Reverend Donald F. Reilly, O.S.A. Appointed Malvern Prep’s Next Head of School

The Malvern Preparatory School Board of Trustees announced today the appointment of Reverend Donald F. Reilly, O.S.A., D.Min. as the next Malvern Prep Head of School, effective July 1, 2017. Father Reilly will succeed Christian Talbot, who earlier this year announced that he would resign at the end of the current academic year. Father Reilly is currently the president and CEO of Saint Augustine Preparatory School in Richland, N.J., and was previously the Augustinian Prior Provincial of the Saint Thomas of Villanova Province. Father Reilly will be the 14th Head of School in Malvern Prep's history.

“Christmas came early this year because Malvern Prep has found the perfect new leader,” said Malvern Prep Board Chair Steve Cloetingh. “Three months ago, Malvern launched a highly consultative search process that identified the ideal qualities and experience of our next head of school, and Father Reilly possesses every one of the personal, leadership and academic qualities identified. He also knows Malvern well as a longtime board member.”

Father Reilly has served as president and CEO of Saint Augustine Preparatory School, a brother Augustinian school, since 2011. At Saint Augustine Prep, Father Reilly has led a transformation in all areas of the school. He has raised its academic rigor with a focus on student-centered education through a new Concentrations program, increased board and student diversity by 25 and 18 percent respectively, launched a new campus master plan including the construction of a new athletic center and invested in innovative faculty professional development programs an active board member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools.

Prior to his appointment to Saint Augustine, he was the Prior Provincial of the Saint Thomas of Villanova Province from 2002-2010 where he oversaw the ministries of 220 Augustinian Friars. From 1995-2002, he was the founder and executive director of the AIDS support organization, Siloam. He has also served as a pastor, high school teacher, Augustinian personnel director and campus minister.

“I am tremendously honored and humbled by this appointment as Malvern Prep’s next head of school,” said Father Reilly. “Trusting in God, I look forward to continuing Malvern’s exciting academic journey of innovation and hope to nurture that journey with a continued commitment to the Augustinian values of Truth, Unity and Love. At the same time, I leave Saint Augustine Prep with a heavy heart but am grateful for the friendship and love always shown to me by this community.”

Father Reilly graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School and holds an undergraduate degree from Villanova University, a graduate degree from Washington Theological Union and a doctorate in ministry (counseling) from New York Theological Seminary.

“As we look forward to a long and fruitful transition over the next six months, I also wish to thank the entire search committee and particularly John McGlinn, committee chair, as well as all the staff, faculty, parents, alumni and students who participated in the search process,” said Cloetingh.