By Cari Ann DeLamielleure | The Michigan Catholic

DETROIT —

University of Detroit Mercy named Antoine Garibaldi, PhD, the current president of Gannon University in Erie, Penn., as its first lay president. Garibaldi will enter the post July 1, 2011, succeeding Jesuit Fr. Gerard Stockhausen, who stepped down in June to take on a leadership post at the Jesuit Conference in Washington, D.C.

Selected from 60 candidates, Garibaldi’s widespread educational background and leadership abilities give hope to the university’s mission in advancing “UDM not only as an institution of higher education, but also as a community resource in the Detroit area,” said Carl Camden, UDM trustee who chaired the presidential search committee.

Garibaldi received his doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Minnesota . He has been president of Gannon University since 2001. During his time at Gannon, he aided in increasing enrollment 24 percent and raised more than $39.8 million in private gifts and grants.

With the transition to UDM, Garibaldi says he looks “forward to working with the faculty, staff, students and trustees to continue to advance the academic excellence and student-centered emphases that are reflected in the UDM mission.”

“Given his tenure as a Catholic university president, he brings strong leadership skills and extensive experience that will enable UDM to continue its mission of providing a quality academic experience with a Catholic urban context,” said John D. Lewis, chairman of the UDM board of trustees.