Fr. Dan Dixon, SJ, ’06, is coming home to lead alma mater, succeeding Bro. James Boynton, SJ, who led school since 2021
DETROIT ─ When Fr. Dan Dixon, SJ, was discerning the priesthood with the Society of Jesus, he was drawn to the idea of being sent on mission anywhere, at any time.
But in those early days of formation as a Jesuit, he didn’t imagine being missioned as the president of his alma mater.
Now, three years after his ordination, Fr. Dixon will take the reins as president of University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy this July.
Fr. Dixon graduated from the all-boys U of D Jesuit High School in 2006. He then attended the University of Notre Dame for undergraduate and graduate studies in Theology and Education.
He obtained an M.B.A. from the Columbia School of Business in New York City, and a Master’s of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in Berkeley, Calif., before being ordained to the priesthood in 2023. Since then, he has served at St. Mary Student Parish in Ann Arbor as parochial vicar and director of faith formation.
“As Jesuits, we receive our mission from our provincial. When I received this mission, I felt a deep, deep sense of gratitude to God,” said Fr. Dixon told Detroit Catholic. “Our spirituality is based on our motto, Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam, which means, ‘For the greater glory of God.’ So, in addition to going through the steps of interviewing, we must ultimately be missioned with the belief – through prayer and discernment both on the school’s part and on the provincial’s part – that the decision is for the greater glory of God. It humbles me to receive this mission from Fr. Kiser.”
The Very Rev. Karl Kiser, SJ, the provincial of the USA Midwest Jesuit Province, served as president of U of D Jesuit from 2002-2016.
“The opportunity to mission (Fr. Dixon) as the next president of the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy offers me deep consolation," said Fr. Kiser. "I enjoyed the distinct blessing of leading U of D Jesuit for 14 years, so the school is near and dear to my heart. As an alumnus, Fr. Dixon already knows and loves the mission of the school and as a man deeply rooted in the Gospel, he will be an inspirational leader guiding U of D Jesuit into a hope-filled future."
The process to select a new president spanned nine months, following the announcement last summer that Bro. James Boynton, SJ, who served as president since 2021 and taught at the school previously, would take on a new mission after the 2025-26 school year.
A presidential search committee interviewed candidates, considering input from parents and alumni as to which attributes and strategic priorities they value in school leadership.
Catholic education runs deep in the Dixon family. Fr. Dixon’s mom was principal at Shrine High School in Royal Oak for 17 years.
“I believe Catholic education is the best possible way to create a culture in young people that forms them in what it means to be Catholic. I look forward to the opportunity to work with the faculty and staff to create that culture in those halls,” Fr. Dixon said. “Whether a student is Catholic or not, if you come to our school, you’ll experience what the Catholic Church is all about. You’ll come to know who Jesus is, and to learn what it means to be His disciple. You learn about that in theology class, of course, but also on retreats, when doing service, and throughout the day.”
Service to others is one of the core values at U of D Jesuit, conveyed through the motto: Men for Others. Students at all grade levels must complete a minimum number of service hours each school year, though many go above and beyond in other works of mercy offered through the school’s campus ministry department.
“We form men for others in the image of Jesus Christ, the man for others,” said Fr. Dixon. “That’s what it means to me to unleash the gospel: to introduce people to Jesus and to deepen their relationship with Him and their understanding of what it means to follow Him.”
Fr. Dixon’s experience in campus ministry at St. Mary Student Parish provides valuable insight for his next mission.
“I see a revival among young people and an openness to faith, and in particular the Catholic faith,” said Fr. Dixon. “At the University of Michigan, we have seven Masses every weekend and they are packed. That challenges the narrative about young people and the faith. They truly are hungry for meaning and for genuine community and belonging. And so, our part is to give them experiences that reveal to them that church is not just a place you attend or a box you check, but it’s about being a member of a community of believers.”
In 2027, U of D Jesuit will celebrate 150 years since opening its doors in 1877 in the city of Detroit. Fr. Dixon sees the milestone as a time to reflect and take stock.
“The sesquicentennial will be an opportunity to celebrate and to praise God for the blessings He has given us,” Fr. Dixon said. “It’s a chance to recognize what is so special and timeless about U of D, and to ask the Holy Spirit to help us understand how we can take those timeless truths and apply them in a new, exciting, and hope-filled way.”
