After 18 years at the helm of Brescia University, Fr. Larry Hostetter has announced he will step down as president in 2025, opting not to extend his current contract. Madison Silvert, J.D., will succeed him, with a formal transition taking place in early 2025 and Silvert officially assuming the role on June 1.
Hostetter said the decision to leave was carefully considered.
“It’s been 18 years as president and 26 years total that I’ve been at Brescia. I knew the time was winding down anyway, so I was trying to figure out when would be the right time,” he said. “As things unfolded, this turned out to be the best time. Rather than renewing the contract one more time, which I’ve done several times over those 18 years, I thought it might be best to just do something different.”
The idea of Silvert as a potential successor began with Hostetter.
“I knew that he was interested in higher education, and I basically called our board chair — the person who would be in charge of the search — and said, ‘Hey, here’s an opportunity the board may want to pursue,’ and left it at that,” Hostetter said. “Obviously, I wouldn’t have presented it if I didn’t think it was a good idea, but it was up to them to make that decision.”
The board agreed. Rick Higdon, chair of the presidential selection committee, emphasized that Hostetter’s leadership created a strong foundation for the university’s future.
“We are so thankful for his leadership,” Higdon said. “He has put the university in a position to embark on a new century of growth and success that will be led by Silvert and the outstanding cabinet, faculty, and staff of this institution.”
Silvert, an Owensboro native, is currently president of BryantCorp, managing hospitality and commercial real estate holdings nationwide. Previously, he led the Greater Owensboro Economic Development Corporation, where he played a key role in revitalizing downtown Owensboro. Silvert also served as an adjunct professor at Brescia University, Kentucky Wesleyan College, and Owensboro Community and Technical College.
Reflecting on the opportunity to lead Brescia, Silvert said, “Postsecondary education has always been a passion of mine. The opportunity to lead Brescia — a university that means so much to me in a community I love and am devoted to — was something that would have been hard to pass up.”
Silvert underscored the importance of institutions such as Brescia to the local community.
“Owensboro’s success is absolutely dependent on the success of its postsecondary education institutions,” he said. “It’s a differentiator that makes this community successful.”
Malcolm Bryant, co-founder and chair of BryantCorp, expressed pride in Silvert’s achievements and excitement for his new role.
“While we are saddened by his departure, we are also believers in Brescia and its ability to transform lives and Greater Owensboro,” Bryant said. “We are confident Madison will take Brescia to new heights, and we look forward to watching him share his magic in new ways.”
Silvert said his first priority in the role will be listening to the needs of the university.
“My short-term goal is to do a lot of listening — to really understand the questions, concerns, and opportunities for the university. I’ll rely on the incredible team already in place to help guide that process,” he said.
Hostetter expressed confidence in Silvert’s qualifications and vision.
“If you just look at his record — his connection with the Council on Postsecondary Education in Kentucky — he understands the current state of higher ed,” Hostetter said. “He served on the Board of Trustees for the SACSCOC, the regional accreditor for Brescia, and he was also on the executive committee for that. Then his overall experience with business — having to raise funds and understanding how that works — along with his other skills like strategic thinking and creativity, all played a part.”
Hostetter, who has spent nearly three decades at Brescia, described his own presidency as the greatest privilege of his life.
“It’s meant the world,” he said. “It’s been the greatest privilege of my life to serve the Brescia community — our students, faculty, and staff — and to carry on the Brescia mission, which we received from the Ursuline Sisters. I feel very strongly about the importance of Catholic higher education and how that’s framed within the Ursuline context.”
For Hostetter, the highlight of his presidency has been seeing students achieve their goals.
“The highlight for me every year is graduation — seeing our students walk across the stage, having achieved their goals,” he said. “That’s what all of us at Brescia live for: helping our students achieve their educational goals. Beyond that, we strive to give them that extra something that comes with a Catholic, religiously affiliated university — the understanding that we’re all created to love and to make a difference in the world.”
When asked about his future after leaving the presidency, Hostetter said his plans remain open.
“I’ve been an ordained priest for almost 38 years. I’ve only been full-time in a parish for three of those years—everything else has been in education in some form or another,” he said. “I’m hoping I’ll be able to teach a class or two here and there. I’d like to do that. Maybe parish ministry is what’s next. Some of that will depend on conversations I haven’t yet had with the Bishop of the Diocese.”
Brescia University, founded in 1925 by the Ursuline Sisters of Mount Saint Joseph, is a Catholic liberal arts institution. Its mission remains rooted in providing education with a focus on service and community impact.
As Brescia prepares for its next century, Silvert looks forward to honoring its mission and building on Hostetter’s legacy.
“I just want to express my gratitude to the board of trustees, the selection committee, and the faculty and staff for trusting me with this opportunity,” Silvert said.
Hostetter, too, remains deeply committed to the university’s future, saying, “When I see our graduates and what they’re doing, how they’re making a difference, I can’t think of a better way to have spent the last 18 years of my life.”
