Year One complete for Saint Viator President Ryan Aiello

President Ryan Aiello describes it as having come full circle. When he addressed the 450 guests at last month’s Night of the Lion event, it was exactly one year since he had been introduced to the Saint Viator community at last year’s dinner.

And while, during the ensuing year, he would have conversations with more than 500 people — including alumni, parents, former parents and supporters — and spend most weekends attending school events, he still remembers an image from last year’s dinner that drives him.

“When I saw all the alumni in the crowd come up and sing the fight song together, it was a ‘wow’ moment,” Aiello said. “They were so passionate about Saint Viator and their vision for the future.”

Aiello officially began his role as president on May 20, 2024, graduation day, when he succeeded Fr. Thomas von Behren, C.S.V., who had served as interim president.

Now, over one year in, he can feel the energy building, both inside the building and in the wider Saint Viator community. Here’s why: Aiello points to strong numbers in this year’s freshman class, with that trend continuing for next year’s class. Donations on GivingTuesday doubled, while guests and sponsors at the Night of the Lion raised more than $1.3 million for tuition assistance, or twice what the event raised last year.

“We’ve expanded young alumni outreach, celebrated our third National Blue Ribbon, and hired exceptional educators to continue our tradition of academic excellence,” Aiello said. “The wind is at our backs, and it’s time to take flight.”

Beyond the numbers, Aiello implemented some important structural changes to enhance communication, transparency and partnerships. To start, he hired a human resources consultant to help create an organizational chart and enhance efficiency.

Aiello also made some significant hires in his first year, including naming Robbie Gould as head football coach, Nolan Dowling as the new athletic director and Dr. Erika Mickleburgh as the incoming principal.

“I would argue that they will have a disproportionate impact on the school going forward,” Aiello said.

He also established a faculty advisory board to enhance communication between faculty and the administration, as well as a technology committee to assess the school’s preparedness to meet the ever-changing needs of technology. He specifically describes the enhanced wiring, which is robust enough to handle the high-speed data transmission required for artificial intelligence.

Going forward, Aiello and members of the board of trustees are partnering with a consulting firm to launch a strategic plan for the future. He describes it as a blueprint for asking deeper questions about how to continue empowering the school’s teachers and classes for academic success.

He also intends to launch a comprehensive campaign in the coming year to address the school’s academic, athletic and endowment needs.

Aiello’s future plans are ambitious, but the one constant that continues to drive him, he said, is the student body. He describes Saint Viator students as kind, worldly and well-rounded, as well as grounded in their relationships with God and their service to others.

“The kids are truly remarkable. They are our greatest asset,” Aiello said. “As someone who has worked at so many schools, I can truly say, the atmosphere in this building is amazing.”