Xavier Presidents: Past and Present

Colleen M. Hanycz, PhD

Colleen M. Hanycz, PhD, currently serves as president of Xavier University
Colleen M. Hanycz, PhD, was appointed the 35th President of Xavier University on July 1, 2021, the first layperson and first woman President since Xavier's founding in 1831. Prior to her Xavier appointment, President Hanycz served presidential terms at both La Salle University in Philadelphia (2015-2021) and Brescia University College in London, Canada (2008-2015).

Rev. Michael J. Graham

Rev. Michael J. Graham, S.J., served as president of Xavier University from 2001 to 2021
Thirty-fourth president Rev. Michael J. Graham held several academic and administrative positions throughout his time at Xavier University. President Graham asserted that “the mission of Xavier remains today what it has ever been...to form students intellectually, morally, and spiritually, with rigor and compassion, toward lives of solidarity and service.”

Rev. James E. Hoff

Rev. James E. Hoff, S.J., served as president of Xavier University from 1991- 2000
Prior to Xavier, thirty-third president Rev. James F. Hoff held several administrative and academic positions at Creighton University. The Hoff Dining Commons was built and named in memory of Fr. Hoff.

Rev. Albert Joseph DiUlio

Rev. Albert Joseph DiUlio, S.J., served as president of Xavier University from 1986-1990
Thirty-second president Rev. Albert J. DiUlio was later president of Marquette University and was the founder of the Ethiopian Catholic University in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. DiUlio advocated an enlarged endowment and the Cornerstone Campaign occurred during his presidency.

Rev. Charles L. Currie, S.J.

Rev. Charles L. Currie, S.J., served as president of Xavier University from 1982-1985
Thirty-first president Rev. Charles L. Currie previously served as president of Wheeling College and after Xavier he served as president of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU). Currie advocated the development of a more up-to-date mission statement and the study of space, facility, and academic needs. During his time, Xavier saw additional computerization and a more advanced telephone system.

Rev. Robert W. Mulligan

Rev. Robert W. Mulligan, S.J., served as president of Xavier University from 1972-1982
Thirtieth president Rev. Robert W. Mulligan completed a PhD at Louvain University and post-doctoral studies at the Sorbonne in Paris. Fr. Mulligan believed “Xavier should be a place where not only should we learn, but a place where we should love, and a place where we should love to be.”

Rev. Paul L. O’Connor

Rev. Paul L. O’Connor, S.J., served as president of Xavier University from 1955-1972
Twenty-ninth president Rev. Paul O'Connor served as Dean of Freshmen at the University of Detroit and served in the Navy Chaplain Corps during World War II. As president of Xavier University for 17 years he was responsible for erecting 10 buildings.

Rev. James F. Maguire

Rev. James F. Maguire, S.J., served as president of Xavier University from 1949-1955
Twenty-eighth president Rev. James F. Maguire served as president of West Baden Seminary. After his term at Xavier he served as president of Loyola University. In 1970 he became chancellor of Loyola University. While assuming the presidency at Xavier University, Maguire also became pastor of Bellarmine Chapel.

Rev. Celestin J. Steiner

Rev. Celestin J. Steiner, S.J., served as president of Xavier University from 1940-1949
Twenty-seventh president Rev. Celestin J. Steiner was president of St. Xavier High School. After his term at Xavier he was appointed president of the University of Detroit. Recognizing the problem of wartime student enrollment, Fr. Steiner wrote to military officials to offer the University as a setting for a government training program.

Rev. Dennis F. Burns

Rev. Dennis F. Burns, S.J., served as president of Xavier University from 1935-1940
Twenty-sixth president Rev. Dennis F. Burns was regent and professor of jurisprudence at Loyola University School of Law. After leaving Xavier he was professor of philosophy at John Carroll University.

Rev. Hugo F. Sloctemyer

Rev. Hugo F. Sloctemyer, S.J., served as president of Xavier University from 1931-1935
Twenty-fifth president Rev. Hugo F. Sloctemyer served as Dean of Men at St. Louis University and President of St. Ignatius High School before coming to Xavier. Fr. Sloctemyer had a strong interest in geology and spent four summers in the mountains as a member of geological expeditions.

Rev. Hubert F. Brockman

Rev. Hubert F. Brockman, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1923-1931
During Twenty-fourth president Rev. Hubert F. Brockman’s term at Xavier, Elet Hall, the library, and Bellarmine chapel were built. The Union House was remodeled. The stadium campaign was initiated. The liberal arts, teachers, and commerce colleges were also expanded. It seemed only fitting that Fr. Brockman’s term of presidency should end with the changing of the name of the institution from St. Xavier College to Xavier University.

Rev. James J. McCabe

Rev. James J. McCabe, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1917-1923
Twenty-third president Rev. James McCabe pioneered the inclusion of women in 1909. While at Xavier, he began construction on the Avondale property (1919) and admitted women into the Teacher’s College and School of Commerce. The United States declared war against Germany on April 6, 1917. This resulted in military training offered on St. Xavier College campus.

Rev. Francis Heiermann, S.J.

Rev. Francis Heiermann, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1911-1917
Twenty-second president Rev. Francis Heiermann served as president of St. John’s University prior to his term at Xavier. While at Xavier he purchased the Avondale property (1911). Fr. Heiermann was described as “a man of spare build but great energy.”

Rev. Joseph Grimmelsman, S.J.

Rev. Joseph Grimmelsman, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1908-1911
Twenty-first president Rev. Joseph Grimmelsman served also as president of Marquette University and St. Louis University. Major Event: The Sycamore Street fire (December, 1910) was the worst and longest fire in Cincinnati’s history. The estimated damage was $2,546,000.

Rev. Albert J. Dierckes, S.J.

Rev. Albert J. Dierckes, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1901-1908
Twentieth president Rev. Albert A. Dierckes primarily served as a missionary. He died October 8, 1914, in Superior, WI while beginning a new college and serving as pastor of St. Patrick Church. Football came to Ohio about 1890, and in 1902 the St. Xavier team won the Inter-Scholastic championship.

Rev. Michael O’Connor, S.J.

Rev. Michael O’Connor, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1897-1901
Nineteenth president Rev. Michael J. O'Connor served as associate editor of America, the Catholic weekly. He was also pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church. Fr. O’Connor established the scholarship endowment fund in order for “the four college classes of St. Xavier College, and the Philosophy Class” to be declared “free for all time to come.”

Rev. Alexander J. Burrowes, S.J.

Rev. Alexander J. Burrowes, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1893-1897
Eighteenth president Rev. Alexander J. Burrowes, S.J., was president of Marquette College, St. Ignatius College, and St. Louis University. He also served as provincial of the Missouri Province from 1912-1919. Fr. Burrowes initiated the first post graduate coursework in Philosophy and Literature.

Rev. Henry Schapman, S.J.

Rev. Henry Schapman, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1887-1893
Seventeenth president Rev. Henry Schapman studied at St. Louis University. He served as vice-president of St. Louis University and after his term at Xavier served as president of Detroit University. Fr. Schapman served as president of St. Xavier College during the centennial celebration of the city of Cincinnati.

Rev. Henry Moeller, S.J.

Rev. Henry Moeller, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1884-1885
Fifteenth president Rev. Henry Moeller was the first alumnus of St. Xavier College to become its president. He also served as spiritual director of the Jesuit community at the University of Detroit. Fr. Moeller’s chief contribution to change was that he supervised the construction of a large addition to the faculty building (later called the Moeller Building). Fr. Moeller was also Archbishop of Cincinnati from 1902-1925.

Rev. John I. Coghlan, S.J.

Rev. John I. Coghlan, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1881-1884
Fourteenth president Rev. John Coghlan studied at St. Louis University. Following his ordination, he primarily served as a missionary until 1893. In addition to his term at Xavier, he also served as pastor of St. Mary’s Church. Major Event: During the night of Holy Thursday April 7th 1882, a fire of unknown origin consumed St. Xavier Church.

Rev. Rudolph J. Meyer, S.J.

Rev. Rudolph J. Meyer, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1879-1881
Thirteenth president Rev. Rudolph J. Meyer studied at St. Louis University. He was also president of St. Louis University and Marquette University. Fr. Meyer had to be concerned with his regular academic duties, introductions to new programs, and solutions to problems like attending to the leaky roof of the Athenaeum.

Rev. Edward A. Higgins, S.J.

Rev. Edward A. Higgins, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1874-1879 and 1885-1887
Eleventh and sixteenth president Rev. Edward A. Higgins, in addition to his two terms at Xavier, was also president of St. Ignatius College and St. Mary’s College. Fr. Higgins attempted to impress upon students the importance of studying daily for “two or three hours every evening.”

Rev. Leopold Bushart, S.J.

Rev. Leopold Bushart, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1871-1874
Tenth president Rev. Leopold Bushart was professor of philosophy at St. Xavier College. He was also president of St. Louis University and Marquette University. Fr. Bushart encouraged academic rivalries by offering a special reward: a gold fountain pen in the spring and summer semesters; and a pair of ice skates in the winter semester for the highest class average.

Rev. Thomas O’Neil, S.J.

Rev. Thomas O’Neil, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) in 1871 and 1879
Ninth and twelfth president Rev. Thomas O'Neil was provincial of the Missouri Province from 1871-1878. He also served as spiritual director at St. Xavier College, Cincinnati, OH. Fr. O’Neil purchased fifty acres of land in Kentucky to be used as a villa for St. Xavier College. He also purchased a buggy, wagon and horse (Bob). Faculty members moved to the villa and removed themselves from the returning cholera epidemic.

Rev. Walter H. Hill, S.J.

Rev. Walter H. Hill, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1865-1869
Eighth president Rev. Walter H. Hill entered the Society of Jesus in 1847 and four years after his ordination was appointed president of St. Xavier College. He also taught philosophy for thirteen years in St. Louis and was pastor for twelve years in Chicago. The cornerstone was laid for a new four-story structure to be known as the Hill Building at the corner of Seventh and Sycamore.

Rev. John Schultz, S.J.

Rev. John Schultz, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1861-1865
Seventh president Rev. John Schultz entered the Society of Jesus in 1837 and was ordained in 1849. In the 1850s he worked among Potawatomi Indians at St. Mary’s Mission, KS.

Rev. Maurice Oakley, S.J.

Rev. Maurice Oakley, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1856-1861
Sixth president Rev. Maurice Oakley came to America in 1834. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1835. He was ordained in 1842 and was appointed president of St. Charles College the next year. “Oakley”, a suburb of Cincinnati, was named after Fr. Oakley.

Rev. Isidore J. Boudreaux, S.J.

Rev. Isidore J. Boudreaux, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1853-1856
Fifth president Rev. Isidore J. Boudreaux studied at St. Louis University and entered the Society of Jesus in 1836. After his term at Xavier he served as master of novices at Florissant, MO for over twenty years. President Boudreaux faced problems of increased debt, shrinking enrollment, and an increasingly hostile anti- Catholic atmosphere in Cincinnati.

Rev. George A. Carrell, S.J.

Rev. George A. Carrell, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1851-1853
Fourth president Rev. George A. Carrell was previously president of St. Louis University and pastor of St. Xavier Church. During his presidency at Xavier he was appointed the first bishop of the Diocese of Covington, KY. Early in Carrell’s presidency, the St. Xavier College erected the Carrell building on Sycamore Street.

Rev. John DeBlieck, S.J.

Rev. John DeBlieck, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1849-1851
Third president Rev. John De Blieck served as president of St. Joseph's College, Bardstown, KY and St. Ignatius College, Chicago, IL. He was appointed tertian master at Florissant, MO in 1880.
De Blieck taught philosophy at St. Xavier College and acquired the reputation of being an independent thinker...which sometimes caused him problems with his Jesuit superiors.

Rev. John Blox, S.J.

Rev. John Blox, S.J., served as president of Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1847-1848
Second president Rev. John Blox was one of a party of five who came to America in 1832. He was appointed pastor of St. Xavier Church, Cincinnati, OH in 1845.

Rev. John Anthony Elet

Rev. John Anthony Elet, S.J., served as president of at Xavier University (St. Xavier College) from 1840-1847
First president Rev. John A. Elet traveled west in 1823 with the pioneer band of Jesuits that settled at Florissant, MO. where he was ordained September 23, 1827. He also served as president of St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO.