Dr. Matthew Shank is a higher education leader and a longtime faculty member with extensive experience in university administration, strategic planning, advancement and mission-driven leadership.
He served as the sixth president of Marymount University from 2011 to 2018 and holds the title of president emeritus. During his tenure, Marymount experienced significant growth in enrollment, fundraising, academic programs and community engagement.
Following his presidency at Marymount, Shank served for five years as president of the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges (VFIC), where he worked to advance the mission and collaborative priorities of 17 independent colleges and universities across the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Before becoming president of Marymount, he served as dean of the School of Business Administration at the University of Dayton, where he oversaw an extensive portfolio of academic programs and led faculty development and external partnerships. He also served as interim president of the World Affairs Council–Washington, DC.
In 2024, Shank joined the National Links Trust (NLT) as chief development officer. NLT is a nonprofit organization dedicated to positively impacting the Washington, DC community through golf. In this role, he led a $75 million capital campaign to renovate and preserve the three historic municipal golf courses in Washington, DC, operated in partnership with the National Park Service.
In recognition of his leadership and service, Shank received the World Affairs Council–DC Global Educator of the Year Award, the Robert Ball Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ballston Business Improvement District and the Edu-Futuro Community Partner Award. He was also named visiting distinguished professor at the National University of Public Service in Budapest, Hungary.
Shank has remained deeply engaged in educational and civic leadership through service on numerous nonprofit and advisory boards, including the National Catholic Educational Association, Northern Virginia Community College Foundation, American University in the Emirates, Catholic International University, Fulbright Association, Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, Youth Apostles, and several community-based organizations in the Washington metropolitan area.
An accomplished scholar and author, Shank has published extensively in marketing, strategic planning and organizational leadership. He is the author of Sports Marketing: A Strategic Perspective (6th Edition) and has consulted with more than 100 nonprofit and for-profit organizations.