Biography

Fr. Michael E. Engh, S.J. was the 28th President of Santa Clara University, from 2009 until 2019. He served as the chief executive officer with overall responsibility for its operational affairs. In his inaugural address, President Engh called for Santa Clara to “undertake a major effort on behalf of our environment and its just use,” and urged the Santa Clara community to “commit to creating a more just and sustainable world.” Father Engh led the University in defining its vision and setting course for the future with the bold new plan, Santa Clara 2020. During his tenure, Father Engh substantially strengthened the University and advanced its mission and reputation. In particular, Father Engh greatly expanded academic offerings by creating nearly 20 new degrees, certificates or online degree programs, transforming the size, diversity and caliber of the student body by growing the number of applicants by 60% while simultaneously improving the graduation rate by nearly 10% and increasing the average GPA of accepted students from 3.55 in 2009 to 3.67 in 2017, and median SAT score by 12% from 2009 to 2017. Additionally, under Father Engh’s leadership, the University attracted six new Academic Deans and hired nearly all members of the executive leadership, two of the Executive Directors for the Centers of Distinction, and the Director of Campus Ministry, while producing numerous Rhodes, Truman, Schwarzman, Stanford Knight-Hennessy, Fulbright, Udall, and Goldwater Scholars, increasing the number of programs and fellowships in the Markkula Center and the Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship, and doubling the number of first-generation college LEAD Scholars Program participants. Prior to his appointment as president, Fr. Engh served as Dean of the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts and professor of history at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

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