Following an extensive, nationwide search, William “Bill” Brownsberger, STD, was recently named the 12th president of Saint Martin’s University in Lacey. Officially beginning on July 1st, Dr. Brownsberger brought 23 years of higher education experience and administrative roles at several Catholic institutions in the U.S. and Italy with him.
“I really went out on a limb when I accepted the position because I had only been to the Pacific Northwest one other time, and that wasn’t even in Washington State,” said Brownsberger. But, happily for Dr. Brownsberger and his family, the experience has been a positive one.
According to Brownsberger, “I know people say it rains a lot here, but I can count on one hand how many times it has rained since we moved here.” The Brownsberger family loves being outdoors, whether it is to hike or swim and find the terrain “spectacular with sunshine, trees and the mountains so close to the water.”
Saint Martin’s University is an independent coeducational university, with undergraduate and graduate offerings, located on a wooded campus of more than 380 acres. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict, the University is one of 13 Benedictine colleges and universities in the United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains.
“Saint Martin’s is a very close community and during my tenure I want to strengthen and refine who we are and showcase why we are a different kind of wonderful institution,” Brownsberger said. “I really believe in what we are doing, and I want to be a part of the team that is making this community continue to thrive.”
With more than 1380 undergraduate and 250 graduate students, St Martin’s also has an extended campus located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds attend classes at St. Martin’s to earn one of 31 majors, 11 master’s programs or one doctorate program with seven certificate programs in arts and sciences, business, counseling, education, engineering, nursing, and leadership.
Dr. Brownsberger is looking forward to attending his first St. Martin’s Gala on Saturday, November 2nd.
For more information, visit https://www.stmartin.edu/