New Trustees Join Dominican Board Leadership

This article appears in the Fall 2025 issue of the Dominican University Magazine.
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Dominican university on July 1 welcomed five new members to its Board of Trustees. These trustees will join the board in providing oversight of the university and upholding its mission in their decision-making.

Their terms will be for three years, with the exception of the student trustee, who will serve for the 2025-26 academic year. Meet the new trustees here:

Fr. Brendan Curran, OP

Fr. Brendan serves on the International Dominican Commission for Justice and Peace, representing Dominican religious, laity and young adult networks in the U.S. and Canada.

He is also the founding member of Priests for Justice for Immigrants, a network supporting immigration reform, and Faith Table, an interfaith coalition for stronger and healthier neighborhoods. Fr. Brendan coordinates community organizing and interfaith partnerships at The Resurrection Project and convenes the Pilsen Preservation Collective, a group of organizations, individuals and community leaders working to improve quality of life in the Pilsen community.

In 2016, Fr. Brendan was the founding chair of Dominican University’s Latinx Visioning Working Group, which assessed how this student population is served, and was a special assistant to the president from 2016 through 2018.

“I am proud to stand with the Sinsinawa Dominican mission of Dominican University,” Fr. Brendan said. “I hope to provide connections, resources and opportunities to our university as we continue to develop best practices in serving our students and families.”

Marisel A. Hernandez

Chairwoman of the Chicago Board of Elections since 2015, Hernandez is the board’s first Hispanic member and leader. She is of counsel with the law firm of Jacobs Burns Orlove and Hernandez LLP, concentrating on labor and employment law. She previously served as a trial attorney with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and with the National Labor Relations Board.

Hernandez has served on the boards of the Golden Apple Foundation, the Center for Conflict Resolution, and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Pilsen. She holds degrees in law, public policy and administration, and sociology.

“I love the mission of Dominican University, the principles it stands by and its dedication to the students and staff,” Hernandez said. “These things inspire me to continue to become a better person and to share my experiences and lessons with others seeking to find their place in this world.”

Tom Irvin

Irvin is an adjunct instructor in the Brennan School of Business and executive in residence in Career Programs and Employer Relations, providing mentoring and advising to ��о�� students. He is the managing partner and co-founder of Guggenheim Partners, a global financial services firm, where he is also an executive sponsor of diversity and inclusion. Irvin is the former vice president and head of product management for First National Bank of Chicago’s securitization business.

A resident of River Forest, he holds degrees in business administration and law.

“As an adjunct instructor, I have had the pleasure of witnessing the tremendous talents of the students, and the expertise and compassion of the faculty,” Irvin said. “I hope to assist the university in carrying forward its mission of providing social mobility to our students and preparing them to help create a more just and humane world.”

Dr. Arvid C. Johnson

Johnson served as dean of the Brennan School of Business from 2008 to 2013, and is also a former, tenured Dominican University professor and department chair. In 2013, he was named the ninth president of the University of St. Francis in Joliet and served in this role until May of 2025. At USF, he is credited with overseeing the addition of new academic programs, especially overseas; improving the university’s financial position; upgrading learning spaces; and growing the university, which now has multiple campuses across Joliet. Before joining higher education, Johnson worked in corporate leadership in engineering and business in the defense/ aerospace and marketing research fields.

“Dominican University has always remained near-and-dear to my heart as someone committed to Catholic higher education—both as an educator and as an administrator,”

Johnson said. “I am thrilled to re-engage once again with the Dominican learning community and its incredibly important mission.”

Maria Sarango, Student Trustee

Maria is a junior at Dominican University majoring in finance and economics, with a minor in pre-law. She is a Mazzuchelli Scholar and a student ambassador with Bottom Line, supporting first-generation college students. She has assisted The Resurrection Project with translation and immigration services and participated in a fellowship program in California aimed at empowering young people to become social justice leaders.

Maria is a recipient of ��о��’s Excellence in Experiential Learning (ExcEL) Scholar Award, which allowed her to participate in a study-away program on St. Simons Island, Georgia, exploring the Black ancestral presence and its historical significance.

In recognition of her leadership and community service, she was honored with the Tito Matos Award from the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center.

Her decision to apply for the student trustee position is rooted in her belief in the power of representation and advocacy, she said.

“As someone who has navigated college as a first-generation student, I want to ensure that all voices are heard, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds,” Maria said. “I hope to strengthen the connection between student experiences and university decision-making, and help build a more inclusive, student-centered campus.”

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