Leadership Transition at Regis University
Dear Regis Community,
I write to share important news about a leadership transition at Regis University. Last month, President Salvador D. Aceves informed the Board of Trustees that he would step down as president to accept the presidency of his alma mater, University of San Francisco, a fellow Jesuit Catholic institution. President Aceves’ tenure with Regis will end July 31.
After careful discernment and prayerful consideration, the Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Rev. D. Scott Hendrickson, S.J., D.Phil. as Interim President of Regis University, effective July 21. Fr. Hendrickson joins Regis at a pivotal moment in the University’s journey, and we are confident that he will lead us through this transition with the wisdom and grace that have defined his life and career.
A member of the Society of Jesus for nearly 30 years, Fr. Hendrickson currently serves as Associate Provost at Loyola University Chicago. His extensive experience in Jesuit higher education and deep commitment to our mission ensure that Regis will have stable, experienced leadership throughout the upcoming search and transition. Fr. Hendrickson’s academic credentials include a doctorate in Medieval and Modern Languages from University of Oxford and master’s degrees in Hispanic Studies and Spanish literature from New York University and Bowling Green State University. His depth and breadth in Jesuit higher education include degrees earned from Pontifical Comillas University and Saint Louis University as well as extensive Board of Trustee service at Gonzaga University, Loyola Marymount University, and Canisius University.
The Board has full confidence in Fr. Hendrickson’s ability to accompany the Senior Leadership Team as they guide the positive trajectory envisioned in the current strategic plan. Under their direction, Regis is advancing efforts to reimagine and build the university our mission calls us to be. We are particularly encouraged by their focus on student success, institutional health, mission integration, and community impact.
“I am deeply honored and excited to take on this important role and am grateful for the Board’s confidence in me,” said Fr. Hendrickson. “The institution’s strength in mission, commitment to student belonging and success, its diverse academic profile, and a clear track record of innovation and service position the University for a bright future. In its clear Jesuit identity, and facing the headwinds of higher education, Regis is rooted and ready.”
As we enter this interim period, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the principles that have guided Regis University for over 145 years: the pursuit of truth, the formation of the whole person, and our call to be people for and with others. Fr. Hendrickson shares these values and will work tirelessly to ensure our students continue to receive the transformative education that is the hallmark of Jesuit higher education.
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to express our deepest thanks to President Aceves for his collaborative, principled, and mission-driven leadership in his varied roles over the past 11 years. He leaves Regis stronger, more focused, and better prepared for the future.
We ask for your prayers and support as Fr. Hendrickson assumes this important role. In the spirit of St. Ignatius, we trust that through collaborative leadership and faithful service, we will continue to fulfill our mission of developing leaders who will make a positive impact in our world.
In gratitude,
Derek Scarth, Chair of the Board of Trustees
