History of Past Presidents

As appointed by the Quincy University Board of Trustees, the President of the University is the Chief Executive Officer of the Quincy University Corporation and an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees.

Franciscan friars served as our presidents for the first 142 years of Quincy University. Fr. Servatius Altmicks, the first president, and the other early presidents used the title of “rector,” consistent with the German heritage of the friars who founded and operated the university. The title of president was first used in 1905.

Dr. Brian McGee is the 24th president of Quincy University but is only the twenty-second person to hold the presidency. Two previous presidents – Fr. Anselm Mueller and Fr. Gabriel Brinkman – were named to the position on two separate occasions.

Eighteen Franciscan friars, one Franciscan sister, and three laypersons have been presidents of the university. Because the friar-presidents were assigned to different duties from time to time by the Province of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), Quincy University presidents often were in the role for between three and six years.

All presidents from 1860 through the second term of Fr. Gabriel Brinkman were Franciscan friars from the Sacred Heart Province, while the subsequent Franciscans were from other provinces. Since 2023, Quincy University has been sponsored by a new Franciscan province, the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Presidential Highlights

  • From 1904-1907, during Fr. Mueller’s presidency, a recent Italian immigrant named John Riggitano attended Quincy University (then St. Francis Solanus College). Riggitano, who later adopted “Prevost” as his last name, was the grandfather of the first American pope, Pope Leo XIV.
  • The chapel in Francis Hall, the spiritual center of campus, was built and dedicated in 1912 during the presidency of Fr. Fortunatus Hausser, the 7th president.
  • St. Francis Solanus College was renamed and became Quincy College & Seminary in 1917 during the presidency of Fr. Gabriel Lucan, the 8th president.
  • The first female student, a religious sister, was admitted to the university in 1922, during the presidency of Fr. Ferdinand Gruen, the 9th president.
  • Quincy College was renamed and became Quincy University in 1993, during the presidency of Fr. James Toal, the 19th president.
  • While Fr. James Toal used the President’s House on Chestnut Street for some university events, Fr. Eugene Kole, the 20th president, was the first president to reside in the house, beginning in 1997. Since then, three other presidents – Sr. Margaret Feldner, Dr. Robert Gervasi, and Dr. Brian McGee – have lived at the house during their presidential terms.
  • Sr. Margaret Feldner, the 21st president and a Franciscan sister, is the only woman to serve as university president.
  • Dr. Robert Gervasi, the 22nd president, was the first layperson appointed as president at Quincy University.
  • Mr. Phil Conover, the 23rd president of the university, was the only non-Catholic ever named to the position.
  • In addition to the presidents listed below, interim presidents have occasionally been appointed for the university, including, most recently, Fr. Mario DiCicco and Dr. David Schachtsiek. Both had previously been at the university in faculty or administrative roles.
  • The office of the current university president is located on the Francis Hall first floor, in the southwest corner of the building. Earlier generations of Quincy University students would remember this part of the building as a dining room.

Dr. Brian McGee

2019–Present

Mr. Phil Conover

2017–2019

Dr. Robert Gervasi

2008–2017

Sr. Margaret Feldner, OSF

2004–2006

Fr. Eugene Kole, OFM, CONV

1997–2002

Fr. James Toal, OFM

1983–1997

Fr. Gabriel Brinkman, OFM

1977–1983

Fr. Titus Ludes, OFM

1970–1977

Fr. Gabriel Brinkman, OFM

1963–1970

Fr. Julian Woods, OFM

1952–1963

Fr. Henry Freiburg, OFM

1948–1952

Fr. Seraphin Tibesar, OFM

1942–1948

Fr. John Koebele, OFM

1936–1942

Fr. Vincent Fochtman, OFM

1930–1936

Fr. Alois Fromm, OFM

1927–1930

Fr. Ferdinand Gruen, OFM

1921–1927

Fr. Gabriel Lucan, OFM

1916–1921

Fr. Fortunatus Hausser, OFM

1910–1916

Fr. Samuel Macke, OFM

1909–1910

Fr. Anselm Mueller, OFM

1902–1909

Fr. Nicholas Leonard, OFM

1893–1901

Fr. Anselm Mueller, OFM

1863–1893

Fr. Capistran Zwinge, OFM

1862–1863

Fr. Servatius Altmicks, OFM

1860–1862

 

 

 

 

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