St. Mary's University students might not know it yet but the new university president is a bit of a prankster.
Sure, Thomas Mengler has many of the typical trappings of a university president ? years of study at Carleton College in Minnesota and the University of Texas at Austin, nearly two decades in academic leadership, most recently as law school dean at the private Catholic University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. He checks the boxes for fundraising abilities and, importantly for St. Mary's, a strong sense of Catholic faith.
He's also cultivated qualities that help him descend from the ivory tower to better fit in with youngsters.
Mengler has a mirthful way of breaking good news. When he called St. Thomas law students together for an announcement in 2006 with posters referencing a mystery speaker, students speculated that Oprah Winfrey might come to campus. Though he was actually planning to announce the law school's accreditation, he kept up the charade.
?Never miss an opportunity to have fun,? he said. ?I decided then to try to think of the many ways that I, Tom Mengler, was similar to Oprah Winfrey. We're both from Chicago. ... The clincher was that the mystery speaker was associated with the color purple. The colors of St. Thomas are purple and silver.?
Mengler, 59, has both a master's in philosophy and a law degree from UT Austin and worked as an assistant attorney general in Texas before joining the faculty at the University of Illinois in the mid-1980s.
He eventually became dean of the university's college of law before leaving in 2002 for a similar spot at St. Thomas' recently established law school .
In June, Mengler replaced Charles Cotrell, who served 13 years as St. Mary's president.
Though Mengler is somewhat unique among presidents in having a law degree instead of a traditional doctorate, Arturo Vega, associate professor and presidential search committee member, said he has the administrative knowledge required.
?Passing the mantle is a time of anxiety in any institution, but (Mengler) has considerable experience,? Vega said.
Mengler said he wants to start a mentorship program similar to one at St. Thomas pairing law students with professionals to further students' leadership skills. He also plans to launch a new strategic vision, raise funds in the community and champion the school's liberal arts focus.
?The liberal arts curriculum is being hugely undervalued in the current debate about the long-term value of a college degree,? he said. ?Education is about preparing men and women for a purposeful life that will be successful and ... the values and the skills that open up enormous opportunities, not simply those narrow technical opportunities.?
Mengler's time at St. Thomas wasn't completely without controversy. In 2008, dozens of students signed a letter protesting his decision to deny a law school student's request to fulfill a volunteer service requirement at Planned Parenthood, as reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Mengler said his decision followed university precedent and that ?the Catholic identity also requires Catholic universities to be faithful to the doctrine of the Church.? He added that he encourages students to follow their hearts when volunteering in non-academic capacities.
After spending Saturday morning at a St. Mary's Mass for students and their families, he greeted those moving into the residence halls. Classes start Tuesday.
Freshman Kassandra Pe?a, 18, of Weslaco, thought Mengler looked a little familiar when he picked up her printer and helped her to her new room.
?It was very nice,? said Pe?a with a giggle. ?It says a lot, especially on the first day.?
Mengler had a recent refresher course in dorm living. Until recently, he bedded down in Dougherty Hall before moving into his new home on the North Side. His wife, Mona, is still selling their home in Minnesota.
?I've been living the dream,? Mengler joked. ?For over two months, I was able to live the life of a college student.?
jlloyd@express-news.net
Twitter: @jlloydster
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