By Christine Schintgen
Interim Vice-President

When tragedy struck our academic community in early February, we were thankful to have in place our newly-arrived, first full-time President, in time to lead us during this difficult trial. Guiding us as a shepherd, a scholar, and a spokesman, Dr. David Brian Warner inspired Christian hope and a community spirit while managing a crisis that has brought out the best in all of us.

Dr. Warner had impressed the presidential search committee with his substantial experience in academic administration and leadership. During his on-campus interviews in November, he made a positive impression on the board members, staff, instructors, and students.  Cardinal Newman’s motto, cor ad cor loquitur (“heart speaketh unto heart”), is one that Dr. Warner has adopted as his own, resulting in an ability to connect with others in a personal way. He and his family are excited to be joining the Academy team—and we are certainly delighted to welcome him on board.

With a doctorate in Theology and Religious Studies (Ph.D., 2001) from Maryvale Institute, England, in collaboration with Greyfriars, University of Oxford, Dr. Warner is a specialist in the theology of education. The title of his doctoral thesis suggests a good fit for our post-secondary academy:  John Henry Newman’s Idea of a Catholic Academy: Contributions from his Life and Work Towards a Theology of Education, with Reference to Recent Documents of the Catholic Church.

A former ordained Protestant minister, Dr. Warner and his family returned to the Catholic Church in 1988 while he was completing a second Bachelor’s degree (Theology, 1987) and the M.A. in Theology and Christian Ministry (1991) at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.  While teaching Theology, History, and Education courses for Franciscan University (1990-95), he became an Assistant Professor and Director of Administration for their Austrian Semester Abroad Program.  Having held the rank of Associate Professor since 2001, Warner will continue to teach part-time as an integral element of his presidential duties.

An experienced academic administrator and teacher since 1979, Dr. Warner has lectured in nine states and eight countries, while teaching for ten higher education institutes including visiting or adjunct professorships on the faculties of: Mary Immaculate College (Ireland), Maryvale Institute (England), the University of Sacramento (California) and the St. John Vianney Theological Seminary (Denver, Colorado), an affiliate of the Lateran Pontifical University in Rome.

Dr. Warner’s leadership skills were further developed as the Director of Catholic Adult Education for the Archdiocese of Denver and as Academic Dean for Ave Maria College of the Americas in Nicaragua. He was the first Director, and continues as a non-resident Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, founded in Steubenville by Dr. Scott Hahn.

Born and raised in northern California, and most recently residents of Virginia, Dr. Warner and his wife Patrice have five children and four grandchildren. They have been homeschooling since 1984. Their youngest son, Elliott (16), is excited to be here with his parents as they embark on their new life in Barry’s Bay. The Warners already seem right at home, with a genuine love for the rugged northern beauty of Canada. They say it reminds them of their life and work in the snowy Alps, the Rockies, and the Sierra Nevada. 

It has been my pleasure to serve the Academy as Interim President during the five-month presidential search period.  I was recently appointed Interim Vice President for the Spring semester to support Dr. Warner during this time of transition. Please pray for us and the entire OLSWA community as we move towards the next levels of faithfulness and growth with God’s guidance.