February 11, 2021

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Administrators,

As the Rev. Brian F. Linnane, S.J., has shared with you, he has decided to retire at the close of the 2021-22 academic year. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to congratulate Fr. Linnane and thank him for his exceptional and distinguished service and leadership.

Yesterday at the February meeting of the Board of Trustees, Fr. Linnane shared with the Board that he would like to retire on June 30, 2022. With gratitude for all that Fr. Linnane has accomplished as president, we have accepted his request. Upon his retirement, the Board will bestow on him the honorary title of President Emeritus.

The Search Process

The Board of Trustees will form a search committee and immediately begin a search for the University’s next president with the goal of filling the role no later than July 1, 2022. This is a critical moment in higher education and for Loyola, and the Board of Trustees recognizes that the next president must be an individual who can build on Fr. Linnane’s legacy, while also advancing and re-envisioning the University for a post-COVID world.

I look forward to sharing more information with you about the search process in the months ahead and keeping you updated on the search. The Board will actively seek feedback from members of the Loyola community, including faculty, staff, administrators, students, and alumni, as we identify the key characteristics we should be looking for in Loyola’s next president.

Highlights of Fr. Linnane’s Presidency

Since becoming president of Loyola in 2005, Fr. Linnane has overseen the designation change to Loyola University Maryland; the opening of the School of Education; the University’s transition to the Patriot League; and the completion of the Bright Minds, Bold Hearts comprehensive campaign. He also inspired the vision for Messina, Loyola's interdisciplinary living and learning program, launched the York Road Initiative, and placed more focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Gratitude

Today, I invite you to reflect with gratitude on Fr. Linnane’s contributions as he helped shape Loyola as the Jesuit liberal arts university it is today. We thank Father and wish him well as he completes his tenure and looks ahead to this next chapter.

Sincerely,

James Forbes, ’80
Chair, Board of Trustees
Loyola University Maryland