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“ We are called today to act boldly as our predecessors have acted, to open doors and serve both our students and the community.”

Ronald A. Slepitza, Ph.D.
President
Avila University
 
B.A., St. Vincent's College
M.A., Ph.D., University of Maryland

In July of 2006, Dr. Slepitza began his duties as the 13th President of Avila University.
 
Responsible for all aspects of institutional leadership, he worked with faculty, staff, students, alumni, community leaders and friends of Avila to develop a strategic plan for the University.  Its focus is on student learning and is directed towards achieving six characteristics Avila seeks both in its graduates and its learning environment: inspired, insightful, integrated, inclusive, innovative, and influential. This plan and these outcomes are the basis of a renaissance at Avila where the gifts and talents of the faculty and staff are fully engaged.

In the Kansas City community, Dr. Slepitza serves on the Board of Trustees for Rockhurst High School, a local Jesuit high school, is Vice President of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Missouri, President of the Council of Presidents of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. He is also a leader in a local Rotary Club, of which he was recently named Rotarian of the Year. In addition, he serves the United Way and is active in a variety of other service organizations. Within the university, he has worked to engage its members more deeply in service to the community and in living the faith foundation of the University.

In addition to his involvements in strategic planning and community engagement, Dr. Slepitza has worked to infuse an understanding of the relationship between personal vocation and institution mission into the university. He is frequently called upon to speak on topics of leadership, higher education, mission and vocation to educational and community groups. Dr. Slepitza's leadership and collaboration with the Jewish community has led to Avila's greater participation in interfaith dialogue in the Kansas City community.

Formerly Vice President for Student Development and Special Counsel to the President for Strategic Planning, he served at Xavier University for 13 years. Prior, he was an Associate Vice President (1984-93) for Student Services at Creighton University.
 
Ron and his wife, Suzanne, have two children, Andrew and Molly. Molly and Andrew are both recent graduates of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.