Manhattan College Trustee
President, St. Mary's University of Minnesota
During 30 years of world travel as leader of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Brother William Mann, FSC served as a guiding force of the global Lasallian educational network. In 2008, he became president of St. Mary’s University in Minnesota, and while serving on its Board of Trustees from 1996-2001, he worked to further Saint Mary’s mission. A native of New York City, Brother William joined the De La Salle Christian Brothers in 1965 and began his career as an English and religion teacher, working from 1970-79 at two Christian Brothers high schools in New York and Rhode Island. Subsequently, he held posts directing Christian Brothers formation for the Long Island-New England Province and USA/Toronto Region, and from 1990-96 he was International Secretary of Formation in Rome. He later served as Delegate Superior for India and as Provincial for the LI-NE Province, which operates 10 educational institutions in New York and Rhode Island.
From 2000 to 2007, as Vicar General, Brother William was the second-highest officer of the international Catholic teaching order comprising 5,300 Christian Brothers, working with 73,000 lay educators to operate 930 schools and universities serving 900,000 students in 82 countries. He is a noted scholar and writer on the life and teachings of John Baptist de La Salle and has written and edited numerous publications examining his writings and putting them into context for Lasallian educators in today’s world. Brother William earned a B.A. in English Literature from The Catholic University of America, an M.A. in Liberal Studies - Literature from State University of New York at Stony Brook, an M.A. in Spirituality from Salve Regina University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Family Ministry from Colgate Rochester Divinity School.