BCU names Draud university's 13th president

By RENEE WEBB
Content and Design Coordinator

            When Dr. Matthew J. Draud received a phone call to offer him the president’s job of Briar Cliff University, he didn’t have to think about his answer.

            “I literally about jumped out of my chair and I accepted this job even before I even knew the details of what it entailed,” he described at the June 11 press conference where Briar Cliff’s Board of Trustees announced him as the university’s new president.

            Draud, who will start his position as president of Briar Cliff on July 1, most recently served as the vice president of academic affairs at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas. 

            “I am deeply honored to become the 13^th president of Briar Cliff University,” he said, calling it phenomenal to have this opportunity. “I am inspired by the faculty, staff and leadership team’s dedication to Briar Cliff’s mission and their passion for serving our students.”

It was during the on campus interview process, when Draud knew Briar Cliff was the place for him. While he was drawn to the fact that it was a Catholic institution with Franciscan origins, it was having the opportunity to break bread with students and answer their questions that was the clincher to drawing him in.

“The day I was here interviewing on campus, I had a special experience that left me with no doubt that if this job were to be offered to me I would accept it,” said Draud. After a grueling, long day where every minute was accounted, having the chance to share a meal and dialogue with students “showed the evidence of what Briar Cliff offers to students, that transformative educational experience that is Briar Cliff. I was left with no doubt that this is the place where I would want to be a president.”

He pointed out that he and his wife left the search visit confident that this was a community they wanted to be a part of.

Briar Cliff launched a nationwide president search in January. Draud was one of four finalists invited to campus to interview with the Presidential Search Committee made up of faculty, staff, students and board members.

While it was the people and community that solidified his desire to serve as president of the university, as a Catholic and product of Catholic education it was BCU’s faith identity led him to apply. He completed his undergraduate degree at Thomas More University and that was “where I learned the value of the Catholic intellectual traditions, where I was challenged to learn about myself spiritually.”         

Briar Cliff’s Catholic tradition being steeped in Franciscan values, he noted, was icing on the cake for him. 

“The Franciscan charisms of service, caring, openness to all, dedication to the common good – are in perfect sync with my own values. I knew I would be very proud to serve that mission of Briar Cliff University,” said Draud, who noted servant-leadership also aligns with his value system.

After receiving his Bachelor of Arts from Thomas More University in Kentucky and a Master of Science from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Draud earned a Doctor of Philosophy from Lehigh University.

A distinguished academic leader with over 20 years of administrative experience in higher education, he began his career as full-time faculty at Long Island University in 1997, achieving tenure, promotion to associate professor and then chair of the biology department. In 2013, he became a tenured professor and department head at Armstrong State University and later served as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Siena Heights University.

Draud acknowledged this was an extremely challenging time for higher education.

“With that advent and the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, generative AI – the world of work – what our students are going to be doing in the very near future is transforming at a pace that is spectacular,” he said. “What that is going to call us to do – every institution is going to reimagine what we are doing to prepare our students for that future. I think Briar Cliff has exactly what it takes to make those innovations.”

The new president said he looks forward to being part of the university and the Sioux City area.

“As I think about transitioning into this role, I want to begin by recognizing that the college, Briar Cliff University, is a public good and I want you to know that myself and my wife Michelle, are going to lean into that very strongly. We really want to bolster the relationship between Briar Cliff, the Siouxland community and the Sioux City community,” said Draud. “We want to be a part of all of that. We want to come here to worship with this community, come to celebrate with this community and relationally understand what we are all trying to achieve.”

Steven Freeman, a 1969 Briar Cliff alumnus and board chair emeritus, has been serving as the interim president of the university since Jan. 5, following the resignation of Dr. Patrick J. Schulte. The retired businessman will remain at the university to serve as a presidential advisor to Draud to ensure a smooth transition.

In his first 100 days, Draud said he would like to build a two-way communication with the Sioux City community and learn from them “about the strengths of Briar Cliff, what we have to build on and where we are headed in the future and that’s conversations with everyone.”