founding president

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.

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.  

Jesuit Member Board:

• Fr. Walter Deye, S.J. – Superior, Cincinnati Jesuit Community
• Fr. Rick Millbourn, S.J. – Faculty, St. Xavier High School
• Fr. Nathan Wendt, S.J. – President, Xavier Jesuit Academy

Board of Trustees:

• Bill Baechtold – Partner, Graydon Law
• Sam Burchenal – Wealth Strategy Associate, UBS
• Matt Couture - Provincial Assistant Secondary and Pre-Secondary Education for the Midwest Jesuits
• Fr. Michael Graham, S.J. - Former President of Xavier University
• Alma Helpling - Treasurer and Secretary; Former CFO of The Christ Hospital Health Network
• Rod Hinton - Chief Operating Officer, Best Point Education & Behavioral Health
• Eric Kearney - President of the African American Chamber of Commerce 
• Mike Keating - Chair of the Board of Trustees; Former President and CEO of The Christ Hospital Health Network
• Gene Ellington - President of Ellington Management Services 
• Bill Moran - Former Senior Vice President of the Fifth Third Bank
• Gregory W. Olson - CEO of Urban Sites
• Tim Reilly - President of St. Xavier High School 
• Pat Robertson - Former Procter & Gamble Executive; Former Board Chair of DePaul Cristo Rey High School; Former Board member of St. Xavier High School
• Dr. Janice Walker – Former Assistant to the President for Special Initiatives, Institutional Diversity and Inclusion of Xavier University 
• Fr. Nathan Wendt, S.J. - President of Xavier Jesuit Academy
• Deacon Royce Winters - Director of African American Pastoral Ministries Archdiocese of Cincinnati; Pastoral Administrator of the Church of the Resurrection

Directors Emeriti 

• Harry Santen - Board Member of CISE; Great Living Cincinnatian