President

The University of Dayton (UD), one of the nation’s leading Catholic higher education institutions, seeks a president who can inspire its educational community, build on a strong foundation rooted in the Catholic faith and Marianist tradition, and lead the institution into its next chapter of even greater impact.

The University of Dayton enrolls around 9,700 students, including around 7,000 undergraduates, and is one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities. UD is the second largest private university in Ohio and is classified as a Carnegie R1 institution comprising six academic units: the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Schools of Business Administration, Education and Health Sciences, Engineering, Law, and University Libraries. In fiscal year 2025, sponsored research revenue was $278.1 million, led by the nationally recognized University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI). UD employs 528 full-time faculty and 268 part-time faculty who teach and engage in groundbreaking research, scholarship, and creative works at the University as well as 2,181 staff members who support students and the mission.

As a Catholic and Marianist university, UD is deeply committed to advancing a common mission, building consensus, and fulfilling its founding vision of educating the whole person through the integration of learning and scholarship with leadership and service. The institution’s hallmark is learning that spans the boundaries of the liberal arts and the professions, integrates theory and practice, and reaches out to the greater community to strengthen public and civic life. UD’s culture is defined by a strong commitment to collegiality, a welcoming and inclusive community, and a dedication to social justice, access, and excellence.

The incoming president will be joining UD at a pivotal moment. Under President Eric F. Spina’s leadership, UD has experienced substantial growth in research expenditures, philanthropic support, enrollment of Pell-eligible students, and the multi-dimensional diversity of the student body. The University has strengthened its commitment to holistic student success, including its graduation rate (in excess of 80%), student wellbeing, student satisfaction, and career readiness. Nearly all – 97% of 2024 graduates – reported being employed, pursuing a graduate degree, or participating in a service program within six months of graduation. The University is increasingly visible nationally for its research profile, its extraordinary experiential learning opportunities, its role as a creative anchor institution that positively impacts its city, and as a place that works hard to enhance access and opportunity – as seen most notably by UD’s leadership in the American Talent Initiative, an alliance of more than 120 high-graduation rate universities. The next president will be tasked with building upon the strong foundation constructed by their predecessors during a period of dynamism and challenging realities facing higher education.

Screening of complete applications will begin immediately and continue until the completion of the search process.