Dr. Peter J. Holbrook has been named dean of the College of Business and Management. Dr. Holbrook is the executive director of the Leadership Center and an accomplished administrator with 23 years of higher education experience,
Holbrook, who has served as interim dean of the college since June of 2011, has extensive expertise that includes organizational leadership and change, program development and evaluation, strategic thinking and planning, servant leadership, and board development.
"Dr. Holbrook's impressive record of leadership at Stritch, coupled with his extensive ties and knowledge of the Wisconsin and Minnesota business communities, make him a natural choice for this post," said Dr. James Loftus, Stritch president. "The entire University is highly enthused about the future of the college with Pete's steady hand at the helm."
"Dr. Holbrook 's background in enrollment, leadership, academics and finance makes him most qualified for the position of the dean of the College of Business and Management," said Dr. Anthea Bojar, executive vice president for academic affairs. "He has an established record of skilled leadership in higher education, and we are pleased to have his expertise at work in the college."
Prior to this appointment as dean, Holbrook served as the executive director of the Stritch Leadership Center. Responsible for developing new clients and business for the center, he focused on the design/delivery of customized leadership programs and coaching throughout the Metro Milwaukee area.
Holbrook first joined Stritch as the director of development in 1989, became executive director of enrollment management in 1993 and was named vice president of that area in 1996. In 2005, he was named executive vice president and chief operating officer of the University; in 2008, he was named executive director of the Leadership Center. Prior to arriving at Stritch, he was the director of admissions at Carthage College, from 1986 to 1989, and a member of the admissions staff at the Milwaukee School of Engineering, from 1985 to 1986.
A frequent guest expert on servant leadership for Morning Air on Relevant Radio 100.1 FM, he has presented his research on Franciscan leadership at a number of international conferences, including the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership's international conference and the 13th annual Conference on Values and Leadership sponsored by the Center for the Study of Leadership and Ethics of the University Council of Educational Administration. He recently published, "The Leadership Story of St. Francis of Assisi: Toward a Model of Franciscan Leadership for Lay Leaders" in the January 2012 Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities Journal: A Franciscan Perspective on Higher Education. He also was a key faculty member and contributor for the AFCU Franciscan Leadership Academy in July 2010. Holbrook is a member of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership, the International Leadership Association and sits on the board of Diverse and Resilient.
He has an associate's degree in marketing from Lakeshore Technical College in Cleveland, Wis., and a B.A. in business, a M.S. in management, and a Ph.D. in leadership, all from Stritch.
"I am both humbled and excited by the opportunity to lead the College of Business and Management," Holbrook said. "The University has a celebrated reputation as a leader in adult education, and that spirit of innovation will continue to be embraced and nurtured as we move forward. Continuous improvement and innovation of teaching and learning will continue to drive the college's strategic thinking and initiatives."
The College of Business and Management has long been a pioneer in adult education. In 1982, Programs in Management for Adults, the forerunner to the present college, was established for working adults wanting to return to school. By 1987, the former Programs in Management for Adults had regional offices in Madison and in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP) accredits the college's programs affirming the University's commitment to continuous academic quality improvement through its rigorous affirmation process. This accreditation means that Stritch faculty come to the classroom with real-world experience, programs reflect current realities and skills required in the business world, and student support services reflect the latest strategies to ensure success in the program.
About Stritch | Cardinal Stritch University, a fully accredited Catholic institution based in Milwaukee, provides transformative, value-centered education to more than 6,000 men and women of all faiths and ages in four colleges: Arts and Sciences, Education and Leadership, Business and Management, and the Ruth S. Coleman College of Nursing. Founded in 1937 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, Stritch is the largest Franciscan institution of higher education in North America, with classroom sites across Wisconsin and Minnesota. To learn more, visit www.stritch.edu<http://www.stritch.edu>.
