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Brian Schmisek is a published scholar and award-winning author who serves as Provost and Cardinal Francis George Chair of Faith and Culture at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake.

He was also Provost and Dean of Faculties at Saint Mary's University in Minnesota, a position he accepted in 2019. In that role, he provided the academic vision, leadership, direction, and evaluation for all academic activities and faculty affairs of the university. Through the deans of the respective schools, he led the long-range academic planning, budgeting, curriculum, enrollment, and program development for the university. In addition, he oversaw all related programs, faculty affairs, and academic support functions for the university and co-chaired the implementation of the university’s strategic plan. 

Prior to his time at Saint Mary’s, he was Professor and Dean of the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago, having joined the faculty in 2012. Under his leadership, the Institute became a Full Member of ATS (Association of Theological Schools) and also ACTS (Association of Chicago Theological Schools). He forged international partnerships with the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and dioceses in England and Wales, and he led the AJCU (Association of Jesuit College and Universities) conference on Theological, Ministerial and Pastoral Education. As Dean, Dr. Schmisek expanded offerings to include summer courses at Loyola's JFRC (Rome campus). His time at Loyola was also punctuated by increased grants, endowed funds, and scholarship support for the Institute. 

Before his time at Loyola, Dr. Schmisek was the Founding Dean of the School of Ministry at the University of Dallas. The school grew to include additional graduate programs, undergraduate programs, continuing education, J-term and summer Rome options, and a nationally recognized annual ministry conference that drew over 5000 participants each year and continued to do so up to the pandemic. He successfully secured outside funds and endowed professorships to enhance the mission of the school. 

Dr. Schmisek earned his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from The Catholic University of America. He holds an M.A (Classics) from The University of Mississippi and an M.A. (Theology) from The Catholic University of America. His B.A. is from North Dakota State University.

A North Dakota native, Dr. Schmisek writes materials accessible to a lay audience and rooted in solid scholarship. He and his wife Marnie have four grown children.

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