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Father Robert Koopmann named president of St. John's University |
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By The Catholic Spirit
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Wednesday, 20 May 2009 |
Benedictine Father Robert Koopmann has been named the 12th president of St. John’s University by the school’s board of regents. He will begin his official duties on July 1.
Father Koopmann
“I’m honored and excited to be selected president,” said Father Koopmann, a 1968 graduate of St. John’s University. “I am eager to lead this institution which I love so much.”
He succeeds Dan Whalen, who has served as interim president of the
university since Oct. 21, 2008, after the resignation of the late
Benedictine Brother Dietrich Reinhart.
Father Koopmann has been a professor of music at the College of St.
Benedict and St. John’s University since 1975, and was fine arts
division head from 2006-09. For the past four years, he has served on
St. John’s board of regents, and served nine years in a previous term
on the board.
A native of Waterloo, Iowa, the new president professed as a monk of
St. John’s Abbey on Sept. 21, 1971, and was ordained a priest June 6,
1981. He has advanced degrees from the University of
Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Iowa and St. John’s School of
Theology Seminary.
He did post-doctoral study with faculty of the Royal Academy of Music
in London and the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. He is
active as a concert pianist both in the U.S. and abroad, and has
released a number of recordings since 1994. Father Koopmann is the
director of music for St. John’s Abbey.
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