John P. Schlegel

John P. Schlegel, S.J. (July 30, 1943 – November 15, 2015) was the 23rd president of Creighton University from 2000 to 2011. He formerly served as 26th president of the University of San Francisco from 1991 until 2000.^[1]

Biography

Schlegel received his Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and classics from Saint Louis University in 1969.^[2] He then completed a master's degree in political science in 1970, also from Saint Louis University.^[2] Schlegel also holds a degree in theology, which he obtained from the University of London in 1973, and a doctorate in international relations from Oxford University, which he obtained in 1977.^[2]

Prior to his tenure at San Francisco and Creighton, Schlegel served as the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,^[3][4] and later as executive and academic vice president of John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio.^[5] On October 17, 1991, Schlegel was named the president of the University of San Francisco, succeeding Father John Lo Schiavo, who had served as USF's president for the prior 14 years.^[5] He officially became the 26th president of the University of San Francisco on June 15, 1991.^[5]

In 2000, Schlegel was named president of Creighton University in Omaha. Schlegel is credited with increasing student enrollment during his tenure at Creighton University.^[6] He also shepherded a $400 million capital campaign and oversaw the acquisition of 40 acres (160,000 m2) of land located east of the existing campus.^[6]

In July 2010, Schlegel announced his intent to retire as president of Creighton University at the end of the 2010–2011 academic year.^[6] On July 1, 2011, he was succeeded by Father Timothy R. Lannon, who was the previous president of Saint Joseph's University.^[7]

Schlegel served as the pastor of Church of the Gesu on Marquette's campus from 2014-2015.^[8] On November 15, 2015, Schlegel died as a result of pancreatic cancer.^[9]