James Loftus was recently named the new president of Cardinal Stritch University in Glendale.
Loftus has been serving as the vice president of enrollment management and student services at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa for the past 20 years. He will continue to serve in his current position until July of 2011, when he and his family will move to the Milwaukee area.
Loftus will succeed Kent Bergemann, who has served as interim president of the university since January 2010.
“We are pleased to have Dr. Loftus take the helm at Stritch,” said David Hawke, chairman of Cardinal Stritch University’s Board of Trustees. “He is a dynamic, experienced and highly respected academic leader with a demonstrated commitment to Franciscan values.”
Loftus has been with St. Ambrose University since 1990. In addition to his current position, he has served as director of degree completion for adults, director of professional development, director of the Master of Pastoral Studies program, assistant dean of continuing education and adjunct instructor. He holds a Ph.D. in planning policy and leadership studies from the College of Education at the University of Iowa, an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Notre Dame.
Loftus and his wife, Irene, an attorney and former chancellor of the Diocese of Davenport, plan to move to the Milwaukee area with their daughter, Claire, who will attend high school here as a junior. The couple has three other daughters; Bridget, a recent graduate of St. Ambrose University; Kathleen, a junior at Michigan State University; and Molly, who will soon graduate from high school.
“While it will be hard to leave the friends and family we have here in Iowa, we are fully vested and excited for the opportunities that await us at Cardinal Stritch,” Loftus said. “The people at Stritch and in the community have already been unbelievably welcoming we can’t wait to begin making new friends and start actively being involved there.”
BizTimes Reporter Alysha Schertz recently spoke with Loftus about his plans for the university. The following are excerpts from that interview.
BizTimes: What attracted you to apply for this position?
Loftus: “Well, in my career I was looking for a medium-sized Catholic college or university job posting. I came across the position at Stritch through a website I was on and was somewhat familiar with the institution through St. Ambrose. Being from the Midwest, St. Ambrose competed with Stritch not only for students but also on the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) playing field and sports teams. I was nominated for the position by a number of different individuals who thought I would be a good fit there, and those ideas were just reinforced when I came to visit the campus. There was an overwhelming sense of community among people at Stritch. People were not only kind and friendly, but I could tell they also had a goal in mind. People here wanted to be successful in their own dreams, talents and skills and they always sought to reach their own and inspire others to reach their potential. I really like that the university has a focus of serving all kinds of learners.”
BizTimes: What is the biggest difference between your current position and this one, and what do you hope to bring to Cardinal Stritch?
Loftus: “Well, the difference obviously is that I have the privilege of leading the institution. The choices and decisions I make will be more visible to the community, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity. I will bring an entrepreneurial spirit to the campus and will take a very collaborative approach to the decisions I make.”
BizTimes: What will be your initial plans once you get on campus in July?
Loftus: “Well, we’re hoping to make an easy transition into the community. Over the next sixth months I will be finishing my job here at St. Ambrose, but I will also be making several trips to Cardinal Stritch University to get to know the faculty and staff, as well as the business community in Wisconsin. I think as the president of the institution I will, in some ways, become the face of the university, and it is important for me to get engaged with the surrounding community and not only show off to people the wonderful educational environment Stritch brings to Milwaukee, but also showcase the ways that we can collaborate and continue serving their needs. I want to personally get to know the business community, listen to their ideas and concerns and be responsive to the educational needs of the business as well as the Milwaukee community.”
BizTimes: What will you miss most about Iowa and what are you most looking forward to about Milwaukee?
Loftus: “I think friends on both accounts. Our family has been here for a very long time. For our kids, this is pretty much all they’ve known. It will be difficult to leave such great friends, but my entire family is vested in this decision, and we’re excited about the chance to make new friends and make a lasting contribution to the Milwaukee community, exactly what we’ve tried to do here. The Milwaukee community has already been so welcoming, and while it’s a big decision my entire family is both excited and thankful to Stritch for giving us this opportunity. We are looking forward to meeting new people and getting involved in parish life at some level and helping to make Stritch all it can be.”
