As appointed by the Quincy University Board of Trustees, the President of the University is the Chief Executive Officer of the Quincy University Corporation and an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees.

Franciscan friars served as our presidents for the first 142 years of Quincy University. Fr. Servatius Altmicks, the first president, and the other early presidents used the title of “rector,” consistent with the German heritage of the friars who founded and operated the university.

Dr. Brian McGee is the 24^th president of Quincy University but is only the twenty-second person to hold the presidency. Two previous presidents – Fr. Anselm Mueller and Fr. Gabriel Brinkman – were named to the position on two separate occasions.

Eighteen Franciscan friars, one Franciscan sister, and three laypersons have been presidents of the university. Because the friar-presidents were assigned to different duties from time to time by the Sacred Heart Province of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), Quincy University presidents often were in the role for between three and six years. All presidents from the beginning through the second term of Fr. Gabriel Brinkman were from the Sacred Heart Province, while the subsequent Franciscans were from other provinces.

Presidential Highlights

• The longest-serving president, Fr. Anselm Mueller, served for a total of 37 years, beginning his presidential tenure at about the age of 25. Fr. Mueller, who was both the 3^rd president and the 5^th president, was nicknamed the “Little General” because of his short stature and reputation as a disciplinarian. Other long-serving presidents at Quincy University have been Fr. James Toal, Fr. Gabriel Brinkman, and Fr. Julian Woods.
• The chapel in Francis Hall, the spiritual center of campus, was built and dedicated in 1912 during the presidency of Fr. Fortunatus Hausser, the 7^th president.
• St. Francis Solanus College was renamed and became Quincy College & Seminary in 1917 during the presidency of Fr. Gabriel Lucan, the 8^th president.
• The first female student, a religious sister, was admitted to the university in 1922, during the presidency of Fr. Ferdinand Gruen, the 9^th president.
• Quincy College was renamed and became Quincy University during the presidency of Fr. James Toal, the 19^th president.
• While Fr. James Toal used the President’s House on Chestnut Street for some university events, Fr. Eugene Kole, the 20^thpresident, was the first president to reside in the house, beginning in 1997. Since then, three other presidents – Sr. Margaret Feldner, Dr. Robert Gervasi, and Dr. Brian McGee – have lived at the house during their presidential terms.
• Sr. Margaret Feldner, the 21^st president and a Franciscan sister, is the only woman to serve as university president.
• Dr. Robert Gervasi, the 22^nd president, was the first layperson appointed as president at Quincy University.
• Mr. Phil Conover, the 23^rd president of the university, was the only non-Catholic ever named to the position.
• In addition to the presidents listed below, interim presidents have occasionally been appointed for the university, including, most recently, Fr. Mario DiCicco and Dr. David Schachtsiek. Both had previously been at the university in faculty or administrative roles.
• The office of the current university president is located on the Francis Hall first floor, in the southwest corner of the building.

Dr. Brian McGee	2019–Present
Mr. Phil Conover	2017–2019
Dr. Robert Gervasi	2008–2017
Sr. Margaret Feldner, OSF	2004–2006
Fr. Eugene Kole, OFM, CONV	1997–2002
Fr. James Toal, OFM	1983–1997
Fr. Gabriel Brinkman, OFM	1977–1983
Fr. Titus Ludes, OFM	1970–1977
Fr. Gabriel Brinkman, OFM	1963–1970
Fr. Julian Woods, OFM	1952–1963
Fr. Henry Freiburg, OFM	1948–1952
Fr. Seraphin Tibesar, OFM	1942–1948
Fr. John Koebele, OFM	1936–1942
Fr. Vincent Fochtman, OFM	1930–1936
Fr. Alois Fromm, OFM	1927–1930
Fr. Ferdinand Gruen, OFM	1921–1927
Fr. Gabriel Lucan, OFM	1916–1921
Fr. Fortunatus Hausser, OFM	1910–1916
Fr. Samuel Macke, OFM	1909–1910
Fr. Anselm Mueller, OFM	1902–1909
Fr. Nicholas Leonard, OFM	1893–1901
Fr. Anselm Mueller, OFM	1863–1893
Fr. Capistran Zwinge, OFM	1862–1863
Fr. Servatius Altmicks, OFM	1860–1862

 

 

 

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