President Matt vandenBerg

Ohio Wesleyan University's 17th president, Matt vandenBerg, Ed.D., took office July 1, 2023, with a determination to "build mightily on OWU's rich history and pursue unprecedented heights with confidence, boldness, innovation, joy, vigor, and good humor."

During his first year in office, vandenBerg oversaw a university that continued to grow in size and prestige, bucking many of the trends impacting colleges nationwide. At his inauguration on April 19, 2024, vandenBerg announced several new bold, groundbreaking initiatives including:

  • Delaware County Promise: Partnering with community leaders, philanthropists, and organizations to launch a tuition-free pathway for all Delaware County high school graduates who earn a 3.5 GPA and have a family income of $100,000 or less per year.

  • Tuition Match and Teach Now: Establishing new collaborations with Columbus State Community College to help more CSCC students earn their four-year degrees at Ohio Wesleyan and to propel more qualified teachers into Ohio's classrooms.

  • Sister School Agreement with Claflin University: Creating one of the first and most comprehensive sister school partnerships in American higher education between South Carolina-based Claflin, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), and Ohio Wesleyan, a Predominantly White Institution (PWI).

  • U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition: Launching the most lucrative business plan competition in Ohio with OWU's Delaware Entrepreneurial Center, offering a total prize package valued at more than a half million dollars to the winners of student and professional competition tracks.

At the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, Ohio Wesleyan's forward momentum also continues with:

  • A sizable first-year enrollment: In addition to being larger in number, OWU's Class of 2028 also is the university's most diverse class ever. Fully one-third of the class are students of color or international. In addition, 38% are first-generation college students.

  • Strong retention figures: For the second consecutive academic year, Ohio Wesleyan reports a retention rate in fall 2024 of more than 84%.

  • A healthy endowment: OWU alumni and friends give more than $20 million in gifts and pledges in 2023-2024. Combined with investment returns, this generosity pushes OWU's endowment to more than $300 million.

  • Growing budget strength: Ohio Wesleyan builds its cash reserves and bolsters its budget through a combination of surging enrollment, rising net tuition, and a rigorous budgeting process with enhanced reporting. 

  • A groundbreaking focus on civil discourse: Ohio Wesleyan announces an all-in partnership with the Constructive Dialogue Institute to become one of the nation's first colleges to provide formal training to all students, faculty, and staff in navigating difficult conversations.

Building on Strength

In addition to his successful start at Ohio Wesleyan, vandenBerg was equally impactful during his first presidency at Presbyterian College in South Carolina. As one of the nation's youngest college presidents, vandenBerg helped Presbyterian define and distinguish itself in the higher education landscape. His many achievements at the liberal arts college included:

  • Leading the college through an intensive and inclusive process to identify a distinctive new market position as "America's Innovative Service College" and launching a strategic plan, with unanimous Board of Trustees' approval, to support the position.

  • Establishing a flex plan that provides a pathway for students to graduate with a bachelor's degree in select majors in three years.

  • Creating partnerships with an area technical school and high school to create South Carolina's first 2+2 bachelor's degree in education.

  • And building partnerships with the community to drive economic development, cultural enrichment, and student engagement.

Before joining Presbyterian, vandenBerg served as the vice president for advancement and external relations and as the vice president for advancement at Alma College in Michigan, as the associate vice president for development at Albion College in Michigan, and as the assistant dean for development and alumni relations at the Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing (Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses).

Education and Service

Matt vandenBerg holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Public Affairs with concentrations in nonprofit management and public policy analysis from the Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and a Bachelor of Arts with a political science major and Spanish minor from Alma College in Michigan, where he graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.

He also holds a Certificate in the Principles and Techniques of Fundraising from Indiana University's Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE). In 2020-2021, he was selected as one of 35 cabinet officers from across the country to participate in the American Academic Leadership Institute's Executive Leadership Academy, a yearlong senior leadership development program. vandenBerg also holds certificates for completing both Harvard University's Seminar for New Presidents and Peking University's Higher Education in China program.

In 2024, vandenBerg was selected to serve as the president of the Five Colleges of Ohio and as a member of the board of directors of the national Annapolis Group of Liberal Arts Colleges.

vandenBerg and his wife, Melissa, have a son, Jackson, and a daughter, Sylvia.

FOLLOW PRESIDENT VANDENBERG ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: mattpvandenberg
Instagram: matthew.p.vandenberg
LinkedIn: mattvandenberg
X: mattvandenberg

Presidential Inauguration – April 19, 2024