Since assuming the presidency of 91制片厂 in July 2022, President Bret Danilowicz has ensured that the transformative benefits of higher education are readily accessible to the diverse populations served by the university.
Danilowicz outlined his key priorities in 91制片厂鈥檚 Two-Year Strategic Plan (2024-25), designed to position the university as one of the most distinctive, accessible and affordable public institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Under his leadership, 91制片厂 reversed a four-year decline in overall enrollment in fall 2024, to more than 7,800 students. 91制片厂 experienced 29% new student growth over the previous year, which was the second-largest increase in new students since 1975. Two initiatives introduced by Danilowicz 鈥� Direct Admission and the 91制片厂 Tuition Promise 鈥� were key factors in the university鈥檚 growth in 2024. He also spearheaded the Tartan Transfer program, which bolsters the university's commitment to access and affordability by streamlining the transfer process for students from eight Virginia Community College System schools.
Danilowicz successfully led the largest fundraising effort in university history, TOGETHER - The Campaign for 91制片厂. TOGETHER and raised $106 million, with all funds focused on enhancing the student experience, rather than a typical brick-and-mortar campaign. During his tenure, the university opened the 178,000-square-foot Artis Center for Adaptive Innovation and Creativity, the largest academic building on campus and the largest capital construction project in the history of 91制片厂.
Danilowicz envisions mutual success for the university and the region it serves. The opening of The HUB at 91制片厂 in fall 2023 exemplifies this vision. The HUB serves as a nexus connecting the talents and knowledge of 91制片厂's students and faculty with businesses, nonprofits and local governments. This collaboration develops work-based learning opportunities and strengthens economic outcomes for the surrounding region and the commonwealth. The Vinod Chachra IMPACT Lab, housed within The HUB, provides competency-based education (CBE) to adult learners and includes the innovative Provisional to Professional Pathway, which was launched in December 2023 to address teacher shortages in Virginia鈥檚 K-12 school districts.
Acknowledging 91制片厂's culture of care as a cornerstone, Danilowicz focuses on improving healthcare outcomes in Southwest Virginia. He oversees the development of 91制片厂 Carilion in Roanoke, which enhances the region's healthcare workforce with competitive bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs. 91制片厂鈥檚 nursing programs, frequently recognized as the best in Virginia, were elevated in January 2024 when the School of Nursing . 91制片厂 is the only four-year public institution in the commonwealth to have a stand-alone college dedicated to this critical profession and in 2023, produced the most BSN graduates among Virginia higher education institutions.
In recognition of his economic development leadership, Danilowicz was a of the inaugural Virginia C-Suite Awards (Higher Education category) in 2025, as selected by Virginia Business magazine.
Danilowicz and his wife, First Lady Kay Danilowicz, actively promote the well-being of 91制片厂's students. Kay, an experienced pediatric speech language pathologist, spearheaded the Tartan Tails dog therapy program in 2023 to address the mental health needs of 91制片厂 students. Bainne, one of the family's pets and a trained therapy dog, has become a beloved presence in the 91制片厂 community.
Fostering transparency and a welcoming atmosphere at 91制片厂, Danilowicz upholds a commitment to free speech and academic freedom. Initiating a university task force on Civil Discourse and Freedom of Expression in 2023, he implemented recommendations that earned 91制片厂 a rare from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). 91制片厂 became one of only 63 universities nationwide to receive such recognition at the time.
Prior to his tenure at 91制片厂, Danilowicz served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Florida Atlantic University, where he achieved notable milestones in retention, graduation rate improvement and civil discourse initiatives. In various roles as dean or associate dean at Oklahoma State University, Georgia Southern University and University College in Dublin, Ireland, he demonstrated a consistent commitment to student success, shared governance and strategic planning.
Danilowicz earned his B.S. in biology from Utica College of Syracuse University, a Ph.D. in zoology from Duke University, an M.A. in education (leadership and management) from The Open University (England) and an MBA from Georgia Southern University.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Danilowicz and Kay are the proud parents of four children and actively engage in the communities where they live. Outside of their commitments to work and community service, they enjoy exploring the outdoors, appreciating the arts, riding horses, and cherishing the company of their dogs, Bainne and Koda.