President Matt vandenBerg

Since taking office as OWU's 17th president in July 2023, Matt vandenBerg has led something rare in American higher education: a rebellion with results.

"Together, we rebel against small thinking, against fear and divisiveness, and against higher education's traditional reluctance to change," vandenBerg says. "And we rebel for students — for boldness, for kindness, and for innovation."

That rebellion belongs to the entire Ohio Wesleyan community. Faculty, staff, students, alumni, and donors have built something together that is drawing national and international attention — and the innovations speak for themselves.

A representative sample of recent innovations includes:

  • Distinctive Fine Arts-Infused Main Library: With $45 million in donor investment, Ohio Wesleyan is building The John F. Milligan Library, the first fine arts-infused library in American higher education.
  • Conrades School of Engineering: Launched with a $17 million donor endowment and industry partnerships, the Conrades School of Engineering marks a decisive expansion into high-demand applied fields while preserving Ohio Wesleyan's liberal arts core.
  • Smith Center for Faculty Excellence: A $10 million donor investment is funding the Smith Center, strengthening teaching innovation and academic quality across the university.
  • Palmer Center for First-Generation Student Success: A $5 million donor investment is establishing the Palmer Center, positioning Ohio Wesleyan to become a national leader in first-generation student outcomes.
  • Pioneering Focus on Civil Discourse: Ohio Wesleyan became the first university in the nation to provide free, formal constructive dialogue training to every student, faculty member, and staff member, with students earning a specialized certificate upon completion.
  • Sister School Agreement with Claflin University: The university's partnership with Claflin University stands as one of the first and most comprehensive PWI-HBCU agreements in American higher education.
  • First-in-Kind Solar Energy Initiative: A public-private solar energy initiative will make OWU Ohio's No. 1 campus for solar energy production, reduce its carbon footprint by 82 percent, and save the university millions in energy costs.
  • U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition: The U.S. Entrepreneurship Competition has grown into the second largest in the nation and the largest in Ohio, turning OWU's campus into a launchpad for founders of all ages.
  • Delaware County Promise: Partnered with community leaders, philanthropists, and organizations to launch a tuition-free pathway for all Delaware County high school graduates who earn a 3.5 GPA and have a family income of $100,000 or less per year.
  • Tuition Match and Teach Now: A groundbreaking collaboration with Columbus State Community College is propelling more students toward four-year degrees and putting more qualified teachers into Ohio classrooms.

The Ohio Wesleyan community's rebellion is producing historic outcomes:

  • Largest incoming class in 17 years — 571 students in the Class of 2029, marking three consecutive years of enrollment growth.
  • Largest two-year enrollment increase in the 21st century — total enrollment has grown from approximately 1,300 to 1,656.
  • Largest transfer class in OWU's 183-year history — earning national recognition as one of the most transfer-friendly colleges in the country.
  • Retention rates consistently in the mid-80s — reflecting not just recruitment momentum but a campus experience keeping students engaged and committed.
  • Nearly $70 million in philanthropic support in a single fiscal year — a record that signals historic donor confidence in Ohio Wesleyan's direction and the boldness of its vision.

The national recognition is earned. OWU earned a spot on U.S. News & World Report's list of Most Innovative Colleges. vandenBerg participated in the United Nations General Assembly 2024 forum — the year's most significant international convening on inclusive education and inclusive workplaces — and speaks regularly on higher education innovation, student success, philanthropy, and partnership development. Media across television, radio, podcast, and print regularly seek his perspective on what Ohio Wesleyan and institutions like it are proving is possible.

Before Ohio Wesleyan, vandenBerg served as president of Presbyterian College and held senior advancement and external relations leadership roles at Alma College, Albion College, and Indiana University. He holds a Doctor of Education in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University, and a Bachelor of Arts from Alma College, where he graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He is a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE).

He and his wife, Melissa, have a son, Jackson, and a daughter, Sylvia.

Professional & Community Leadership

Boards

  • Annapolis Group of Liberal Arts Colleges, Board Member and Program Co-chair
  • Council of Independent Colleges, Board Member
  • Delaware County Foundation, Board Member
  • I Know I Can, Board Member
  • NAICU Committee on Student Aid, Member
  • NCAC Presidents' Council, Member
  • Five Colleges of Ohio, Board Member (Chair)
  • Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges, Board of Trustees Strategy Committee Member
  • Strand Theatre and Cultural Arts Association, Board Member

Memberships

  • Coalition for Transformational Education Leaders
  • Fulcrum Nonprofit Leadership Charter
  • Presidents for Civic Preparedness
  • Young Presidents' Organization

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