Office of the President
Dr. Stanton F. McNeely III
President, University of Holy Cross
Dr. Stanton F. McNeely III is a higher education leader, advocate, and proud alumnus of the University of Holy Cross whose connection to the institution spans generations. He has served as President of the University of Holy Cross since 2019, leading the university through a period of significant institutional growth, academic innovation, and renewed engagement with the greater New Orleans community.
Dr. McNeely’s relationship with the University of Holy Cross began long before he became its president. As a child, he frequently visited the campus with his brothers to see his aunt, a member of the Marianites of Holy Cross, the congregation of religious women that founded and continues to sponsor the university. Those early experiences included helping around campus by delivering mail and washing dishes. He later enrolled at what was then Our Lady of Holy Cross College, earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and graduating as valedictorian. After graduation, he returned to the institution as a recruiter before beginning a broader career in higher education leadership.
That lifelong connection has informed Dr. McNeely’s approach to the presidency: honoring the university’s Marianite heritage while positioning the institution to respond to the educational, workforce, and community needs of a changing Louisiana.
Since becoming president in 2019, Dr. McNeely has guided the University of Holy Cross through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple hurricanes, and significant changes in higher education. His leadership has emphasized mission-centered growth, academic programs aligned with workforce demand, greater access for working and nontraditional students, and partnerships that connect the university more directly to the needs of the region.
Under his leadership, UHC has experienced sustained enrollment growth and expanded its academic reach. In 2026, the university reported four consecutive semesters of enrollment growth, an 8% increase in total credit hours and approximately 19% growth in credit hours over two years. New-student enrollment increased by 17%, while programs in education, health sciences, and nursing experienced notable growth. The university has also expanded flexible online graduate education, with students now enrolled across 35 states and multiple countries, particularly in graduate programs in mental health counseling.
A defining element of Dr. McNeely’s presidency has been the expansion of healthcare and workforce-focused education. Under his leadership, UHC has strengthened relationships with major healthcare organizations, including Ochsner Health and LCMC Health, while expanding programs in nursing, health sciences, radiologic technology, neurodiagnostic technology, and cardiovascular and EKG technology. In 2026, UHC launched a new Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences pathway focused on EKG and cardiovascular technology and an online Master of Arts in Teaching designed to expand access to graduate-level teacher preparation for working professionals.
Dr. McNeely has also championed pathways that make higher education more accessible to students throughout the region. During his presidency, UHC's dual-enrollment partnerships expanded from three high schools to twenty, while articulation agreements with Louisiana's community and technical colleges have strengthened transfer opportunities. These initiatives reflect his belief that universities should serve not only traditional college students, but also working adults, career changers, first-generation students, and professionals seeking new opportunities.
His commitment to healthcare education reflects a broader philosophy of educating the whole person. In discussing UHC's healthcare programs, Dr. McNeely has emphasized that professional preparation must extend beyond technical competence to include compassion, human connection, and respect for the individual. As he has described the university's philosophy, UHC seeks to educate the heart as well as the mind.
Dr. McNeely's leadership extends beyond the University of Holy Cross. Prior to becoming president, he served as President and CEO of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, representing Louisiana's independent colleges and universities in state and federal policy and advocacy. Earlier in his career, he held senior leadership positions at Delgado Community College and Fletcher Technical Community College, where his work included institutional advancement, strategic planning, workforce development, and community engagement.
He has also played a broader role in shaping higher education and economic development in Louisiana. Dr. McNeely has served on Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) accreditation review teams and on the SACSCOC Board of Trustees. He is a member of the Committee of 100 for Louisiana Economic Development and has served on numerous civic, educational, and community organizations throughout the Greater New Orleans region.
A frequent contributor to conversations about leadership, higher education, workforce development, and the future of work, Dr. McNeely has spoken publicly about the importance of leading through change while remaining anchored to institutional mission. In a 2026 discussion of leadership during periods of change, he emphasized the importance of asking what a community needs from its leader while maintaining a long-term commitment to mission. He has similarly argued that as technology and artificial intelligence reshape work, sound judgment, human connection, and the ability to understand what people need from one another will remain essential.
Dr. McNeely earned a Doctor of Education in Higher Education Leadership from Northcentral University and a Master of Business Administration from Loyola University New Orleans. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Our Lady of Holy Cross College, where he graduated as valedictorian. He is also a graduate of Jesuit High School of New Orleans.
For Dr. McNeely, leadership at the University of Holy Cross represents more than a professional appointment. It is the continuation of a lifelong relationship with an institution, its people, its Marianite heritage, and its mission to educate the whole person. His work has centered on ensuring that the University of Holy Cross remains deeply connected to New Orleans while preparing students to meet the educational, professional, and human needs of Louisiana and the broader world.
At the heart of his leadership is a simple conviction: higher education has its greatest impact when it combines academic excellence with purpose, compassion, opportunity, and service to others.