Port native named dean of Loyola University’s Arrupe College

Father Tom Neitzke, a Port Washington native, has been appointed dean of Arrupe College, a two-year associate degree program of Loyola University in Chicago, effective Aug. 1.

Neitzke will take over the role of dean from Father Steve Katsouros, who founded Arrupe College in 2015.

Loyola President Jo Ann Rooney and Provost Norberto Grzywacz said in an email that Nietzke “has demonstrated an energetic, innovative approach to meeting the needs of diverse students, families and communities.”

Neitzke, the son of Julie and Ted Neitzke III, is a 1992 graduate of Port Washington High School.

He enrolled in the college program at St. Francis de Sales Seminary and studied at Marquette University in Milwaukee, but left the seminary in 1997. After volunteering at Nativity Jesuit Middle School on Milwaukee’s south side, he was inspired.

Neitzke earned bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and theology from Loyola University in 2003, and later earned a master of art in educational administration degree from the University of San Francisco, a master of divinity from Santa Clara University and a doctorate in leadership from Creighton University.

He joined the Society of Jesus in 1999 and became an ordained priest in 2010, celebrating his first Mass at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Port Washington.

Neitzke has been president of Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha since 2015 and previously served as president of Jesuit Academy, principal of Jesuit Academy and an adjunct instructor at Creighton University.

He serves on a number of boards and professional committees, including the board of trustees at Marquette University and the board of directors at Marquette University High School and is on the faculty of Jesuit Worldwide Learning: Higher Education at the Margins.

 During his time at Creighton Prep, Neitzke increased the enrollment of students of color from 7% to 25%, something he said he hopes to continue at Arrupe.

“What I’m most excited about is heading into Arrupe to be able to meet everyone and witness the work that they do ... and be able to share that with others so they can participate in the mission of Arrupe,” Neitzke said.