Office of the President
Meet President Vischer
Robert K. Vischer became the 16th President of the University of St. Thomas on January 1, 2023, following a unanimous selection by the Board of Trustees. He previously served as interim president and as dean of the School of Law.
As president, Vischer is entrusted with advancing the university’s Catholic mission while ensuring St. Thomas remains strong, innovative and responsive in a changing higher education landscape.
Vischer has described his role as being a “steward” of the St. Thomas story. He frequently reminds the university community that no matter how much St. Thomas may evolve, it must remain committed to preparing its students for lives of meaning, leadership and purpose.
Grounded in what former Pope Francis called a “culture of encounter” and a commitment to human dignity, his leadership centers on helping ensure that every member of the St. Thomas community has the unmistakable experience of feeling seen, known and loved — while stewarding a university that is financially sound, academically excellent and positioned for the future.
Leading St. Thomas into 2030
President Vischer is ultimately responsible for the university’s strategic direction. In 2025, St. Thomas launched the St. Thomas 2030 Strategic Plan, charting its course for the next five years.
The plan calls the university to:
- Center student success and lifelong flourishing
- Expand national visibility and impact
- Embed innovation and entrepreneurial thinking across the institution
St. Thomas 2030 builds on the university’s longstanding mission while preparing it to meet emerging challenges with clarity and conviction.
Impact and Momentum
Since becoming president in 2023, Vischer has led St. Thomas through a period of measurable growth and institutional momentum:
- Welcomed the largest freshman class in university history (2025)
- Surpassed $100 million in annual fundraising for four consecutive years
- Opened the $183.4 million Lee & Penny Anderson Arena
- Continued progress in the university’s Division I transition
- Expanded entrepreneurial and academic initiatives across campus
- Named 2025 Twin Cities Business Person of the Year
Advancing the Mission and the Common Good
As a Catholic university, St. Thomas is called to engage the world — not withdraw from it. President Vischer consistently emphasizes that fidelity to mission and responsiveness to society’s needs go hand in hand.
He speaks often about:
- The importance of whole-person formation
- The enduring relevance of virtue and character
- The need to prepare students not only for careers, but for lifelong flourishing
- The value of encounter — engaging across difference with empathy and courage
Under his leadership, the university has:
- Introduced initiatives that highlight the role of the cardinal virtues (justice, prudence, fortitude and temperance) in student development
- Launched the Claritas Initiative, inviting faculty and staff to explore truth, beauty and goodness across disciplines
- Convened public conversations through the Finding Forward series, bringing civic, business and faith leaders together to model thoughtful dialogue
- Strengthened partnerships that advance workforce development and economic vitality across the Twin Cities
About President Rob Vischer
President Vischer joined St. Thomas in 2005 as an associate professor of law. He served as dean of the School of Law from 2013 to 2022 before being appointed president.
He earned:
- A Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from the University of New Orleans
- A Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Harvard Law School, 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.
He currently serves on the executive committee of GREATER MSP and on the boards of the Minnesota Business Partnership and Greater Twin Cities United Way.
Robert K. Vischer became the 16th president of the University of St. Thomas on January 1, 2023, after serving as interim president beginning June 1, 2022.
He joined St. Thomas in 2005 as an associate professor of law and was appointed dean of the School of Law in 2013. During his tenure as dean, the law school strengthened its national profile and deepened its integration of faith, ethics and professional formation.
Vischer earned his undergraduate degree from the University of New Orleans and his law degree from Harvard Law School, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. He practiced at Kirkland & Ellis and clerked for three federal judges before entering academia.
He has served in national leadership roles supporting Catholic higher education, including election to the Board of Directors of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities.
Throughout his career, Vischer has written and spoken widely on questions of religious freedom, Catholic identity and the role of faith in public life.
