Effective January 2023, Robert Vischer was named as the 16th President of St. Thomas University following service as interim president. Vischer served as dean of the University’s law school from 2013-2022, having started as an associate professor of law in 2005.
In announcing his appointment, Dr. Amy Goldman, Chair of the Search Committee stated, “Rob is known as a highly effective relational leader with a strong dedication to the mission of the university and someone who puts the students at the center of every decision and action.” Board Chair Pat Ryan described Rob as a national thought leader and someone whose leadership style is to elevate others and to forge effective working relationships that result in transformative impact, and that he is collaborative and leads others to leverage the mission of the institution.
A graduate of Harvard Law School, prior to his career in academia, Vischer clerked for three federal judges (Judge David Ebel of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Joan Gottschall of the Northern District of Illinois, and Judge John Wiese of the Court of Federal Claims), and practiced law at Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago.