Dr. Arthur F. Kirk, Jr. | Saint Leo University | President | 1997-2015
Dr. Arthur F. Kirk , Jr., assumed the presidency of Saint Leo University on January 1, 1997. During his presidency, Saint Leo’s enrollment more than doubled to greater than 16,000 students, University Campus enrollments tripled, and the university endowment increased ten-fold.
Under his leadership, the university became a leader in online learning, and the university’s campus was transformed by the construction of a dozen new buildings, including a tennis facility, softball stadium, parking garage with lacrosse field on-top, and the addition of lights at each of the field venues
Along with the academic programs that were added under his reign, Saint Leo added Men and Women's Swimming, Men and Women's Lacrosse, and Women's Golf. Dr. Kirk also reinstated the Men's Golf, Men’s cross country, and Women's Cross-Country programs, ultimately growing Saint Leo from an eight sport to 19 sport institution.
Dr. Kirk served two terms of service on the NCAA Division II President’s Council and two terms of service as the President of the Sunshine State Conference.
Under his leadership, the Saint Leo athletic department doubled its' staff and captured its' first Mayor's Cup. He raised the national profile of Lions’ athletics, who have finished 18th in the Learfield Cup standings in 2014, eighth in 2015 and second in 2016.
Before Kirk, Saint Leo had only appeared in three NCAA Regional Championships but following his arrival in 1997, they have appeared in over 60 NCAA Regional Championships and have won twenty-one SSC Titles
Dr. Kirk was inducted into Saint Leo University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011, and the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame in 2012.