Stritch inaugurates new president; kicks off 75th anniversary celebration
posted Jan. 19, 2012
Nearly 600 people were present as James P. Loftus, Ph.D., was inaugurated as the eighth president of Cardinal Stritch University on Friday, Jan. 13.
The installation ceremony, held in the University’s Sister Camille Kliebhan Conference Center in Bonaventure Hall, was preceded by a Mass presided over by the Most Reverend Jerome E. Listecki, Archbishop of Milwaukee, with about 400 people in attendance.
Following the installation, staff, faculty, administration, students, alumni and friends of the institution celebrated at a festive reception.
The theme of the inauguration was “Service. Faith Excellence.” Created by Dr. Loftus himself, this theme captured the essence of Stritch’s unique Franciscan Catholic heritage.
The inauguration kicked off the University’s 75th anniversary celebration, which will run through the end of December and feature a number of events, exhibits, performances, and volunteer activities highlighting the University’s history and legacy.
To view a photo gallery, videos and other information, please visit Service. Faith. Excellence.
About Dr. Loftus | Dr. Loftus has significant experience with the university environment, focusing specifically on student recruitment, campus organization and institutional development. He offers more than 20 years of higher education experience in leadership, strategic planning, marketing, admissions, orientation, financial aid, academic program development, non-traditional and accelerated programs. Dr. Loftus had been with St. Ambrose since June 1990, serving in roles with continuing education, professional development, the pastoral studies program and the Adult College Curriculum for Education and Leadership (ACCEL) program. He oversaw the areas of admissions, financial aid, retention, student services, security, communications and marketing and records and registration.
From his post at St. Ambrose University, he developed and executed comprehensive recruitment and financial aid strategies to meet the university's enrollment goals. In his years as vice president at St. Ambrose, full-time enrollment grew by more than 44 percent with total college enrollment exceeding 3,500 students.
Dr. Loftus holds a doctorate in planning, policy and leadership studies from the College of Education at the University of Iowa, an M.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame. He is a member of the advisory council for the Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education and the Knights of Columbus. He is a past member of the executive board of the National Catholic College Admission Association.