The Rev. Thomas B. Curran, O.S.F.S.
President of Rockhurst University

The Rev. Thomas B. Curran, O.S.F.S., began his tenure as the 14th president of Rockhurst University June 1, 2006.

Fr. Curran is an ordained Roman Catholic priest and a member of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, a religious order dedicated to education, the missions and parish work. He was born June 29, 1955, in Philadelphia.   

As the first non-Jesuit president of Rockhurst, Fr. Curran is well grounded in the philosophy of Jesuit higher education. In addition to earning degrees from two Jesuit universities, he previously served as associate vice president for university relations and assistant to the president at Regis University in Denver. There, he headed major gifts and corporate relations staff, directed the annual fund and had daily oversight of the university’s capital campaign.

In addition to his fund-raising responsibilities and work for the president, Fr. Curran was a religious studies faculty member and a university ministry team member and retreat leader.

Before joining Regis, Fr. Curran served as president of Salesianum School in Wilmington, Del., a Catholic high school operated by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. While in that role, he founded Nativity Preparatory School, a middle school for low-income boys, where he also served as executive director.
           
Fr. Curran’s wide variety of interests is apparent in his own educational background. He earned a B.A. in politics from DeSales University, an M.A. in theology from DeSales School of Theology, an M.A. in liberal studies, public policy and government from Georgetown University, a J.D. from the Catholic University of America and an M.B.A. from Saint Joseph’s University.

Among Fr. Curran’s many honors and awards are the Monsignor Thomas J. Reese Award for Outstanding Community Service from Catholic Charities Inc. of the Diocese of Wilmington; the St. Thomas More Award from the St. Thomas More Law Society, Wilmington, Del.; and a City Council Commendation and a Mayor’s Service Award, both from Wilmington. In addition to these distinctions, Fr. Curran holds a variety of professional memberships, including:

• Board of Trustees, DeSales University, Center Valley, Pa.
• Board of Directors, University Academy Charter School, Kansas City, Mo.
• Board of Directors, The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City
• Board of Trustees, Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, Mo.
• Board of Directors, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, Washington D.C.
• Board of Directors, Chairman, Rockhurst University Continuing Education Center, Shawnee Mission, Kan.
• Catholic Chaplain, Kansas City Chiefs Football Club
• Catholic Chaplain, The Harry S. Truman Good Neighbor Award Foundation
• Board of Directors, Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, Washington D.C.