Dr. Dean A. Pribbenow is Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Elmhurst University (Elmhurst, IL), where he has served for five years to enhance student success, strengthen financial sustainability, and expand academic programs. Under his leadership the university has increased retention rates, launched a new academic structure, and expanded student support services. He led the effort to secure Elmhurst’s designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and obtained a $3.4 million Title V grant to support belonging and achievement. Pribbenow has contributed to unprecedented financial success during this time, including record undergraduate and graduate enrollments, positive budget variances in each of the last five years, and the largest comprehensive campaign in university history. He has also overseen the development of a strategic academic program portfolio, diversification of the faculty, expansion of graduate programs and instructional modalities, growth of external partnerships, and launching of the university’s first doctoral program.
Prior to Elmhurst University, Pribbenow served at Edgewood College (Madison, WI) for sixteen years in three key leadership roles. As Vice President for Academic Affairs, he grew his commitment to the integration of high-impact educational practices, faculty development, and community engagement. Pribbenow also served as the inaugural dean of the college’s school of integrative studies, and he earned tenure, taught in, and led a general education program dedicated to interdisciplinarity and community-based learning. Throughout his career, Pribbenow has played a central role in strategic planning processes, aligning academic priorities with institutional mission and resources. His commitment extends beyond campus to meaningful community and industry partnerships, including organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County, the Elmhurst Art Museum, the Milwaukee Public School system, and other corporate and statewide entities. He has been recognized locally and nationally for his contributions to the fields of higher education and campus-community engagement.
Pribbenow earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, an M.S. in Counselor Education from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and a B.A. in English from Luther College. He enjoys hiking, reading, the arts, and playing guitar. Pribbenow and his wife have six adult children and currently reside in Villa Park, Illinois.