BR. HANK TO CONCLUDE ROLE AS PRESIDENT
Academics
BR. HANK TO CONCLUDE ROLE AS PRESIDENT
Brother Hank Hammer, FMS, president of Marist High School announced today, Tuesday, September 24, that he will step down from that role at the conclusion of the 2019-2020 school year. Brother Hank has served as president since 2014, and the current school year marks two complete terms as president. He is the fourth president in the school’s history.
A search committee has been formed and more information about the role and the search process will be shared in the coming weeks. The next president will start on July 1, 2020.
Under his leadership, advancement and alumni efforts were expanded and long term financial and strategic goals were put in place. Brother Hank led the charge for Faith in the Future, a $15 million campaign that culminated in the opening of Monastery Hall, Marist’s 10-lab science wing with a planetarium. He has been a faithful supporter of the school’s fine arts programs and has been a living presence of the Marist charism.
“The role of president was not one that I sought out, but I am happy to have been able to serve the Marist Chicago community,” Brother Hank told faculty members Tuesday. “It challenged me but also allowed me opportunities to learn and grow.”
From 2009 to 2014, he worked as the academic dean for underclassmen at the school. Prior to that, Brother Hank served as a teacher at Marist Chicago and Mount St. Michael Academy in New York. He was also principal at Marist Chicago from 1993 to 1996. In addition, he served the Marist Brothers Province as vocation director, director of evangelization, and assistant provincial. His experience in a variety of administrative roles and his many years of service at Marist High School were excellent preparation for his role as president.
Brother Hank explained that while he does not know exactly what his next role will be, it is his hope that it will involve working directly with students at Marist Chicago. “I want to return to the work that inspired me to become an educator and a Brother,” he said.
Marist has operated under the president/principal model since 1996.
