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headshot of president Rob Vischer

Office of the President

Meet President Vischer

Robert K. Vischer became the of the ºÚÉçÇø on January 1, 2023, following a unanimous selection by the Board of Trustees. Prior to this role, he served as interim president beginning June 1, 2022, and dean of St. Thomas’ ºÚÉçÇø of Law from 2013 to 2022. Vischer joined the university in 2005 as an associate professor of law.

As president, Vischer has advanced the university's key priorities while reinforcing St. Thomas’ commitment to its mission of whole-person formation and fostering what Pope Francis calls a “culture of encounter.” A central tenet of his leadership is helping the university ºÚÉçÇø aspire to ensure every member of the St. Thomas ºÚÉçÇø, without exception, has the unmistakable experience of feeling seen, known, and loved.

To build ºÚÉçÇø and help faculty, staff, and students “lift their gaze,” Vischer launched the Claritas Initiative, aiming to cultivate the transcendental values of truth, beauty, and goodness within the university ºÚÉçÇø. This initiative encompasses a series of discussions, performances, and experiences designed to explore and nurture these values across campus.

About President Rob Vischer

Vischer's academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from the University of New Orleans, and a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Harvard Law ºÚÉçÇø, where he served as an editor of the Harvard Law Review. Before entering academia, he practiced corporate litigation at Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago and clerked for three federal judges.

Vischer serves on the board of the Association for Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU). He serves on the executive committee of GREATER MSP and as a board member of the Minnesota Business Partnership and the Greater Twin Cities United Way. He is also a member of the Coalition for Transformational Education (CTE) and the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.

Introducing President Rob Vischer

St. Thomas Strategic Plan

We are finalizing our 2030 Strategic Plan, which is based on the progress made in the 2025 Strategic Plan, which was shaped by input from the entire St. Thomas ºÚÉçÇø.

President's Office Staff

The Office of the President enjoys hearing from students, faculty, staff, alumni and the greater ºÚÉçÇø.