Michael J. Garanzini

Michael J. Garanzini, S.J. (born September 24, 1948, in Saint Louis, Missouri) is an American priest in the Society of Jesus of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as President of both the International Association of Jesuit Universities and the US-based Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. From 2001 until 2015, Garanzini served as the twenty-third President of Loyola University Chicago in Chicago, Illinois, a member of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

Michael J. Garanzini, S.J.
23rd President of Loyola University Chicago
In office June 1, 2001 – June 30, 2015
Preceded by	John J. Piderit, S.J.
Succeeded by	John Peter Pelissero (interim)
Personal details
Born	(1948-09-24) September 24, 1948 St. Louis, Missouri
Residence(s)	Chicago, Illinois, US
Alma mater	Saint Louis University University of California, Berkeley
Profession	Jesuit priest
Website	Office of the President

Biography

Garanzini graduated from Saint Louis University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1971, the same year that he entered the Society of Jesus. After spending years around the country and in Rome during his training and early years as a Jesuit, Garanzini received a doctorate in psychology and religion in 1986 from the University of California, Berkeley. Later that year, he returned to Saint Louis University, teaching as an associate professor of psychology and later serving as academic vice president. Garanzini was invited to Fordham University to serve as a visiting professor of counseling in 1998, and went on to work at Georgetown University until his presidency at Loyola. He has also taught at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and at Regis College (now Regis University) in Denver.

Garanzini is the author of The Attachment Cycle: An Object Relations Approach to the Healing Ministries (1988), Meeting the Needs of Dysfunctional Families (1993), Child-Centered Schools: An Educator's Guide to Family Dysfunction (1995).

Garanzini previously served as a member of the Fairfield University Board of Trustees.

On July 1, 2015, Garanzini accepted appointment to the Chicago Board of Education.

Loyola University Chicago

During Garanzini's tenure as president of Loyola University Chicago, he has brought the university out of debt in a few years. He has also initiated construction projects on both of Loyola's city campuses.

In 2015, Garanzini announced his intention to step down after fourteen years of leading Loyola. He intended to remain as chancellor, an advisory role to the president focused on matters of mission and institutional advancement.

Awards

Garanzini was inducted as a laureate of The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and awarded the Order of Lincoln by the governor of Illinois in 2018.