PRESIDENT

The Leadership Opportunity

The Board of Directors of U of D Jesuit is conducting a national search for the next President of U of D Jesuit High School and Academy. The President is the school’s chief executive officer leading a strong, committed team of faculty and staff, and is a visionary leader, reporting directly to the Board of Directors and missioned by the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus. The President is responsible for the spiritual, educational, and financial strength and well-being of the school, and as such, ensures the fulfillment of the school’s Jesuit mission. The President acts as the school’s primary representative to all constituencies and serves as the school’s primary liaison with the City of Detroit and surrounding communities. In partnership with the Board of Directors, the President envisions, plans, and prepares for the future, secures financial resources needed for the school’s success both now and in the future, fosters the school’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, and is the visible example of a leader of a Jesuit school.

Our Mission 

University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy is committed to providing the highest quality Jesuit Catholic college preparatory education for young men throughout metropolitan Detroit. University of Detroit Jesuit, in collaboration with parents, will challenge its students to go beyond academic excellence, to be reflective, to be committed to the service of faith and promotion of justice, and to be “Men for Others.” 

Our Story

Bold and courageous leadership has always shaped and defined University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. It began with our opening in downtown Detroit in 1877. It continued when the leaders determined it could best serve a growing metropolis in the midst of a Depression by expanding in a new location in the heart of Detroit in 1931. In the mid-1970s while other schools chose to leave the city or were forced to close, the Jesuits again demonstrated bold leadership by defying conventional wisdom and recommitting to their Detroit campus and the revitalization of the neighborhood and city. Those decisions shaped who and what we are today. There has been a renaissance at the school, allowing for additional bold moves, including a Science and Engineering Center which provides our students with a STEM education unprecedented in this region.

Our history reflects examples of bold and courageous decisions by strong leaders of the school. These qualities have been passed down to our young men who later, as alumni, fill numerous leadership roles in business, law, education, theology, medicine, the arts and sciences, and beyond. They are truly “men for others,” willing to help those in our society who are most vulnerable and continuing to make a difference in their local communities, ever striving for the greater glory of God.

The U of D Jesuit experience is unique. The school is the oldest continuously functioning secondary school in Detroit. With its longstanding emphasis on academic rigor and service, U of D Jesuit has consistently produced young men uniquely prepared to serve a world in need. Beyond acquiring a comprehensive and college preparatory education, graduates learn to reflect and to think critically about the world around them. The educational experience comes not only in academic work but also from the school environment. Real socio-economic, ethnic, geographic, and racial diversity prepares our students for the world that will receive them at graduation.

For the 2022-2023 school year and beyond (with an anticipated start date of August 1, 2022), our school looks for a special individual to step into the 145-year tradition to serve as our school President and lead us to even greater heights. Challenging the status quo was built into the Jesuit ethos and serves as a model for strong leadership. This type of discerning and effective leadership marks the history of our past leaders and we are committed to finding an outstanding individual to continue this tradition in writing the next chapter in our proud history.

More About University of Detroit Jesuit High School & Academy

The Jesuits have remained committed to providing the highest quality, college-prep Catholic and Jesuit education within the city of Detroit for 145 years. In effect, their courageous decision for the school to stay in the city of Detroit 45 years ago was a decision to maintain and grow their Jesuit mission in Detroit in a school that would reach out to and serve the residents of the entire Detroit metropolitan area.

In 2016, the school opened a $16 million, fully funded, 40,000 square foot science and engineering center with laboratories and classrooms focused on STEM education. This year, owing to another successful capital campaign totaling $7.5 million, U of D Jesuit is doubling the size of its campus with the opening of the 34,000 square foot Johnson Recreation Center at the nearby 12-acre Joe Louis Park. These facilities enhance students’ experiences by virtue of high-quality athletic amenities and year-round community service opportunities. The facilities are also an important resource for our neighbors and most importantly for the families, senior citizens, and youth in the surrounding neighborhood.

Today, U of D Jesuit High School and Academy boasts a 900-member student body from Detroit and more than 75 surrounding municipalities. This truly diverse student body is a testament to the Jesuit ideal of forming “Men for Others.”  Drawing on its 145-year tradition as well as the more than 455 years that the Jesuit schools have been in existence, U of D Jesuit is committed to preparing young men for life. This achievement epitomizes our brand expression “The Jesuit Experience. More than an education.”   

We desire a President who will carry on this proud tradition, while thoughtfully and boldly leading this great institution to new heights in an ever-changing world.

Our Workplace & Community:

A spirit of love, service, and reverence sets the tone for the environment at U of D Jesuit that profoundly impacts all members of the school community. There is a shared commitment to the school community and a deep desire to use our individual and collective talents and resources to make U of D Jesuit a place where diversity is real and celebrated.

U of D Jesuit is a unique school:

• Where people are believed in, honored, and cared for, while their natural talents and creative abilities are fostered and encouraged.
• Where individual and team accomplishments are appreciated.
• Where everyone is treated fairly and justly.
• Where sacrifice on behalf of the economically poor, the socially deprived and the educationally disadvantaged is commonplace.
• Where each individual finds the challenge, encouragement, and support needed to reach their fullest individual potential.
• Where we help one another and work together with enthusiasm and generosity.

Our faculty and staff approach their work as more than just a job. It is their mission and they are committed to graduating young men who are intellectually competent, loving, open to growth, committed to doing justice, and religious.

Our location in the heart of Detroit, Michigan is essential to our mission. Beyond that, it’s a source of great pride for U of D Jesuit. Detroit is a city on the move. From the renovated Huntington Place and the new Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit, to neighborhood revitalizations such as the Live6 Alliance and Avenue of Fashion districts near our campuses, improvements and new businesses are sprouting up everywhere. There is a renewed energy in the community that has great optimism and spirit. Detroit has the activity and the vitality to attract the best talent. Detroit is a city with a rich history as an economic engine for the rest of the country and is home to numerous companies and businesses from the automotive and manufacturing to high-tech and creative. Detroit has reinvented itself and is poised to lead in the future. The region holds some of the finest cultural institutions, higher educational facilities, leading medical research facilities, professional sports teams, and entertainment venues.

To Apply:

Please email the following application materials (as PDF or Word attachments) to Michael Porter, Chair of the Presidential Search Committee, presidentialsearch@uofdjesuit.org, by May 13, 2022:

• A cover letter explaining interest in and qualifications to be the President of University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy.
• A current resume, including telephone numbers and email address.
• A one to two-page personal essay about your educational and administrative philosophy and how your leadership style would enrich University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy and maintain and accelerate the institution’s current momentum.

Receipt of applications will be acknowledged and all materials, inquiries, and nominations will be held in strict confidence. No photographs please.

University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all candidates for employment equally regardless of age, color, national origin, race, sex, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Because of its status as a religious entity the school may consider a candidate’s religious affiliation in its employment decisions, consistent with State and Federal law.

Applicants with Disabilities:

As an equal opportunity employer, University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy is committed to a diverse workforce. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Title 1 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended), applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact Kathleen Schuchardt at 313-927-2311 for assistance.

Learn more:

For more information on University of Detroit Jesuit High School & Academy, we encourage you to visit www.uofdjesuit.org/presidentialsearch

U of D Jesuit on social media:

Facebook: facebook.com/uofdjesuit

Twitter: twitter.com/UofDJesuit 

Instagram: instagram.com/uofdjesuit

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/school/uofdjesuit

YouTube: youtube.com/officialuofdjesuit

For more information about Detroit and the state of Michigan, we encourage you to visit:

www.michigan.org

www.opportunitydetroit.com

downtowndetroit.org

www.visitdetroit.com

www.detroitfuturecity.com

Our Vision for the Ideal Candidate:

• A practicing Catholic in good standing who is current in his/her understanding of directions and issues in the Catholic Church, including pastoral, social, and moral dimensions of church life, and the role of Catholic institutions within the Church.
• A model of Catholic values in the Jesuit tradition, including experiences in Ignatian spirituality and Jesuit pedagogy. The Jesuit Provincial expects the president to have an experience of the Spiritual Exercises in some form completed early in the presidential tenure.
• A visionary strategic thinker who envisions and plans for the future of U of D Jesuit, energizes the community to realize the future, and is an ambassador to the school to its various stakeholder groups and the general public.
• A strong communicator and advocate who understands the importance of relationship-building, collaboration, and the unique role U of D Jesuit holds in the community.
• A fundraiser who effectively leads annual fundraising, capital campaigns, and planned-giving efforts.
• An educator with several years of direct teaching experience and/or school administration.
• A person who understands and embraces the Ignatian educational philosophy.
• An effective and proven leader with demonstrated success in managing and overseeing numerous diverse functions and a person who fosters teamwork and success across the organization.
• A person with a strong sensitivity to socially marginalized groups, and students and faculty in vulnerable circumstances; a commitment to the preferential option for the poor, especially with respect to the importance of institutional accessibility for low-income families; and a commitment to embrace and enhance our diversity.
• A person committed to maintaining a safe and secure school environment.
• A person committed to self-reflection, discernment, and continuous improvement.
• A person who will care deeply and courageously for the welfare of U of D Jesuit and each student, faculty member, and staff member.