Dan Whalen - Interim President of Saint John's University

Dan Whalen (grandson of Anthony J. Merck), a 1970 graduate of Saint John's University ( www.csbsju.edu), has been named interim president of Saint John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota. The announcement was made October 21st to the campus community by Jim Frey, chair of the Board of Regents. "I am certain that Dan's leadership will inspire the trust and confidence of everyone in the Saint John's community", said Frey.

Whalen replaces Br. Dietrich Reinhart, OSB, president emeritus of Saint John's University, who announced his resignation on Oct. 16. "Dan is a remarkably kind and generous man," said Reinhart. "His willingness to serve as interim president of Saint John's University reflects a deep love and gratitude for the educational community that has nurtured his heart and fired his desire to make a difference in the world. The leadership of Saint John's could not be in better hands!"

"I cannot fill Br. Dietrich's shoes. No one can," said Whalen. "But thanks to Br. Dietrich's remarkable leadership, Saint John's is a strong and resilient institution. I am excited about joining the first class leadership team that he put together. And I am pleased to join the partnership with Dr. MaryAnn Baenninger and the College of Saint Benedict."

"Dan Whalen is an excellent choice for interim president of Saint John's," said MaryAnn Baenninger, president of the College of Saint Benedict. "I've had the pleasure of working with Dan during his time as chair of the Board of Regents, and I look forward to working with him again as interim president. Dan is a man of character, creativity and compassion. He has a great wit, and a warm, welcoming sense of humor. He understands and supports Br. Dietrich's vision. I look forward to having Dan as a partner in the coordinate relationship between College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University."

Whalen grew up in Argyle, Minn. and East Grand Forks, Minn., where he, after attending Saint John's Preparatory School for one year, graduated from Sacred Heart High School. In the mid-1960s, Whalen, his mother and his siblings moved to St. Cloud, Minn. Whalen attended Saint John's University and majored in government.