About
Dr. John Cech is the 18th President of Carroll College
Dr. Cech began his presidency at Carroll on June 1, 2018. During his tenure at Carroll College, he is proud to have supported college-wide efforts to establish the College’s second graduate program, a master’s of social work as well as an accelerated nursing program. Dr. Cech is also proud of the College’s recent accomplishments to complete a massive renovation of the College’s nursing facilities and the creation of the E. L. Wiegand Nursing Simulation Center. Also during Dr. Cech’s time at Carroll, the College completed design and construction of the Anthrozoology Canine Center. Other notable efforts included the establishment of a partnership with the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom and with the Keck Observatory on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Dr. Cech previously served in the Montana University System for the past 16 years, first as the leader of City College at MSU Billings, which doubled its enrollment and significantly expanded its campus footprint under Cech’s leadership. Cech then spent eight years as Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education for the Montana University System, where he was responsible for Academic, Research, and Student Affairs for the State.
During his tenure, the Montana University System was recognized for its work through Complete College America as one of four states in the nation to make systemic advances in key initiatives around student success and completion. Cech has led the CCA efforts for Montana and was recently appointed by the Complete College America President as one of 50 CCA Fellows in the nation.
Prior to his tenure with the Montana University System, Cech served Rocky Mountain College for 15 years, first as a faculty instructor, then as a director, and eventually as Dean of Community Services, Continuing Education and Summer Sessions. Cech earned a doctorate in higher education leadership, a master’s degree in nonprofit management, and a baccalaureate in business administration and computer information systems.
Dr. Cech and his wife Victoria have a son, Isaiah, who is a recent graduate of Carroll College. Isaiah is engaged to marry Ms. Isabelle McGreevey, who is a Carroll nursing major and will graduate from Carroll in May 2021.
Cech commented that he believes Carroll has had a profound impact on this life.
For the past several years, I have had the pleasure of getting to know many of the faculty, staff and Carroll community, the mission, and its Catholic identity. I’ve come to see firsthand that ‘Not for School, But for Life’, isn’t just some motto on a plaque. It’s something real and life-giving.”
Cech replaced Rev. Stephen Rowan, Ph.D., who served as interim president for the college since August 1, 2017, after former President Thomas Evans, PhD, stepped down to accept the position of president at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas.