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Mount Carmel Names New President
MOUNT CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL NAMES NEW PRESIDENT
Fr. Carl Markelz, O.Carm., Prior Provincial of the Carmelite Province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, and Don Barry, Chairman of Mount Carmel’s Board of Trustees announced today the appointment of Brendan Conroy, as president of Mount Carmel High School; Conroy will succeed current president Ned Hughes on July 1 ,2021.
Fr. Carl shared, “On behalf of the Carmelites, we welcome Brendan Conroy, his wife Terry and their children, to the Mount Carmel community. As our next school President, Brendan will bring his wealth of administrative experience to continue the great mission of educating young men for the 21st Century. He is ready and prepared to lead as a great listener and collaborator. We pray that as he focuses on enrollment, fundraising, and community building, that Our Lady of Mount Carmel will guide him along the way.”
Brendan Conroy is a graduate of University of Notre Dame, holds an MA from the University of Mississippi and M.Ed, from Chicago State University. He has extensive experience working in Catholic educational institutions including English Department Chair at Leo Catholic H.S., Assistant Principal at St. Ignatius College Prep, founding Principal at Christ the King Jesuit College Prep, and Principal of St. Rita of Cascia. Most recently, Conroy was Associate Provincial Assistant for Secondary and Pre-secondary Education, representing the Provincial of the 20 Midwest Jesuits schools.
After 5 years as the first lay president of Mount Carmel, Ned Hughes announced his decision to retire at the end of this school year; he will remain a member of the Mount Carmel Board of Trustees. Don Barry commended Hughes’ tenure as president, “Ned has been a catalyst for change and has demonstrated strength and courage in making difficult decisions. He made us all better stewards of this great institution; we are all so proud of him. He is one of the few people who could have put MC in the position it is in today with such a bright future ahead.”
In response to the announcement of the new President, Hughes said, “Brendan Conroy is a highly respected and experienced leader with a proven track record of focusing on academic excellence. He will continue to build on the 121- year tradition of educating young men in the Catholic, Carmelite Charism.”
Conroy commented, "It is an honor and a privilege to serve Mt. Carmel as its next president. As a long-time admirer of MC, I have often marveled at the loyalty of its faculty, students, families and alumni. I'm grateful and humbled to be granted this opportunity, and I look forward to contributing to the tradition of Carmelite education in the City of Chicago."
Mount Carmel High School is Chicago’s premier college preparatory school for young men. Located just south of the Museum of Science and Industry, the University of Chicago, and future Obama Presidential Center, Mount Carmel attracts students from all across Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. Founded in 1900, under the leadership of the Carmelites, Mount Carmel proudly continues its mission of Building Character for a Lifetime.
