Carroll College President Dr. John Cech to Retire June 30, 2025
(Helena, MT) – Carroll College’s 18th President, John E. Cech, Ph.D., has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2024-2025 academic year, upon the completion of his contract extension with the college. In a message sent yesterday to the Carroll community, Dr. Cech shared that serving as Carroll’s president has been an honor and privilege, describing the role as the pinnacle of his 40-year career in higher education.
Cech has served as Carroll's president since 2018. Prior to the presidency, he served as Deputy Commissioner for the Montana University System from 2010 to 2018, Dean and CEO of MSU-Billings' College of Technology (now City College) from 2002 to 2010, and as a faculty member, Community Services Director, and Dean of Outreach at Rocky Mountain College from 1984 to 2002. His last day as President of Carroll College will be June 30, 2025.
In his announcement, Cech’s central theme was gratitude for the people, initiatives, and achievements being realized at Carroll. In particular, he expressed gratitude to the Bishop, Board, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and the Helena community for their support of Carroll’s students through funding, networking, and the many partnerships they have provided Carroll College since his arrival on June 1, 2018.
Cech expressed pride in the many collective accomplishments achieved at Carroll during his tenure, attributing these successes to the efforts of the faculty, staff, and leadership team at the college. He is particularly grateful to four members of his Executive Leadership Team who have provided guidance, expertise, support, and encouragement throughout his tenure as president. These individuals include Vice President for Finance, Administration & Facilities Management Lori Peterson, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Jennifer Glowienka, Vice President of Student Engagement Kathleen O’Leary, and Director of Athletics Charlie Gross.
Community Involvement
Cech noted his gratitude for the support Carroll receives from the community, businesses, healthcare providers, and state and federal agencies, noting the increased involvement of community leaders with the college. He highlighted achievements such as the diverse and impactful level of student volunteering, growth of host family programs, enriching internships, and spirited community engagement at campus athletic events. He also mentioned major events like the 18,000-person Symphony Under the Stars, jointly sponsored by the Helena Symphony, Intrepid Credit Union and Carroll. Additionally, he reflected on numerous business and community sponsorships, including the new Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium.
Alumni and Donor Impacts
Cech reflected on the many donor and alumni members who have stepped up to support the college during his tenure, highlighting significant initiatives and projects such as the Simperman Learning Commons, the Perkins Call Canine Center, Carroll’s state-of-the-art E. L. Wiegand Nursing Simulation Center, the Global Student Refugee Initiative, the Catholic Studies Program, and the Nelson Stadium Enhancement Project.
Academic Achievements
He thanked Dr. Jennifer Glowienka, Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs, for her work on numerous programmatic advancements. These include developing and accrediting a new Master of Social Work program, introducing a Data Science major and minor, establishing 3+3 accelerated law school programs in partnership with the University of Montana and Gonzaga University, launching the college’s accelerated nursing program, completing the state-of-the-art nursing simulation lab, and the work accomplished to date on a new Physician Assistant program, scheduled to enroll its first class in 2026, pending provisional accreditation.
Cech highlighted Carroll’s impressive academic achievements, noting that the college has sent 161 students to medical schools in the past ten years and boasts a first-time NCLEX RN exam passing rate of 97.2 percent over the past three years. He also mentioned Carroll’s exceptional 100% acceptance rate into non-medical graduate programs and its #1 ranking for best value college in the western region by U.S. News and World Report. Additionally, Cech celebrated the accomplishments of the Talking Saints speech and debate team, which has shared or won the Northwest conference championship for 34 consecutive years. He also emphasized Carroll’s commitment to supporting undergraduate student research, highlighted each April at the Student Research Festival, one of his favorite annual academic events.
Staff Gratitude
Cech expressed his gratitude for Carroll’s staff and their dedication to the institution’s students as well as their engagement with the community. He highlighted how the campus came together and continued to operate largely in-person throughout the pandemic. He noted that faculty and staff stepped up in incredibly innovative ways and he particularly recognized the flexibility and talent of Carroll’s staff throughout the campus, who kept things running not only through the pandemic, but beyond, to continually ensure a safe and supportive environment for the campus community.
Campus Ministry and Catholic Faith
Cech praised the continuation of a flourishing Campus Ministry program, which welcomed 19 Saints into the Catholic Church at the Mass of the Sacraments this past Easter, and its weekly Mass attendance is vibrant, engaged, and the envy of many other Catholic colleges and universities. He noted his special appreciation of Fr. Frohlich and the Campus Ministry staff for ensuring a welcoming environment and continuing the faithful work of Fr. Lenneman in building not only All Saints Chapel, but the strong community that fills it.
Board of Trustee Leadership
Cech commended the Board of Trustees and its leadership, including Bishop Austin Vetter, Chancellor of the College; Board Chair Emeritus Msgr. Kevin O’Neill; and current Chair Fr. Patrick Beretta. He noted that the Board’s commitment and dedication to the college have contributed to a list of outstanding student and faculty achievements. Cech praised the Board for its leadership and support in advancing key goals and projects for the college. An example he highlighted was the significant growth in the school's endowment, which has increased 72% over the past six years to $74.8 million as of June 30, 2024.
Growth in Athletics
Cech also reflected on this role as Chair of the Frontier Conference for the past three years and thanked Athletic Director Charlie Gross, highlighting the major expansion of the Frontier Conference this past year, which now includes five new full-time members and two football-only members. He also noted the addition of new men’s and women’s JV sports teams, as well as Competitive Dance and Cheer, and the major renovation of the college’s Nelson Stadium, now upgraded with a new turf field (Valley Bank Field) and stadium lighting.
Campus Infrastructure Improvements
Finally, Cech highlighted the significant infrastructure enhancements which happened at Carroll since 2018, including fundraising, design, and construction of the Simperman Learning Commons transforming the Corette Library at Carroll College into one of the most attractive academic libraries in the Northwest; fundraising, design, and construction of the Perkins Call Canine Center; renovation of the Campus Center and St. Thomas Aquinas Dining Facility; property acquisition and landscape enhancement of Founder’s Corner; renovation of the PE Center common area and Loendorf Event Room; the upcoming completion of the Valley Bank Field at Nelson Stadium; and the final planning for the Biskupiak Facilities Building in honor of longtime Facilities Director, Butch Biskupiak. In addition, the college will be finalizing its plans this fall for the new Physician Assistant Training Center which will be completed by May of 2026.
Asked about his decision to retire at the end of his seventh year as president, Cech shared, “I will always be a Saint, and I will always be grateful for the opportunity to serve students and faculty in attaining their personal goals and advancing the noble profession of higher education. However, there comes a time to move on and explore new personal and professional adventures. As this institution enters its 115th academic year, I believe I am leaving it in a strong position for even greater achievements, and I believe now is the time to pass the baton. Lastly, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my wife, Victoria, whose unwavering support and dedication as the First Lady of Carroll have been the cornerstone of our journey, enriching our community and making my tenure truly meaningful.”
"For the past six years, Dr. John Cech has worked tirelessly on behalf of Carroll College. He has been at the helm of the college during very consequential years and has led through transformative projects and challenging circumstances,” said Fr. Patrick Beretta, Chair of the Carroll College Board of Trustees. “For these accomplishments, Dr. Cech has earned our deep appreciation, and I have cherished our time working together.
“Carroll has a wonderfully rich and inspiring history and holds the promise of a vibrant and exciting future. I commit to all of you that no effort will be spared to select the perfect candidate to be our next president. We will maintain the highest standards of excellence to bring these promises to fruition. Carroll will continue to proudly and passionately prepare generations of young people ‘for life,’” continued Beretta.
In conclusion, Cech expressed his deepest thanks to the students of Carroll College, “I am so grateful to our students and all that they do to make Carroll such a special place. Victoria and I look forward to the upcoming year filled with attending athletic games, Talking Saints debates, plays, performances, student research presentations, worshiping together at Mass, working out in the Hunthausen Athletic Center, and countless other opportunities watching our students shine.” Cech shared that whenever he needed to refresh his spirit, he would simply walk around campus and talk or dine with students and feel renewed.
“Next June 30th, I will leave here feeling truly blessed to have had the opportunity to lead this amazing college and help support over 2,100 graduates whom I had the pleasure of serving during their time at Carroll,” said Cech. “I can think of no better words than ‘thank you and go Saints!’”