Strong community support, a vibrant student body, an expanding campus footprint and an increasingly vital role in the Downtown Dayton community— Dan Meixner ‘84, president, has been instrumental in positioning Chaminade Julienne for the future—a future that will now include a new president.
After more than 20 years at the helm of the Dayton Catholic high school, Meixner—the third CJ president—announced that he will step down after the 2025-2026 academic year.
“Over the past year, I have reflected on the privilege it has been to serve as one of the stewards of the mission of this special community that is Chaminade Julienne.” Meixner said. “As the proud son and grandson of CJ alumni, father of two graduates, and uncle to four more, I feel blessed to have been part of a community that I love for so many years of my personal and professional life. This is a decision that my wife, Laura, and I made last fall.”
During Meixner’s tenure, Chaminade Julienne campus footprint has expanded to just over 20 acres with new facilities that include the CJ STEMM Center, Roger Glass Stadium, Skelton Family Community Center, Eagle Tennis Center, and Founders Center. CJ’s enrollment has steadily trended upward since 2010 when there were just over 600 students to more than 700 students for each of the past three years with another increase projected for the upcoming school year.
“As an alumnus, principal, parent and, for the last six years, director of development, I have seen Dan keep the mission of CJ at the forefront of our planning and programs,” John Marshall ‘86 said. “We focused our curriculum and formation on preparing our graduates to succeed in college and post-secondary paths, to be life-long learners, and to carry their faith with them as a moral compass.”
The CJ Board of Trustees has formed a president search committee led by current board vice chair Jennifer Theibert ‘92. This committee, which will include representatives of the school’s owners—the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and the Marianists—Trustees, and representatives of the school community, have already begun planning an extensive search process.
“We will identify a dynamic and inspirational leader who shares our mission and passion for making the highest quality Catholic education accessible to all young people across the Dayton region,” said Kevin Weckesser ‘93, CJ Board of Trustees chair. “Someone who will think forward with the same ‘what’s next’ approach as Dan, while honoring our history and celebrating our Catholic identity and the special charisms and hallmarks of our founders which have made CJ such a special and unique place for nearly two centuries.”
During this time of transition, Meixner will continue in the work of successfully concluding Ascend, the largest campaign in school history at $25 million; supporting the evolution of the school’s new programming, CJ United, in its second year; and extending relationships that foster a vibrant future for the school.
“Our next leader will inherit a very strong foundation and the exciting opportunity to build upon our 175-year history as a leader in Catholic education for our region,” Weckesser said. “We have a bright future thanks to our outstanding teachers and staff members, a broad community of supporters, families from all parts of the Dayton region who choose CJ, and volunteer leaders who collaborate to make our mission possible. We are grateful for Dan’s leadership and welcome the opportunities that times of transition can bring. ”