider pushing the search for a new provost into the 2015-2016 academic year, to ensure a strong pool of candidates and to give the interim provost time to undertake and complete some of the more important initiatives before us.  I can see pros and cons to this, and so I welcome your thoughts on the matter.  David has made clear that he will not be a candidate for the permanent position, but that he is willing to serve until a permanent provost is chosen.  If you have thoughts on this question, please send them by April 7^th toSECRETARY@DEPAUL.EDU.    

Finally, I was aware of the campus conversations about whether I was considering applying for the open presidency of our sister school, St. John’s University, where I began my faculty career 25 years ago.  I love SJU, but I did not apply.  DePaul is an extraordinary place, filled with faculty and professional staff who are dedicated to our students and to the great educational mission this institution accomplishes each and every year.  I love our mission and am deeply committed to it.  Even more, I love being part of a community with all of you.  While I am taking time next fall for some writing and relaxation, I am also looking forward to returning with redoubled energy to work alongside you. 

With gratitude and respect for all you do for this great institution,

Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M.
President

Source: Email to DePaul Community, March 5, 2014

Administrative Changes at DePaul

Dear Colleagues,  

Last week, DePaul's Board of Trustees approved the goals set forth in the 2018 Strategic Plan. That Plan will continue to be developed throughout this summer, with an official launch date set for Friday, September 14, 2012. This new strategic plan affords us an opportunity to embark on new programs and initiatives and, in many areas, set a new course. To that end, the Board discussed a number of personnel changes at the senior-leadership level, which I would like to share with you. 

-- As of July 1 our Provost, Helmut Epp, will step down. Vice President for Alumni Engagement and former President of Mount Mary College, Pat O'Donoghue, will act as interim provost while we conduct a search for the next provost. Trustee Connie Curran is chairing a 15-member committee to identify the nation's best candidates for DePaul's next chief academic officer. She is joined by Trustees Mary Dempsey, Roberto Herencia, Lori Holland and Fr. Mark Pranaitis, four faculty, two staff members, one dean and a representative each from the President's Office and Academic Affairs. A request for proposal is ready to be issued, and the committee is poised to select a search firm. 

-- As of July 1, two key staff members will add vice president to their titles. Jay Braatz will become vice president for Planning and Presidential Administration, while Bob McCormick will become vice president for Information Services. These promotions reflect the value of their contributions to the university over many years. 

-- Our Deputy General Counsel, Kathryn Stieber, became interim vice president for Human Resources in March. We have appointed a search committee to fill the position on a permanent basis. It includes faculty and staff representation and is chaired by Jeff Bethke, the university treasurer. The committee has begun its search, and we hope to fill the position by late summer or early fall. 

-- Senior Vice President for Advancement, Mary Finger, is preparing to replace the vice president for Development position vacated by David Lively in January. Mary expects to have a candidate in the role by the end of the calendar year. 

-- J.D. Bindenagel, our vice president for the Office of Community, Government and International Affairs, will be moving to a new role as special advisor in the Office of the President beginning July 1 for a one-year appointment. J.D. will advise me on a wide variety of important, global issues, especially as we strive to expand our students' global perspectives under our new 2018 Strategic Plan. He will maintain an office in the Driehaus College of Commerce. Peter Coffey, director of Government Affairs, will be promoted to associate vice president and will assume responsibility for the department. 

-- Cynthia Lawson joined the DePaul family on April 2 as vice president for the Office of Public Relations and Communications. Before Joining DePaul, Cindy served in similar senior-leadership positions at several institutions, including the University of North Carolina Wilmington, the University of North Carolina and Texas A & M University. 

Sincerely, Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M. President 

Sent out by Mission and Values, via email, May 25, 2012