The next president of the University of St. Thomas won't have to be a priest to get the job.
The St. Paul university's governing board changed its bylaws last month to allow a Roman Catholic lay person serve as president. But it will still show priests "strong preference," a recap of the meeting says.
The move acknowledges the shrinking pool of Catholic priests able to take colleges' top jobs. The majority of Catholic colleges are now led by lay people.
"The board felt that while it has a strong preference to continue to have a priest, it also wants to have the broadest pool possible," said Doug Hennes, vice president for university and government relations.
But the change doesn't hint at a coming retirement for Father Dennis Dease, who has led the university for two decades, Hennes said.
"He has no immediate plans to retire," he said. "It's just good planning to look ahead."
Most of Minnesota's Catholic colleges and universities still have leaders with a "Father," "Brother," or "Sister" before their names. But the College of Saint Benedict and the College of St. Scholastica are led by lay presidents.
