“The selection of Brian Bruess as the President of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University is a key milestone in the implementation of Strong Integration. One leader will allow our schools to better serve the needs of our students by allowing us to be agile in a rapidly changing landscape.

Brian characterizes the perfect Inaugural President. He is deeply committed to Catholic higher education and the Benedictine missions of our schools. Brian also sees the incredible opportunity for this new era of leadership at schools he already knows very well—his impact will be profound.

The leadership capabilities and strategic focus that Brian brings will allow us to execute our vision for Strong Integration—a new and innovative model of governance in higher education. A model that enables the development of a plan for the future that will provide our students the life changing experience of Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s for decades to come.

Brian already has a deep appreciation of our unique propositions as a college for women and a men’s university. Building on the distinctiveness of each while empowering our partnership—that’s what Strong Integration is all about.”

LeAnne Matthews Stewart ’87

Board Chair, CSB+SJU Common Boards of Trustees

“The search committee feels very blessed to have found in President Bruess a successful, bold, aspirational leader who radiates the missions of both Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s and who understands the great opportunity and potential of these two institutions together under a single leader.

“Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s are distinct and unique in all of higher education with our focus on the holistic development of women and men and Brian is uniquely experienced and equipped to accelerate our missions to women and men while unlocking the untapped potential of our two schools together. 

“President Bruess and his successful experiences in higher education is an outstanding and unique match with Saint Ben’s and Saint John’s and what we do for both women and men and our search committee couldn’t be more excited to see how Brian and our team unlock the potential of these two institutions together in new and exciting ways while advancing our unique and distinct mission to educating and developing both women and men.”

Bennett Morgan ’85

Co-chair, Presidential Search Committee, CSB+SJU Common Boards of Trustees

“We are excited about the future of our two institutions under the leadership of President Bruess. He is aspirational with a bold vision and has an incredible passion for the liberal arts, students and our catholic and Benedictine mission.

“The search committee included a diverse group of representatives from students, faculty, staff, the alumni/alumnae, monastic communities and our boards of trustees. Brian’s passion for our mission, the academic excellence of these two institutions and the students’ experience made him our unanimous choice to be our next president.” 

Terry Dolan

Co-chair, Presidential Search Committee, CSB+SJU Common Boards of Trustees