Michael A. Grandillo, Ph.D.Grandillo, a longtime college administrator, will take over as the seventh president of the 4,200-student, Felician-run liberal arts university on July 1, with a formal inauguration to take place in the fall. The university made the announcement Feb. 11.
“I am humbled and honored to be called upon to serve and lead this exceptional university community,” Grandillo said in a statement. “I understand and embrace the charism and core values of the Felician Sisters and Madonna University. I am eager to continue building on our successes to ensure Catholic higher education is accessible and affordable at Madonna.”
A lifelong Catholic, Grandillo brings more than 35 years of higher education experience to Madonna, having served most recently as interim vice president at St. Mary's College of Maryland and in a similar position at Bethel College in Indiana. He has also served in both local and federal government, including as president of the city council in his native Tiffin, Ohio, and as an advisor to U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown on federal appointments.
Grandillo's appointment as the first lay president comes at a "historic juncture" for Madonna, said Judge Michael Talbot, the university's board chairman and a member of the search committee.
"His breadth of experience across all aspects of university administration, and his deep faith and respect for the Felician/Franciscan mission and tradition will serve him and the Madonna community well," Talbot said.
Grandillo, who holds a doctorate in higher education and Italian Renaissance history from the University of Toledo, has also served in academic leadership, recruitment, enrollment management, public relations and development for a number of other colleges, including Lakeland College, Tiffin University, Ohio Northern University and Heidelberg College.
He has also seen considerable fundraising success, having overseen five capital campaigns and tripling endowments at two institutions, while raising more than $80 million over his career.
"I am excited to be a part of fostering an enhanced philanthropic vision for Madonna," he said.
Sr. Kujawa, who announced her retirement in April 2014, has been president of Madonna for the past 14 years, having overseen the implementation of the university's first doctoral program (in nursing practice) and more than $40 million in campus improvements.
