WORLDWIDE
EXPERIENCE Fr. Zimmer will bring a wealth of leadership insight as USF’s next president
The career of Rev. Dr. Eric A. Zimmer has taken him from Detroit to Delhi, from Nepal to Nairobi, from Bombay to Berkeley and from the Vatican to Notre Dame. And that’s a greatly condensed version, deleting all sorts of points in between. As he prepares to assume the role of University of Saint Francis president on July 1, Fr. Zimmer brings a wealth of experience in education and beyond.
these wonderful things. We want to continue to build on that.” Taking on the University of Saint Francis presidency after the 27 years of transformational leadership of Sister M. Elise Kriss will require a dedicated, relentless leader who is tireless and willing to embrace change. Fr. Zimmer should fit the bill.
He is eager to hit the ground running.
He currently serves as an associate business professor at the University of Notre Dame and pastor of Saint Patrick’s Church in Walkerton, Ind. But those are merely the latest entries in a long, storied resume.
“Saint Francis is wonderfully placed to continue to develop and grow and perhaps do so on a much greater level than anyone would have thought a couple of decades ago,” Fr. Zimmer said. “When Sister Elise came on, it was a much smaller school. She’s developed it tremendously, building up the campus and the new buildings and the new chapel and all
Multitasking and accepting challenges is a hallmark of Fr. Zimmer’s career. While teaching English in Nepal, Fr. Zimmer took two lessons a day in Nepalese. While working as a professor at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., he flew every two weeks to Chicago, earning a master’s in business administration at the University of Chicago. During
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saint francis magazine | spring 2020
