The University of Saint Francis has a new president at the helm for the first time in nearly three decades.

Rev. Dr. Eric Albert Zimmer’s first day as the college’s president was July 1. Zimmer was appointed president by the founding congregation, the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration and the USF board of trustees. He succeeds Sister M. Elise Kriss who retired June 30 after serving 27 years as president.
The college has campuses in Fort Wayne and Crown Point.

“Saint Francis is wonderfully placed to continue to develop and grow and perhaps do so on a much greater level than anyone would have thought a couple of decades ago,” Fr. Zimmer said. “(Sister Kriss) developed it tremendously, building up the campus and the new buildings and the new chapel and all these wonderful things (and) we want to continue to build on that.”

Zimmer previously served as associate teaching professor in the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame as well as pastor of Saint Patrick’s Church in Walkerton.

Zimmer has a doctorate from University of Pennsylvania, a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago, a master’s of divinity degree and a licentiate in sacred theology from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, a master of arts from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s of arts degree from Loyola University of New Orleans.

Zimmer has also spent time focusing on international pastoral ministry and service through long-term service in international communities, including Nepal, India, Chile, France and Italy, and in pastoral care with Omaha’s Hispanic community and New York City’s inner city and Ground Zero communities. He is also an avid cyclist and professionally trained bicycle mechanic who biked across the U.S. in 2003 for Project Rachel.