A member of the Provincial Council of the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province, Brother Dan Wisniewski, OSFS, Ph.D., has dedicated his ministry to education.
Brother Dan Wisniewski, OSFS
After Brother Dan first professed his vows as a religious brother of the Oblates in 1996, he taught mathematics at Northeast Catholic High School (Philadelphia, PA) and served as the faculty moderator of the Community Service Corps (CSC). He then went on to serve at DeSales University for over two decades, most recently as Provost and a tenured Associate Professor of Mathematics.
Leveraging this extensive education experience, Brother Dan is currently ministering as Director of Oblate Education for the Wilmington-Philadelphia Province. In this capacity, he supports the faculty, staff, and administration of educational institutions staffed by or associated with the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. “I hope I will be a resource to cultivate and care for our charism and the dissemination of Salesian Spirituality,” he said. As an extension of this, Brother Dan will examine how the charism is linked to the mission of the schools. He will gather best processes and share with those serving in educational settings.
As this is a newly created role, Brother Dan is spending these first few months meeting with the faculty and administration of the schools to listen and learn. He wants to understand their mission and how he can be a supportive presence to those communities. Brother Dan’s new position is another illustration that education remains an essential component of the mission of the Oblates. “I want to make sure that the Oblates’ presence is felt in the school communities,” he explained.
Supporting internal education is another important aspect of Brother Dan’s role. He will become a resource and coordinator of personal, academic, and professional development opportunities for his fellow Oblates, from those in formation to men in retirement. Brother Dan looks forward to working closely with his Oblate confreres. “Ministering as an Oblate to the Oblates is especially rejuvenating for me,” he said. Brother Dan will also be supporting his fellow Oblates as Superior of the Salesianum Oblate Residence (Wilmington, DE) where 17 Oblates reside.
Prior to being Provost at DeSales University, Brother Dan served as Head of the Division of Sciences & Mathematics and Chair of the Department of Mathematics/Computer Science. An alumnus of Father Judge High School, Brother Dan earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from Bryn Mawr College, an M.A. in mathematics from Villanova University, an M.A. in Christian Spirituality from The Washington Theological Union, an M.Ed. in Academic Standards & Reform from DeSales University, and a B.S. in mathematics (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from The Catholic University of America. He has been published in multiple journals and his research interests include number theory, mathematics education, the preparation of future teachers, and a variety of Salesian topics such as friendship and grief.
Brother Dan has previously served on the Provincial Council and was a board member for the National Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM). He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Salesianum School in Wilmington (DE). Brother Dan looks forward to serving other Oblate-affiliated schools as a board member and in other capacities. He enjoys visiting his mother who lives in Northeast Philadelphia and spending time with family and friends. A fan of popular culture, Brother Dan delights in music, movies, and concerts.
If you would like to contact Brother Dan, you can reach him at dwisniewski@oblates.org.
