Rev. Sean O. Sheridan, T.O.R., has been named the sixth president of Franciscan University of Steubenville. Although Father Sheridan has already begun tenure June 1, he will be officially sworn in, Oct.10.

The Board of Trustees unanimously chose Father Sheridan as president, April 19.

"When I learned I had been selected as Franciscan University's sixth president, I felt a tremendous sense of peace and a tremendous sense of responsibility to lead this great university. It is inspiring and truly humbling for me to be here at Franciscan University with the students who are pouring their hearts into their education and their prayer life, falling in love with God and the church, and striving to become saints," Sheridan told the Intelligencer.

Father Sheridan, a native of Cresson, Pa., has a law degree from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Law (1990) and a doctorate in canon law from the Catholic University of America. He graduated in 1985 with a bachelor of science in pharmacy from the University School of Pharmacy, working as a pharmacy training manager from 1984-1990.

Father Sheridan's stint with the university began as a member of Franciscan's Board of Trustees from 2007-12, focusing on the Student Life Committee and the Academic Affairs Committee. He then joined the University's Theology Department as a professor in fall 2012, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses.

Prior to his tenure at the university, Father Sheridan served as assistant professor in the School of Canon Law at The Catholic University of America from 2009. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, since 2010.

"Father Sean brings an excellent blend of academic, pastoral, legal, and business experience to Franciscan University. He has also demonstrated a strong care and concern for the good of the University's educational and spiritual mission. Together, these qualifications will uniquely equip him to lead Franciscan University according to the 'heart of the Church,'" said Father Nicholas Polichnowski, TOR, chairman of the Board of Trustees and minister provincial of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Province of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Penance, in an official statement.

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