Dr. Brian Nedwek Named President of Ohio Dominican University

March 14, 2008

Brian Nedwek, Ph.D.

COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Dominican University Board of Trustees has announced that Brian P. Nedwek, Ph.D. will serve as the university’s 14th president.

Dr. Nedwek will assume his presidential duties on July 1 of 2008.  

He currently serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs for Maryville University of St. Louis.  Maryville University was founded in 1872 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart, an order established in France by women dedicated to excellence in education. One of the oldest private institutions in the St. Louis region, Maryville was originally an academy for young women, before becoming a four-year college in 1923 and a university in 1991. Today, it is a private, co-educational liberal arts university, serving approximately 3,400 students.

In making the announcement, Monsignor Joseph H. Hendricks, Chairman of the ODU Board of Trustees, said, “The Board of Trustees welcomes a person of Dr. Nedwek’s vast educational experience and scholarship to lead us on our Path to Preeminence.  We look forward to our work with Dr. Nedwek as we continue to execute our University’s strategic plan.”

In accepting the offer to join Ohio Dominican University, Dr. Nedwek said, “ODU is a wonderful Catholic university with a deep commitment to the integration of liberal and professional learning.  Its sense of community engagement, coupled with a vibrant faculty, staff and student body, makes ODU poised for growth and preeminence.”

Dr. Nedwek has been with Maryville since May of 2004, when he joined the university as Vice President for Academic Affairs. In March 2006, be became acting president of the university, serving in that capacity until July 2007, and then serving once again as the university’s chief academic officer.

As academic vice president for Maryville, he led the successful 10-year reaccreditation of the university; launched a service learning initiative; began rebuilding the Honors program; launched a system wide academic program review; and expanded articulation agreements with area community colleges and local universities. Most recently he led the development of an integrated first-year experience program to strengthen retention and promote student engagement.

As acting president of Maryville, Dr. Nedwek led the development of a new Center for Teaching and Learning. He spurred the creation of a Black Box Theatre and created a partnership with the St. Louis Symphony that launched a successful outreach program.

In admissions, he initiated an Adult Student Task Force to identify program strategies to grow enrollment. In addition to focusing on the adult market, he initiated a study of ways to internationalize the academic environment through recruiting international students and strengthening study abroad opportunities for faculty and students.

Dr. Nedwek also served as vice provost of St. John’s University in New York; dean of  the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Detroit Mercy; and in various other academic and leadership positions for the Society for College and University Planning, and St. Louis University.

He holds a bachelor of arts in Political Science and a master of arts in Political Science, both from Marquette University; and a doctor of philosophy in Political Science, from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

He replaces Ohio Dominican Interim President Bishop James A. Griffin, who will retire in June after serving a one-year term.

Dr. Nedwek’s wife of 41 years, Judith Nedwek, is active in the Saint Louis community, and serves as the Vice President of Education for the Backers of the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. She is also involved in programming and membership development for the American Association of University Women, and serves on the advisory board of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps, a Catholic-based organization that attracts retired individuals to serve in community service.

The Nedweks are members of St. Francis Xavier Parish (College Church) in St. Louis and have served as leaders of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.) for St. Anselm’s Parish in St. Louis.

They have two daughters. Their daughter Elizabeth Grace and her husband Patrick Grace, reside in Lakewood, Ohio. Patrick is Executive Director of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland Foundation. Elizabeth and Patrick have three children, ages 2, 4 and 6. Elizabeth has been actively involved with Slavic Village and other redevelopment projects in the City of Cleveland. Their other daughter, Sarah Nedwek, is enrolled in the MFA program at Case Western Reserve University and resides in Shaker Heights, Ohio.