Matt vandenBerg

Matt vandenBerg became the 17th president of Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) in 2023, driven by a mission to redefine the liberal arts for today’s students. With a bold, innovative, and joy-filled approach, he is committed to democratizing access to higher education and to making OWU a national leader in doing so. A proven strategist, partnership builder, and fundraiser, vandenBerg leads OWU’s efforts to push boundaries, reimagine pathways to success, and empower students to grow boldly toward their fullest potential.

Under vandenBerg’s leadership, OWU is growing in size and influence, bolstering its financial health, and bucking many of the challenging trends impacting colleges nationwide.

Previously, vandenBerg served as president of Presbyterian College in South Carolina, where he led historic fundraising, campus revitalization, and program development efforts. His leadership emphasized collaboration and student-centered transformation. He has also held senior roles at Alma College, Albion College, and Indiana University, where he led successful strategic initiatives and expanded institutional impact.

A Michigan native, vandenBerg earned a Doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania. He also earned a Master of Public Affairs degree from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Alma College, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and summa cum laude. He believes deeply in the transformative power of a liberal arts education and its ability to prepare students for meaningful, purposeful lives.