President John Cech, Ph.D.
Dr. John Cech is the 18th President of Carroll College.
Dr. Cech began his presidency at Carroll on June 1, 2018. During his tenure at Carroll College, he established the college’s “Healthcare Professions Initiative” and is proud to have supported college-wide efforts to establish the college’s second graduate program, a Master’s of Social Work, a Healthcare Leadership Certificate, an accelerated nursing program and initiate the development stages of a Physician Assistant program. As a part of the “Healthcare Professions Initiative,” Dr. Cech is also proud of the college’s accomplishments in completing an extensive renovation of the college’s nursing facilities and the creation of the E. L. Wiegand Nursing Simulation Center, the design and construction of which were driven by the college’s nursing education faculty, and which models the environment found in a hospital/clinic.
Additionally, during Dr. Cech’s time at Carroll, the college has completed the design and construction of the Anthrozoology Canine Center, completed Phase I and II of the reconstruction of the Corette Library to create the Simperman Learning Commons, which has transformed the library into the academic hub of campus. Other notable efforts included the establishment of a partnership with the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and with the Keck Observatory on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Dr. Cech previously served in the Montana University System for 16 years, first as the leader of City College at MSU Billings, which doubled its enrollment and significantly expanded its campus footprint under Cech’s leadership. Cech then spent eight years as Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education for the Montana University System, where he was responsible for Academic, Research, and Student Affairs for the state.
During his tenure, the Montana University System was recognized for its work through Complete College America as one of four states in the nation to make systemic advances in key initiatives around student success and completion. Cech led the CCA efforts for Montana and had been appointed by the Complete College America President as one of 50 CCA Fellows in the nation.
Prior to his tenure with the Montana University System, Cech served Rocky Mountain College for 15 years, first as a faculty instructor, then as a director, and eventually as Dean of Community Services, Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. Cech earned a doctorate in higher education leadership, a master’s degree in nonprofit management, and a baccalaureate in business administration and computer information systems.
Dr. Cech and his wife Victoria have a son, Isaiah, who is a 2020 graduate of Carroll College and a daughter-in-law Isabelle McGreevey, who is a May 2021 Carroll nursing graduate.
Cech commented that he believes Carroll has had a profound impact on this life.
For the past several years, I have had the pleasure of getting to know many of the faculty, staff and Carroll community, the mission, and its Catholic identity. I’ve come to see firsthand that ‘Not for School, But for Life’, isn’t just some motto on a plaque. It’s something real and life-giving.”
Cech replaced Rev. Stephen Rowan, PhD, who served as interim president for the college after former President Thomas Evans, PhD, stepped down to accept the position of president at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.