Daniel W. O'Brien, C.M., O.N.B.

In October 2010, Daniel O'Brien was appointed Acting President of Atlantic School of Theology for the 2011 calendar year. Dan O'Brien comes to AST with an extensive background in academia serving as the president of St. Thomas University from August 1990 until retirement in June 2006. Under his leadership, the University underwent remarkable change. Its student population and faculty complement more than doubled, and programme offerings were expanded considerably.

In May 2003, the University of New Brunswick awarded O'Brien an honorary degree (D.Litt). He was invested with the Order of New Brunswick in October 2005 and the Order of Canada in 2007. In April 2006, O'Brien was awarded a Knighthood in the Pontifical Order of St. Gregory - asignificant papal honour. In May 2010, he was installed as St. Thomas University's first President Emeritus, and in July of the same year the University named its principal study hall, located in the new, award winning Margaret Norrie McCain Hall, in his honor.

During his time in Fredericton, O'Brien served as a member or chair of many regional, national, and international educational and learned associations. As well, he has served in a voluntary capacity on many community Boards and committees.

Since retirement from his academic post, O'Brien has pursued an active consulting practice. In August 2008, he completed an eighteen month assignment as Chair of a Governance Review Task Force for the Canadian Medical Association, with a mandate to recommend comprehensive changes to the governance structure of the 65,000 plus member association.