Bill Thierfelder will retire as president of Belmont Abbey College effective Aug. 2, the 21st anniversary of his college leadership. Thierfelder assumed his role in 2004 and has led the state’s only Catholic-affiliated college through a period of growth, including a $150 million capital campaign.
During his tenure, the college has expanded academic programs, including a nursing program, opened five new residence halls, reinvigorated the college’s Catholic identity, and strengthened community partnerships, according to a release. He is the 20th president of Belmont Abbey College, which was founded in Belmont in 1876 by Benedictine monks.
“Serving as president of Belmont Abbey College has been the joy of a lifetime,” said Thierfelder in a release. “Together with an incredible team of administrators, faculty, and staff, we have achieved tremendous milestones. I am deeply grateful to our students, alumni, and supporters for their commitment to our shared mission. I have overwhelming gratitude to God for giving me this charge and the grace of the confidence to know that I am leaving the college a more secure, more stable, and more faithful place dedicated to His mission.”
Thierfelder says he was driven by his faith to join the mission of Belmont Abbey College; inspired by an ad in a newspaper. The college is located in Belmont, about 10 miles west o Charlotte.
“Belmont Abbey College would not be the wonderful place it is if not for Bill Thierfelder. Bill’s leadership over the last two decades has been instrumental, and we congratulate and honor his faith-filled stewardship of our vibrant Catholic community,” said Chuck Cornelio, chair of the board of trustees.
Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B. of Belmont Abbey Monastery, issued the following statement:
“On behalf of all the monks of Belmont Abbey, I wish to express our profound gratitude to Dr. and Mrs. Thierfelder for their 21 years of generous and dedicated service to Belmont Abbey College. Responding to what they perceived as a call, they arrived at a critical time in the College’s history in 2004.”
Key achievements during Thierfelder’s tenure include:
- Achieved an academic level change to award master’s degrees with eight new programs launched
- Launched the nation’s premier Motorsports Business Management Program
- Increased undergraduate enrollment from less than 500 to more than 1,600
- Grew on-campus residency by over 65%
- Achieved most recently an all-time high in retention of 72%
- 40 new or refurbished facilities, including:
- More than $185 million raised since 2004
- Instituted the Sport & Virtue approach in all athletic programs, inspiring coaches and athletes to pursue athletics as a method to achieve personal virtue
- Grew athletics program to the seventh largest in the country, including adding 15 programs for a total of 44 teams.
Thierfelder also spearheaded a relationship with CaroMont Health to build a medical campus adjacent to the campus. He also launched an effort with a $9 million state grant to build a $25 million performing arts center for the college, which is now being planned.
Thierfelder plans to return to campus in the Fall of 2026 to join the faculty.