Columbus High names new president

By Cristina Cruz - Christopher Columbus HS

MIAMI | Following an extensive nationwide search, the Board of Trustees of Christopher Columbus High School has named Thomas Kruczek as the school’s second president, effective July 1. Kruczek is currently president of Notre Dame College, a Catholic liberal arts college in South Euclid, Ohio. He will succeed Brother Kevin Handibode, who will assume a new role at the high school.

“We want to thank Brother Kevin for his 47 years of service to Columbus, 18 as president, and welcome Mr. Kruczek to the Columbus family,” said Brother Patrick McNamara, U.S. provincial for the Marist Brothers, and former Columbus principal. “The Marist Brothers and Columbus community are blessed to have Mr. Kruczek, whose experience and passion for education will contribute to the continued success of Christopher Columbus High School.”

Kruczek has a 30-plus-year career that has successfully encompassed higher education and the business world. He has extensive experience in management, strategic planning, finance, and marketing. In addition to serving as president of Notre Dame College for the last five years, Kruczek led South Florida-based Lynn University’s College of Business & Management as dean and served as the executive director for the Center for Entrepreneurship at both Syracuse University and Rollins College in Winter Park.

A strong fundraiser and networker, Kruczek has played a central role in the funding and establishment of numerous programs and facilities at four colleges that he has served, including a role in the $15 million College of Business building at Lynn and establishing the Caring Hearts Fund for students faced with financial emergencies at Notre Dame.

Before entering academia, Kruczek held positions in financial planning and marketing with the Walt Disney Company and owned and managed two businesses in the areas of international consulting and manufacturing.

A devout Catholic, Kruczek holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame. He is passionate about the value of Catholic education and has served on numerous professional boards and non-profit organizations. He is currently a frequent guest speaker and instructor for the Institute for Veterans and Military Families where he assists disabled military veterans who want to start or grow their own companies.

“I am excited to be joining Christopher Columbus High School and am honored to be following in the footsteps of Brother Kevin, who has served the school so well and faithfully," Kruczek said. "It will be a privilege to lead a school so rich in the Marist tradition, and one that has provided an outstanding spiritual and academic education to thousands of proud Catholic men. I look forward to working with principal David Pugh and the administration, the passionate and dedicated board members, faculty and staff — and especially, to meeting the Columbus Explorers. Adelante!”

“I want to thank the Presidential Search Committee for the tremendous amount of time and effort they put into conducting a comprehensive search for the new president,” said Brother Patrick. The nine-member committee, made up of Marist Brothers, board members, faculty, alumni, and parents underwent an 11-month process which included holding several focus groups to learn about the qualities that the Columbus family deemed important for a new president.

“The committee received interest from qualified candidates from all over the country, reviewed countless resumes and met with more than a dozen highly qualified candidates,” said Mick Maspons, Columbus class of ’81, who chaired the Presidential Search Committee. “We are confident that Mr. Kruczek will be a great leader to guide the school and help achieve important goals in the next decade.”

Established in 1958, Columbus is a private, Roman Catholic, college-preparatory high school conducted by the Marist Brothers of the Schools.