ARRUPE COLLEGE HONORARY DEGREE RECIPIENT AND COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS

Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, S.J.

PhD • President, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities; President Emeritus, Loyola University Chicago

Candidate for the degree Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa

Rev. Michael J. Garanzini, S.J., PhD, is an internationally recognized leader in higher education, a scholar, and a Jesuit priest with decades of experience advancing academic excellence, institutional mission, and global social justice. He currently serves as President of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU), a national organization that represents Jesuit higher education and facilitates collaborative initiatives among its member institutions. 

From 2001 to 2015, Fr. Garanzini served as the 23rd President of Loyola University Chicago, where he led transformational growth in enrollment, campus expansion, and academic reputation. Under his leadership, Loyola advanced its commitment to community engagement, interdisciplinary research, sustainability, and service to marginalized populations. He was instrumental in establishing Arrupe College and the Loyola University Retreat and Ecology Campus and in expanding the university’s global partnerships and health sciences programs. 

In addition to his academic leadership, Fr. Garanzini has held roles at Saint Louis University, Georgetown University, and Fordham University, contributing to the intellectual and spiritual development of students and faculty. He is also a respected author and speaker on topics including education, spirituality, and Catholic social teaching, and he has served on numerous boards and commissions dedicated to Jesuit education and social impact. 

Fr. Garanzini earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in psychology and religion from the Graduate Theological Union/University of California, Berkeley and has written extensively on pastoral psychology, higher education, and the future of Catholic institutions. His enduring commitment to faith, reason, and justice continues to shape his leadership in both national and international education communities.