The class of 2012 will have a new hand to shake on graduation day.

The Rev. Timothy R. Lannon, S.J., will become the 24th president of Creighton University, succeeding the Rev. John. P. Schlegel, S.J.

Lannon is set to become president on July 1, 2011.

William Fitzgerald and Bruce Rohde, chair and vice chair of the Creighton University Board of Directors, announced the decision last Friday.

“We are delighted that Father Lannon, a 1973 Creighton graduate, has decided to bring his considerable talents home to his alma mater. He is a leader with a passion for education who will advance the university, its mission and values,” Fitzgerald and Rohde said in the official announcement of Lannon’s appointment.

“Father Lannon’s commitment to scholarship, research, teaching and service to others in the Jesuit tradition is not only the essence of his personal and professional character, but also critical to Creighton’s ongoing pursuit of academic preeminence.”

Since Schlegel announced his retirement in July, the Presidential Search Committee – composed of Creighton Jesuits, faculty, staff, alumni and students – sifted through potential replacements. They were looking for a sitting university president and member of the Society of Jesus with a strong background in academics, excellent leadership experience, exemplary professional characteristics and desirable personal attributes.

Lannon was an ideal choice.

Sporting degrees from Creighton, Weston Jesuit School of Theology (now Boston College School of Theology and Ministry) and Harvard University, Lannon met the academic conditions.

He entered the Society of Jesus in 1977 and was ordained a priest in 1986, which satisfied the Jesuit requirement.

He taught at Jesuit institutions and was president of Omaha Creighton Preparatory School during the early 1990s – satisfying the professional characteristics criteria – and he has been president of Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia since 2003, meeting the sitting university president requirement.

With his extensive résumé and deep connections with Creighton, Lannon accepted the appointment.

“We did more than just find someone who met those criteria,” Rohde said during the event. “We got a tremendous bonus along the way.”

The Creighton University Board of Directors introduced Lannon last Friday in the D. J. Sokol Arena at the Wayne and Eileen Ryan Athletic Center.

“This day could not be more special for me,” Lannon said during the event. “I thank all of you for coming today to share in this important announcement for Creighton University. To look out and see so many familiar faces is both affirming and humbling – and a bit overwhelming.”

Lannon, a native of Mason City, Iowa, is also a 1993 recipient of Creighton’s Alumni Merit Award.

“Creighton University changed my life,” Lannon said. “I look forward with all of you to continue to change the lives of our undergraduate students.”

Dr. Neil Norton, assistant dean for student affairs and director of admissions for the School of Dentistry, was on the Presidential Search Committee. He said Lannon is the perfect successor to follow in Schlegel’s footsteps.

“I think we made the best choice possible,” Norton said. “I know that the search committee was very excited that Father Lannon expressed interest in coming to Creighton. When you have an opportunity to go through his résumé – what he’s done at Creighton Prep, what he’s done at Marquette, St. Joe’s as president for the last eight years – his résumé speaks for itself. We are very fortunate to get him to be our 24th president.”

Schlegel, who taught at Creighton while Lannon was an undergraduate, was optimistic that Lannon would be a good fit for the job.

“I think he’ll fit in very nicely,” Schlegel said. “[Lannon is] very obviously very deeply committed to coming to Creighton. He’s got a long history with Creighton, and he’s very connected – so that’ll bode well with bonding with alumni and everyone.

“I could not be more pleased with the choice of Father Lannon as successor,” Schlegel said. “There truly is a bright future at 24th and California Streets.”