Leadership

Founding President, Fr. Nathan Wendt, SJ

Fr. Nathan Wendt, SJ serves as the founding President of Xavier Jesuit Academy. Previously, Fr. Wendt served as the Road Through Xavier Program Coordinator at Xavier University, developing high impact formational experiences and community engaged learning for undergraduates.

He attended St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, OH, where he was born and raised. Fr. Wendt entered the Society of Jesus in 2003 after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from Marquette University in 2001 and worked in Milwaukee and Omaha. As a Jesuit, Fr. Wendt earned a master's degree in social philosophy from Loyola University Chicago, was the assistant director of the corporate work-study program at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School - Twin Cities, and earned both a Master of Divinity and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

He was ordained a priest in June 2014 and served as associate pastor at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Kingston, Jamaica and at Gesu Catholic Church & School in Detroit. Fr. Wendt served as Assistant to the President at Creighton Preparatory School, Omaha, where he established and directed Loyola Scholars middle school enrichment program. Fr. Wendt also served at Jesuit Academy, Omaha, as chaplain, religion teacher, and Formation for Mission Officer. Fr. Wendt is a spiritual director, has worked with incarcerated men and women throughout his Jesuit life, and served the Ignatian Spirituality Project in Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Omaha, and Cincinnati where spiritual retreats are offered for people transitioning from homelessness and in recovery from addictions. Fr. Wendt serves on the board of directors for St. Xavier High School, Cincinnati, and the Ignatian Spirituality Project.

Founding Principal, Mr. Kyle Chandler

With nearly 20 years of experience in Jesuit education, Mr. Kyle Chandler brings his passion for urban Catholic education, a strong work ethic, a collaborative and consultative leadership style, a history of elevating students’ academic achievement, and a proven ability to support families in all areas throughout their sons’ education and formation.

Mr. Chandler has thrived as assistant principal for student affairs over the last 13 years at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy (U of D Jesuit), where he has consistently demonstrated excellent leadership, sound decision-making, and his ability to build trusting relationships with colleagues, students, and parents. Prior to his tenure as assistant principal at U of D Jesuit, Mr. Chandler was dean of co-curricular activities and taught middle school and high school English. Through the school’s faculty liaison and recruitment team, Mr. Chandler worked to increase the diversity of the school’s teachers and staff, while collaborating with school leadership to cultivate a more inclusive environment.

Vice President of Advancement, Mr. Greg Vehr

Mr. Vehr is an experienced executive skilled in nonprofit organizations, marketing, crisis communications, public speaking, and media relations. For two decades, he served as Vice President of Government Relations and University Communications at the University of Cincinnati and, most recently, was the Senior Vice President for Development at The Dragonfly Foundation (2018 - 2023), a nonprofit that provides support to the families of pediatric cancer patients. His prior professional experience includes Assistant Secretary of State in the Ohio Secretary of State’s office (1999), Chief of Staff to the State of Ohio Treasurer (1994 - 1998), Administrative Assistant to Cincinnati City Council member (1985-1987), and Director of Public and Governmental Relations for the Cincinnati Board of Realtors (1987 - 1991). Mr. Vehr has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Miami University and is an alum of St. Xavier High School.

Founding Teacher, Mr. Michael Gong 

An experienced teacher, Mr. Gong recently served as a secondary science teacher at Dayton Early College Academy in Dayton, OH. Prior to that, he worked as a science teacher at Lincoln-West School of Global Studies in Cleveland, OH where he also coached varsity soccer and basketball. He earned a Master of Education in educational leadership from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor of Science in biology from John Carroll University. In 2012, while at John Carroll, he co-founded The Carroll Ballers, an organization that empowers youth involved in the juvenile justice system through building positive relationships using the game of basketball and an originally developed mentoring curriculum.