Brian McCloskey, who was appointed Chestnut Hill College’s eighth president in August, has deep roots in Philadelphia. He was raised in a family of six children in the Feltonville neighborhood, or, if you know the city by its parishes, as a member of St. Ambrose Parish. While attending grade school at St. Ambrose, McCloskey was taught by the Sisters of Saint Joseph — the same congregation that founded Chestnut Hill College (CHC).

This full circle moment is made all the more meaningful for McCloskey when he considers what makes Chestnut Hill College a unique place for him.

“The culture and mission that [the Sisters of Saint Joseph] give to all of us and embody to all of us — serving the dear neighbors, serving the underserved, which is a hallmark of the mission of the sisters — is embedded in almost everything we do,” McCloskey told the Local. “Having been in higher education my whole career, most of it in the Philadelphia area, I knew very little about Chestnut Hill College. … Once I got here, it was so easy to embrace the mission because of what it stands for and how it helps and impacts people. It’s really a special place.”

From his Philadelphia roots and Catholic background to his experience in higher education and respect for the Sisters of Saint Joseph, McCloskey’s selection as CHC’s president made sense for many in the community.

“Dr. McCloskey is the ideal choice to guide Chestnut Hill into the future,” Carol Steinour Young, the chair of the college’s board of directors, said in a statement.

A career in higher education

McCloskey began his career as an entry-level accountant at a community college and has since progressed up the ranks in the industry. He came to CHC in 2022 as the vice president for finance, and when the president position became vacant in 2024, McCloskey filled in the interim role. According to McCloskey, CHC is his “eighth and final stop in higher education.”

As someone who holds the higher education industry “in reverence,” McCloskey earned his own fair share of degrees — an associate’s from the Community College of Philadelphia, a bachelor’s from the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now Jefferson University), a master’s from Saint Joseph’s University, and a doctorate from the University of Maryland. McCloskey said he was never a traditional college student and mostly attended classes at night. However, his love for higher education and the “positive energy” of a college campus grew as he found himself in administrative roles.

“I’ve seen the impact that education can have on a person, a family, and a community. I think it’s the best way to move economic classes, short of winning the lottery,” McCloskey said. “I saw the opportunities that came about from having a degree and then an advanced degree, and I just wanted those opportunities. So, I worked hard.”

When he was appointed permanent president of CHC on Aug. 1, McCloskey said it was a “humbling and surreal” validation of this hard work.

Goals and challenges

Chestnut Hill College celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, and as McCloskey leads the school into its second century, he has plenty to look forward to. CHC has recently introduced several new programs, including criminal justice, social work, and nursing, which included the grand opening of a nursing clinical arts center on the college’s SugarLoaf campus. CHC’s recently launched MBA program is expanding and the college is considering adding two additional doctorate programs in the next 12-18 months.

Furthermore, the college’s enrollment increased by 30% for undergraduates and 28% for graduate students in the fall of 2025. This leap in enrollment was a positive development for the college’s finances after the impact of the pandemic.

“All colleges and universities felt the impact of the pandemic, but small private colleges like Chestnut Hill felt it more than others,” McCloskey explained. “As a private school, you are primarily tuition dependent, meaning enrollment drives your budget and your finances. … When I got here, we had been experiencing several years of enrollment declines that were made worse by the pandemic. Since then, we’ve been able to turn it around, but it took a few years.”

In addition to enrollment challenges, McCloskey said there are other hurdles when it comes to his job.

“The headwinds coming out of Washington, D.C., that higher education faces are strong and they’re real,” McCloskey said. “The current administration is making changes, trying to get rid of the Department of Education and changing the loans that students and their families can take and qualify for.”

However, despite the difficulties of being president, McCloskey said it’s all worth it on the day of commencement.

“When you see the efforts of our students and how they get to the finish line and complete that degree, you hand a student his or her diploma, there’s cheers and yells and shouts — that’s so much fun,” McCloskey said. “That really makes it all worthwhile.”

Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.