On the track for change: new president takes lead at USF

Photo credit: University of St. Francis

Dr. Ryan C. Hendrickson, a former Track and Field athlete, has hit the ground running as the newest President of the University of St. Francis (USF). President Hendrickson has his eyes set on expanding USF’s profile by increasing both student enrollment and the school’s base of supporters. Since his tenure started on June 1, 2025, he has already established a steady pace.

“I am working with faculty and staff on committee reform,” Dr. Hendrickson said. “We have a lot of committees and service work and I want to find more efficient ways to use our time.”

For his first year, President Hendrickson anticipates student enrollment challenges and is working to combat them. He has begun working with the deans to devise innovative programs that will attract students, alongside revising the current general education curriculum. By taking these small strides in this long marathon, he is effectively pacing himself to reach his most anticipated goal: expanding the university’s profile to increase the overall function of the university.

Dr. Hendrickson noted that, “[By enhancing the university’s profile] it helps everything function better. It helps enrollment, it helps fundraising, helps community relations. There are so many benefits to increasing our profile.”

President Hendrickson recognizes USF’s strong academic foundation alongside the student placement rates while acknowledging the room for growth. He sees great potential in the University of St. Francis and will go the extra mile to reach it.

“We have an excellent university that people love and have wonderful experiences in,” he said. “We need more people to know about the University of St. Francis.”

The president believes in the power of higher education. Furthermore, he would like students to graduate from the university with a better understanding of the school's Catholic-Franciscan mission. USF’s mission strongly appealed to Dr. Hendrickson when he was an applicant and it was a main factor in his pursuit of the open presidential position.

“My first impression was how embedded the mission is into the university,” he said about USF’s mission. “The Catholic-Franciscan mission really identifies our university and makes us unique, makes us attractive, and it just stood out across the entire campus.”

President Hendrickson studied at Marquette University in his undergrad, and earned his graduate degree at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His fascination with international relations and American foreign policy led him to his first job as a professor at Eastern Illinois University, where he taught for 18 years.

Dr. Hendrickson’s professional resume holds 26 years of higher education work experience, including roles as Professor, Dean, VP and Provost. Although the majority of his career was as a professor of political science, his adeptness in leadership guided his success in university administration roles.

“One very important part of leadership is listening to others,” he said. “So, I try very hard to listen to other viewpoints and perspectives so I fully understand issues.”

Furthermore, President Hendrickson’s natural leadership will separate him from his predecessors as the student enrollment process becomes increasingly competitive.

“I’m leading in a different time period,” he said. “Everybody has to compete with the times, but the challenges now are different.”

President Hendrickson is properly equipped to jump over every hurdle to keep the University of St. Francis an evolving entity. He has already set his plans in motion. Moreover, his leadership extends further than his goals and projects, as he is eager to attend many on-campus events and sports games, especially the Homecoming football game.

As a former student-athlete, he encourages all student-athletes to dedicate time and effort to their respective sports.

“Take advantage of your opportunity to excel,” said the president. “It is such a unique time to invest in your sport or your interest, and it’s hard to do later in life, this is the time to do it.”

He encourages the entire student body to engage in the community of students and build relationships with their peers.

“Reach out to others and make friends when you are on our campus because they help you navigate school, they help get you through school,” said Dr. Hendrickson. 

Undoubtedly, President Hendrickson will bring attention to the University of St. Francis. With the plans he has initiated, the student body can expect upcoming alterations in the general education curriculum, a bigger selection of programs that the university offers and many more changes!