The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., Ed.D. Citation

The Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., Ed.D., has been a source of inspiration to others as he has masterfully balanced several fundamental roles: a Vincentian priest, a visionary leader, a devoted educator, a passionate advocate for Catholic higher education, a community builder, and a compassionate servant of the church. His countless contributions to higher education have left a profound and lasting impact on the communities he has served and continues to serve.

A native of Detroit, Mich., Father Holtschneider earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Niagara University. He joined the Eastern Province of the Congregation of the Mission, commonly known as the Vincentians after the congregation’s founder, St. Vincent de Paul. He studied to join the priesthood at Mary Immaculate Seminary, where he earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology, and he was ordained a priest in 1989. Father Holtschneider followed his love for learning and pursued further graduate studies at Harvard University, where he earned a Doctorate of Education Administration, Planning, and Social Policy.

Finding his calling, he began working in higher education and has remained committed to the field ever since. Father Holtschneider taught at St. John’s University and the University of Buffalo, both in New York, and held administrative roles, including Executive Vice President at Niagara University, his alma mater.

In 2004, he was named the 11th President of DePaul University in Chicago, the largest Catholic university in North America. Father Holtschneider’s visionary, mission-focused, and student-first leadership turned DePaul from “the little school under the L,” to a contemporary university that strengthened its Catholic, Vincentian, and urban mission, while reaching exciting new levels of academic achievement and recognition.

Under Father Holtschneider’s forward-thinking leadership, DePaul updated its campus with new buildings, including a theater school, an arts and letters building, and two new science buildings, to name a few. He added more than 170 new academic programs to respond to the needs of DePaul’s students and helped athletics reconfigure the Big East Conference in the NCAA.

Father Holtschneider received national recognition for his efforts to connect DePaul to the local urban community of Chicago, reflecting DePaul’s Vincentian and urban mission, as well as our Norbertine value of stabilitas loci, or stability of place, with a special emphasis on serving the local community. He led the way as DePaul strengthened ties with other educational institutions in Chicago, both public and private, and increased engagement with people experiencing homelessness and poverty. In his fundraising efforts, Father Holtschneider focused on accessibility and belonging for students, dedicating one-third of DePaul’s “Many Dreams, One Mission” campaign to student scholarships, while working tirelessly to ensure that the DePaul community reflected the wider community of Chicago and the world. One of his colleagues commented, “If you look at any academic program on campus, you’re likely to see examples of how that program is connected to something substantial in the community.”

Father Holtschneider’s influence extends far beyond the grounds of DePaul University. After leaving DePaul, he went on to serve as the Chief Operations Officer at Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic health care system. He was the President of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities and served on a number of boards and advocacy groups for higher education. In these roles, Father Holtschneider initiated national discussions on the future of Catholic higher education.

In 2019, Father Holtschneider visited St. Norbert College to start important conversations about our Catholic, Norbertine, and liberal arts mission. He currently serves DePaul University as Chancellor and as a Bernardin Fellow of Church Leadership at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Beyond his far-reaching professional achievements, Father Holtschneider is deeply respected for his personal integrity, humility, profound faith, and faithful witness as a priest and son of St. Vincent de Paul. His commitment to the well-being of students and the broader community is a testament to his character. Those who know him personally are touched by his kindness, his sense of humor, and his unwavering dedication to making the world a better place through education and service to others.

In recognition of his distinguished service to the church, Catholic higher education, and the many communities he has served, we are proud to bestow upon the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., Ed.D., the degree of Doctor of Laws, honoris causa.

By the Rev. Matthew M. Dougherty, O. Praem., ’09, Ph.D.

Special Assistant to the President for Mission Integration and Assistant Professor of Biology