College of St. Benedict St. John’s University Names New President

(KNSI) —The College of Saint Benedict Saint John’s University has a new president.

School officials say Brian J. Bruess, Ph.D. has been chosen as the first president of both institutions. Bruess has served as president of St. Norbert College, a nationally renowned Catholic liberal arts school in De Pere, Wisconsin, since 2017. Before becoming president at St. Norbert, Bruess spent 21 years in a variety of roles at St. Catherine University, a Catholic liberal arts women’s institution in St. Paul, Minnesota. That included more than three years as the school’s executive vice president and chief operating officer.

According to a press release from the school says Bruess was unanimously chosen by the Boards of Trustees following a nationwide search.

In the press release, Bruess says he is “deeply humbled to be entrusted with this momentous and consequential opportunity. For nearly 30 years I have studied and admired Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s. Both are nationally recognized for offering a profoundly impactful educational experience, for generating exceptional learning outcomes, and for producing principled and action-oriented graduates who contribute to the betterment of society.

“I relish the opportunity to play a role in continuing the traditions of excellence and community found on both campuses, while at the same time harnessing our collective power to move forward in bold new ways that I believe can serve as a national model of cooperation, togetherness and superior educational quality.”

Bruess officially takes over on July 1st, 2022.

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