Dan Cellucci Steps Down as CEO, Jason Shanks Announced as His Successor
Dear Friends,
With gratitude for his tremendous tenure, the Board of Directors of Catholic Leadership Institute formally announces the resignation of Dan Cellucci from his role as President & CEO. After 25 years of service to the organization, including 10 years as CEO, Dan has decided to explore his next professional chapter. The Board has invited Dan to remain engaged with the work of Catholic Leadership Institute as a member of the Board of Directors.
At the same time, we are pleased to announce the appointment of our new CEO, Jason Shanks. Jason will be coming to CLI after his remarkable service as President of the National Eucharistic Congress. He brings decades of knowledge and experience in serving leaders in the Church, including a longtime partnership with Catholic Leadership Institute.
Catholic Leadership Institute’s Board of Directors has promoted Chief Operating Officer, Michael School, to the role of President. For the past five years, Michael has provided unparalleled leadership overseeing the organization’s operations and service fulfillment.
All of these leadership transitions will take effect on Monday, October 19, 2026.
While we execute a smooth transition in leadership within our organization, our ongoing delivery and service to the Church and Her leaders will continue. We intend to approach our own transition with the same prayerfulness, clarity, and care that we do when accompanying bishops and priests in their respective transitions. Please keep us in your prayers.
Drew Peloubet, CLI’s Board Chair shares: “The growth of this organization under Dan Cellucci’s leadership over the past decade has been incredible. He has helped cultivate an impressive culture of service that will continue to bear fruit for the Church for generations to come. We offer Dan and his family our heartfelt gratitude and every blessing in this new chapter, and we are ecstatic that he has agreed to join us on the Board of Directors. We warmly welcome Jason and look forward to this next chapter of growth under his leadership.”
The mission and vision of Catholic Leadership Institute are grounded in CLI’s 35+ year history, an established strategic plan, well-developed services, and a highly capable executive and staff team. Together, we will inspire Catholic leaders to revitalize the Church for a joy-filled future rooted in the mission of Jesus Christ.
To send Dan a message, click here. Any media inquiries should be addressed to Mary Serafino, our Director of Communications.
Our President & CEO Daniel Cellucci's weekly email, the DIAL: Discerning Insights About Leadership.
CLI serves Church leaders, helping them rediscover their potential and forming them to be more intentional with those they serve.
CLI helps empower and energize Catholic leaders by providing focus and courage to engage the culture with an apostolic mindset.
CLI provides vision and hope about the future of the Church with a humble, yet strategic approach.
