Executive Director
The Reverend Dr. John F. Ross
The Reverend Dr. John F. Ross is the Executive Director of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. The Heritage Program is an international initiative for individuals and institutions to explore the artistic and spiritual beauty of The Saint John’s Bible—the first hand-written, hand-illuminated monumental Bible in 500 years.
Prior to his work at Saint John’s, he served for 18 years as the Senior Minister of Wayzata Community Church—a 3,000-member United Church of Christ congregation in Wayzata, Minnesota. John began his 30 years of ordained ministry at First Community Church, Columbus, Ohio where he was Senior Associate Minister for 12 years.
John received his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1989 from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He completed his Master of Divinity in 1995 at the Methodist Theological School of Ohio, and his Doctor of Ministry in May 2004 through the Chicago Theological Seminary.
John is married to his college sweetheart, Sheila, and together they enjoy a full and fast-paced life with their four grown kids: Brady, Madeleine, Anne Marie, and Logan.
Email: John Ross | Call: (320) 363-3209
Brad Neary
Brad Neary serves as Director of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. The Heritage Program is an international initiative for individuals and institutions to explore the artistic and spiritual beauty of The Saint John’s Bible—the first hand-written, hand-illuminated monumental Bible in 500 years.
Neary is a 1981 graduate of Saint John’s University and served as the University’s Assistant to the President from 1981 to 1984. Neary earned his master’s degree in Human Resources & Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management in 1987 and held senior positions at TRW, KeyCorp, and Medtronic over the course of his 20-year career as a human resources professional.
Neary returned to Saint John’s in 2008 and began serving as Senior Development Officer (major gifts) on the University’s Institutional Advancement team. In 2013, Neary combined his fundraising work with a half-time Director role on The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program team. As of May 1, 2022, Neary transitioned to his current full-time role with the Heritage Program.
Neary resides in and works from Seattle where he is an active member of his church, Epiphany Parish, and an even more active father to his teenage daughter, Moira.
Email: Brad Neary | Call: (612) 810-9344
Meghan Stretar
Meghan Stretar serves as Assistant Director of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota being a resource to not only our campus and our 150+ stewards, but also supporting efforts to bring the Bible to new stewards around the world.
Meghan has long had a passion for The Saint John’s Bible. A student at the College of Saint Benedict, she graduated in 2017 with a degree in Elementary Education. She later returned to Collegeville and completed her Master of Divinity, focusing on the intersections of prayer and mental health, in the spring of 2021. During which time, she served as Program Coordinator for the Heritage Program for two summers.
Most recently she was the Assistant Director of the Emmaus Center for Spiritual Life and Vocation at St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wisconsin.
In her free time, you can find Meghan hammocking, exploring trails, reading her way through the Alcuin and Clemens Libraries’ entire catalogue, and attempting new recipes.
Email: Meghan Stretar | Call: (320) 363-2209
Leila Utsch
Leila Utsch is the Program Coordinator of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. In this role, she is a resource not only our campus and our over 150 stewards, but also supports efforts to bring The Saint John’s Bible to new stewards around the world.
Leila has an Administrative Professional degree from Rasmussen University. She has had a passion for The Saint John’s Bible for many years and has worked at Saint John’s University since the inception of The Saint John’s Bible project. Leila worked in the Saint John’s University Institutional Advancement office for 26 years in positions involving Planned Giving, Annual Giving, and Alumni Relations. Most recently, she was the Alumni Relations Office and Event Coordinator overseeing numerous events and working closing with alumni, parents, and friends of Saint John’s University. Her work in Institutional Advancement involved many firsthand experiences with events connected with The Saint John’s Bible, including the opening event at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.
Leila is married to her high school sweetheart, Jerry, and enjoys spending time with their four grown children, their 10 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
In her free time, you will find Leila in her kitchen cooking and baking, especially cheesecakes. She enjoys yoga, walking, reading, and trying new recipes. She also volunteers with Quiet Oaks Hospice House cooking meals for the residents and their families.
Email: Leila Utsch | Call: (320) 363-3209
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Rob Culligan
Rob Culligan is Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota.
Rob has been involved with The Saint John’s Bible since its inception in 1996. At the time he was working for the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library at Saint John’s University, and he was asked to lead the fundraising effort for the Bible project. Over the years, he has been engaged with various aspects of The Saint John’s Bible, including organizing trips to Rome, London, Wales, Washington DC and New York City, fund raising for film documentaries, the national exhibition tour, The Saint John’s Bible Gallery, and the limited fine art editions.
Prior to working for Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict, Rob was the Executive Director for San Luis Valley Christian Community Services in southcentral Colorado. He also served as a VIDA volunteer.
Rob graduated with honors from Saint John’s University with a degree in Government. During his college years, Rob was the co-chair of the Forum Debate Society and was selected by his classmates to deliver the student commencement address.
Presently, Rob serves on the board of BankVista, an independent community bank in Sartell, Minnesota. He previously served on the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation and on the Board of the Minnesota Alzheimer’s Association.
In addition to his volunteer activities, Rob enjoys travel, skiing, biking, and woodworking. Rob has two adult children, Ryan and Clare. He and his wife Carla live in Victoria, Minnesota.
Email: Rob Culligan | Call: (320) 363-3388
Fr. Eric M. Hollas, OSB
Fr. Eric Hollas serves as the Deputy to the President for Advancement at Saint John’s University, and he is a monk of Saint John’s Abbey. He has been involved with The Saint John’s Bible since the inception of the project, and he has spoken widely on the making of The Saint John’s Bible.
Fr. Eric received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history at Princeton University; his Master of Divinity at Saint John’s University; and his PhD in Medieval Studies at Yale University.
He has served on the faculty of the Department and School of Theology/Seminary, and for nine years as executive director of The Hill Museum & Manuscript Library. Since 2003 he has worked in the Department of Institutional Advancement at Saint John’s University, and on July 1, 2022, was appointed prior of Saint John’s Abbey.
Visit Fr. Eric’s blog, A Monk’s Chronicle, here.
Email: Eric M. Hollas | Call: (320) 363-3961
Director
Tim Ternes
Tim Ternes is the Director of The Saint John’s Bible at the Hill Museum & Manuscript Library at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. As Director, Tim worked closely with the artistic team in the creation of the original Bible folios and facilitated planning and communication between artists and commissioner. This collaboration has given him extensive behind-the-scenes knowledge and great stories about all aspects of The Saint John’s Bible project.
In addition to caring for the original folios of the Bible, Tim manages an international touring exhibition program and on-campus gallery programs for the Bible and museum rare book and art collections. He travels extensively throughout the country and internationally offering presentations and educational programs for The Saint John’s Bible and library collections. In short, Tim is the keeper of the pages and the keeper of the story.
Prior to working with The Saint John’s Bible, Tim worked as an elementary classroom teacher for sixteen years and as an independent language arts consultant to school districts around the country and internationally.