- Degrees
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LP.D., Northeastern University
M.P.A., Long Island University
BA, Binghamton University
- Additional Information
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Joseph L. Chillo, LP.D., is the 15th president of Thomas More University. President Chillo began his tenure on June 1, 2019, and since his arrival has been celebrated for his contributions to the community as an effective leader in values-based, Catholic higher education. A visionary leader, President Chillo builds upon the distinguished legacy of the University, discovering and pursuing opportunities that advance Thomas More’s mission and reputation as the premier Catholic liberal arts university in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region.
In 2021, the Northern Kentucky Tribune named President Chillo among its NewsMakers, a recognition reserved for high-achieving, community servant leaders who play a significant role in Northern Kentucky, and President Chillo has been recognized as one of the region’s 300 most powerful business leaders by Cincinnati Magazine each year of his presidency at Thomas More. Dr. Chillo serves on a number of regional boards, including the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and the OneNKY Alliance. President Chillo was a member of Leadership Kentucky’s Class of 2022.
President Chillo introduced the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan: Lighting the Way, designed to propel the University forward through innovation and agility. In support of this plan, President Chillo and his leadership team announced the largest comprehensive capital campaign in University history, the Second Century Campaign: It’s time for More. Raising an impressive $15.7 million during its silent phase, the campaign promises to secure the funds necessary to ensure continued student success, academic excellence & innovation, and a commitment to responsible stewardship. The campaign continues to be a resounding success, with its initial goal of $30 million surpassed three years ahead of schedule, and continued fundraising efforts exceeding $40 million, to date.
Under President Chillo’s capable leadership, the University has seen:
- Significant improvements in enrollment, student persistence and retention.
- Growth in the number of full-time faculty to nearly 90 as of the 2024-25 academic year.
- Expansion of the physical footprint of Thomas More’s campus through real estate acquisitions and the construction of a new academic center, which was completed in the summer of 2024.
- Launch of the Second Century Core – an innovative approach to core education with a focus on mission and importance of a Catholic liberal arts education.
- A deeper commitment to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and Thomas More’s regional position as a Catholic university.
- Growth through the addition of new undergraduate and graduate programs across all three of the University’s colleges: the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences, Robert W. Plaster College of Business, and the St. Elizabeth College of Natural and Health Sciences.
- Elevated opportunities for student-athletes through the University’s transition to the NCAA Division II, with competition beginning in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) with provisional Division II membership.
- The introduction of Thomas More Stadium as a collaborative enterprise forged with the Florence Y’alls as a naming opportunity and access to a professional baseball stadium for the University’s baseball team. The University also invested $3M in creating a state-of-the-art softball complex in 2024.
- Growth in the status of the University, recognized by both national and regional publications, including U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges, the Wall Street Journal, and The Catholic Herald.
- Affirmation of Thomas More University’s accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) in 2020 for the next 10 years. Academic programs ranging from business to teacher education to nursing have also all received reaffirmation from their accrediting bodies during this time.
- Presence in the OneNKY Center, a signature project for Northern Kentucky’s regional growth organizations that will open in the summer of 2025. Additionally, the University hosted the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs for the first time in the summer of 2024.
President Chillo – a first-generation college student – holds his bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University, a Master of Public Administration from Long Island University, and a Doctor of Law and Policy from Northeastern University. He has pursued executive leadership development through the Council of Independent Colleges, the Harvard University Graduate School of Education Seminar for New Presidents, and the Institute for Educational Management (IEM) offered by Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
Dr. Chillo has presented at national and regional conferences, published in national publications – most recently in Trusteeship Magazine, Association of Governing Boards, and serves on accreditation teams for SACSCOC.
President Chillo and his wife, Laura, reside in Northern Kentucky and are parents to a son and daughter.
A visionary leader, President Chillo builds upon the distinguished legacy of the University, discovering and pursuing opportunities that advance Thomas More’s reputation as the premier Catholic university in the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky region. Most recently, President Chillo introduced the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan - Lighting the Way, designed to propel the University forward through innovation and agility. In support of this plan, President Chillo and his leadership team announced the largest comprehensive capital campaign in University history, the Second Century Campaign: It’s Time for More. Raising an impressive $15.7M during its silent phase, the campaign promises to secure the funds necessary to ensure continued student success, academic innovation, and a commitment to responsible stewardship. Under President Chillo’s capable leadership the University has secured record-breaking enrollment as the University’s physical footprint has continued to grow, and steps have been taken to elevate Thomas More University athletics through provisional acceptance into the Great Midwest Athletic Conference and submission of application to join NCAA Division II.
President Chillo – a first-generation college student - holds his bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University, a Master of Public Administration from Long Island University, and a Doctor of Law and Policy from Northeastern University. He has pursued executive leadership development through the Council of Independent Colleges, the Harvard University Graduate School of Education Seminar for New Presidents, and the Institute for Educational Management (IEM) offered by Harvard University Graduate School of Education.
Prior to his leadership at Thomas More, President Chillo was the fifth president and professor of humanities at Newbury College, a private, independent college located near Boston. With more than 25 years of private higher education experience, prior to Newbury, his past positions include senior leadership roles at Colby-Sawyer College, Wheelock College, and St. Thomas Aquinas College. President Chillo and his wife, Laura, reside in northern Kentucky and have two teenage children – a son and a daughter who both attend Villa Madonna Academy.
- Employee Roles
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Departments Positions Titles Thomas More University President President