watercolor image of campus building with the words, "inauguration of Brian McCloskey, D.M., MBA, the eighth president of Chestnut Hill College"

Inauguration of Brian McCloskey, D.M., MBA

Save the Date – September 25, 26, and October 15

Brian McCloskey

It’s a Great Time to be a Griffin as We Celebrate our New President

Chestnut Hill College and its Board of Directors cordially invite you to the Presidential Inauguration of Brian McCloskey, D.M., MBA, eighth president of Chestnut Hill College.

Inauguration events to include mass, ceremony, For the Love of CHC block party, and student service day later in the Fall. Invitation and additional details to follow.

We hope all in our Griffin community can join us at one or multiple events as we celebrate Dr. McCloskey for the work he has done and will continue to do for Chestnut Hill College.

Schedule of Events

Friday, September 25: Inauguration Mass and Ceremony

Join us in celebrating the Presidential Inauguration of Dr. Brian McCloskey, eighth president of Chestnut Hill College. This event is free to attend but we ask that you RSVP in advance for purposes of headcount. You may choose to RSVP for one or both of the below events.

Inaugural Mass

Join us at 9am in the Sisters of Saint Joseph Motherhouse Chapel for a special liturgy where we will bless Dr. McCloskey as a partner in mission of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. All are welcome!

Inauguration Ceremony

Speakers from local government, faculty, staff, students, alumni, the Board or Directors and Sisters of St. Joseph, will offer a message of welcome, which will be followed by the investiture of the president, by Carol Steinour Young, chair of the board of directors, and Sister Eileen Marnien, vice chair of the board of directors and president of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

More details to come.

RSVP to the Mass and/or Inauguration Ceremony

Saturday, September 26: For the Love of CHC Block Party

This special event will bring our community together in honor of our new president, Dr. Brian McCloskey—a true Philadelphia native, born and raised. The celebration will capture the heart of Philly while marking an exciting new chapter for CHC.

Bring your friends, classmates, and family to experience the fun, which includes Philly “neighborhood” dining, dancing, drinks, dessert, and more!

Tickets cost $250 per person. The event begins at 6 PM in Sorgenti Arena.

Buy tickets to the For the Love of CHC Block Party

October 15: Founder’s Day of Service

Guided by our mission and the legacy of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the Inauguration festivities include a student day of service that will take place on the SSJ Founder’s Day.

There will be opportunities for engagement between President McCloskey. the student campus community, and the wider Philadelphia and Camden communities through service and dialogue. In the morning, there will be an opportunity for students to create packages for our three SSJ Sponsored Ministries according to their unique needs: The Welcome Center, the Newcomer Housing Alliance, and the SSJ Neighborhood Center.

All students are welcome to participate in the morning activity. During lunch, there will be an opportunity for dialogue, sharing, and listening with select students with President McCloskey over a meal. After lunch there will be an opportunity for encounter in our local communities by delivering the packages to each ministry. Students will be selected to deliver these packages, accompanied by President McCloskey.

More details and sign-up to come.

Thank you to our sponsors

Dr. Brian McCloskey envisions a future for CHC that is both transformative and true to who we are. You can help support that future by sponsoring the For the Love of CHC Block Party and Presidential Innovation Fund, an initiative designed to strengthen what makes the College exceptional while boldly preparing for what lies ahead. It is truly Dr. McCloskey’s deepest commitment to our students, faculty, staff, and the future of our beloved Chestnut Hill College.

The fund will allow the College to sustain and strengthen the liberal arts, the core of our educational foundation by investing in cross-disciplinary partnerships and a focus on efforts that enable our students to gain skills in critical thinking, communication, and empathy to meet the needs to the world. The fund will also support growth in other areas, namely advancing the scientific offerings and revitalizing such programs with upgraded facilities, research opportunities, and new faculty positions, all designed to launch the next generation of scientific innovators. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the fund will provide the College with resources to launch programs on the cutting edge of society, develop centers of inquiry, and enhance experiential learning initiatives that position CHC as leaders on the frontier of knowledge.

There are sponsorship opportunities at every level. Please consider supporting our future whether or not you are able to attend the block party event.

Click here for more information on the available sponsorships.

Get to Know Dr. Brian McCloskey

Dr. McCloskey holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Accounting from Jefferson University (formerly Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science), an MBA from St. Joseph’s University, and a Doctorate in Management from the University of Maryland, Global Campus.   

In addition to his administrative role, Dr. McCloskey has been an adjunct professor for over 30 years, teaching business, accounting, and budgeting at institutions such as Southern New Hampshire University and Notre Dame of Maryland University, where he designed a doctoral-level course on budgeting and strategic planning in higher education. 

Outside of Chestnut Hill College and his leadership role, Dr. McCloskey is an active board member of the African Sisters Education Collaborative and serves on the finance committee of the 911Memorial Garden of Reflection, the official Pennsylvania memorial to the victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. 

Outside of his professional life, Dr. McCloskey is the proud father to Bailey and Paige, and grandfather to Adalynn. He remains engaged in the local soccer community as a licensed referee and is an ardent supporter of Philadelphia sports.

Dr. McCloskey shares his excitement and vision for the College, saying, “It is an honor to serve as the eighth president of Chestnut Hill College. I am deeply committed to advancing our mission, which is grounded in the values of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Our focus on serving all people, without distinction, inclusivity, and providing transformative educational opportunities aligns perfectly with my own beliefs about the power of higher education. I look forward to continuing to strengthen our liberal arts foundation while launching innovative programs, such as the new MBA in Strategic Management and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, as well as the Life Skills Program serving the neurodiverse community, all of which respond to the pressing needs of our community.”