• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
James Sellinger, chancellor for education for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, celebrates the 2021 dedication of Mother Mary Lange Catholic School in West Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR file)

James Sellinger, chancellor of education, will retire June 30

May 2, 2022
By George P. Matysek Jr.
Catholic Review
Filed Under: Feature, Local News, News, Schools

James B. Sellinger, chancellor of education for the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Department of Catholic Schools for nearly eight years, will retire June 30, Archbishop William E. Lori announced May 2.

Sellinger was the archdiocese’s first-ever chancellor for education, taking up the role after a 35-year career as an executive with the IBM Corporation.

“Leading our Catholic schools through historic challenges including a global shutdown due to COVID-19, Jim helped steer an increase in enrollment and lead our students toward academic achievements that have truly defied the odds,” Archbishop Lori said.

James Sellinger will retire as chancellor for education for the Archdiocese of Baltimore June 30. (CR file)

The archbishop called Sellinger a “tireless advocate” for the archdiocese’s elementary and secondary schools, noting that the chancellor petitioned lawmakers in Annapolis to support the BOOST (Broadening Options and Opportunities for Students Today) scholarship program that helps children from low-income families attend Catholic and other nonpublic schools in Maryland.

As chancellor, Sellinger has been responsible for promoting the enrollment and fiscal health of the Catholic school system.

In an interview with the Catholic Review, Sellinger said he was proud to take a collaborative approach to leadership. He works closely with Dr. Donna Hargens, superintendent of Catholic schools, as well as associate superintendents and archdiocesan school board members.

“It’s not about me,” Sellinger said. “I’m just one individual. The team has done a phenomenal job working with our (school presidents and principals) to sustain and grow our Catholic schools these past eight years.”

Overall enrollment has ticked up significantly in recent years, now standing at approximately 16,500 students. Sellinger acknowledged, however, that some schools had to be closed during his tenure because of struggles with finances, enrollment declines or other challenges.

“Nobody likes to close schools,” he said, “but as Archbishop Lori and I discussed, sometimes you have to get smaller to get bigger. You affect a lot of people’s lives when you close schools, and it’s an emotional drain on everyone. I think we did a good job ensuring our families that were affected by school closures (that they) had opportunities working collaboratively with us to attend other Catholic schools.”

One of the highlights of Sellinger’s tenure was opening the $24 million Mother Mary Lange Catholic School in West Baltimore in 2021, the first Catholic school built in the city in 60 years. Archbishop Lori said Sellinger’s “vision, commitment and effective fundraising” were “pivotal” in the development of the 65,000-square-foot school.

“The school has opened up more than academic pathways for the students,” the archbishop said. “Rising within an under-invested community in West Baltimore, the school brings hope, faith and opportunity to long-deserving families.”

Sellinger helped steer archdiocesan school policies related to COVID-19 protocols, working with the archbishop and with civic and public health experts. He was a driving force behind reopening Catholic schools for in-person learning in the 2020-21 academic year at a time when other school systems did not.

Archbishop William E. Lori, center, and James Sellinger, left, talk with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan at the 2021 dedication of Mother Mary Lange Catholic School in West Baltimore. (Kevin J. Parks/CR file)

“We have wonderful faculty and staff that responded to the call to go back into the classroom,” said Sellinger, a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

When COVID-19 positivity cases declined sharply during the 2021-22 academic year, the archdiocese lifted the mask mandate in Catholic schools in jurisdictions that allowed it. The archbishop noted that Sellinger implored the mayor of Baltimore to “join other Maryland jurisdictions in advocating for parental choice when it came to wearing masks in our schools.”

Born in Cincinnati and raised in St. Louis, Sellinger is the youngest of nine children and the son of Francis J. Sellinger, a master brewer and chief executive officer of Schlitz Brewing Company. His uncle was Jesuit Father Joseph Sellinger, former president of what is now Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore.

Sellinger told the Catholic Review that he and his wife are looking forward to spending more time with their three children and six grandchildren. He noted that he came out of retirement to work for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He spent his entire professional life at IBM and the archdiocese.

“In the business world, that’s a lot of years,” said Sellinger, 66. “We have the opportunity now to smell the roses a little bit.”

The archbishop said the archdiocese will conduct a national search to find Sellinger’s successor.

“I firmly believe that our schools are well-positioned for the future with Dr. Hargens in place,” Sellinger said. “I know my successor will work with Dr. Hargens to continue to move the ball down the field.”

Email George Matysek at gmatysek@CatholicReview.org

Read More Schools News

Second graders at Nashville Catholic school make, sell bracelets to buy therapy dog for peers at school where mass shooting occurred

Archdiocesan Spelling Bee returns

Setting the trajectory: Knott Scholarship Funds drive impact over a generation

Archdiocese of Baltimore announces 2023 Teachers of the Year

PIE scholarships provide new opportunities

Catholic community galvanized behind First Fruits Farm

Copyright © 2022 Catholic Review Media

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

George P. Matysek Jr.

George Matysek, a member of the Catholic Review staff since 1997, has served as managing editor since September 2021. He previously served as a writer, senior correspondent, assistant managing editor and digital editor of the Catholic Review and the Archdiocese of Baltimore.

In his current role, he oversees news coverage of the Archdiocese of Baltimore and is a host of Catholic Review Radio.

George has won more than 100 national and regional journalism and broadcasting awards from the Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association, the Catholic Press Association, the Associated Church Press and National Right to Life. He has reported from Guyana, Guatemala, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

A native Baltimorean, George is a proud graduate of Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Essex. He holds a bachelor's degree from Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and a master's degree from UMBC.

George, his wife and five children live in Rodgers Forge. He is a parishioner of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Movie Review: ‘Padre Pio’
  • Assault outside Planned Parenthood office leaves pregnancy center employees shaken
  • ‘God’s Scribe’: Father Breighner retires popular column after more than 50 years
  • Farewell and thank you
  • Bishop Victor Galeone, former Archdiocese of Baltimore priest and bishop of St. Augustine, dies at 87

| Latest Local News |

Baltimore food support programs feel pinch after federal assistance benefits end

Oblate Sisters celebrate 10th anniversary of transfer of Mother Lange’s remains

RADIO INTERVIEW: The Vatican Code

| Latest World News |

Pope: Quick change of course necessary to beat climate change

Pope asks Catholics to welcome everyone, create communion

Act of reparation performed on altar of St. Peter’s Basilica

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Pope: Quick change of course necessary to beat climate change
  • Baltimore food support programs feel pinch after federal assistance benefits end
  • Oblate Sisters celebrate 10th anniversary of transfer of Mother Lange’s remains
  • Pope asks Catholics to welcome everyone, create communion
  • Act of reparation performed on altar of St. Peter’s Basilica
  • Pope prays for Indian train crash victims during Angelus
  • RADIO INTERVIEW: The Vatican Code
  • Ukrainian religious scholars provide advice to British experts collecting evidence of Russian crimes for trial in The Hague
  • Defending Henry VIII: Thomas More did it 500 years ago, against Martin Luther

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED