Blog
Interim President Announced for Helias Catholic
The Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, Bishop of Jefferson City, has appointed Ron Vossen as interim president of Helias Catholic High School.
Vossen is currently the Helias Catholic director of alumni relations, a role he assumed following a 43-year teaching career at the school.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead Helias Catholic High School as interim president, and I thank Bishop McKnight and the Helias Catholic community for placing their trust in me,” said Vossen. “Helias Catholic is so much more than a school — it’s a second home and a way of life for the students, teachers, staff, families, clergy, alumni and friends who are part of the Crusader family. I look forward to helping open a new chapter at Helias Catholic that builds on our school’s proud traditions and history, knowing our best days are yet to come.”
Vossen is a 1974 graduate of Helias High School. He has a master’s degree from Lincoln University in secondary school administration and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia in industrial arts education.
Since beginning his career at Helias Catholic in 1979, Vossen has served the school as a teacher, assistant principal, director of campus ministry, Fine Arts/Practical Arts Department chairman, spring musical production manager and coach. He has served as director of alumni relations since fall 2022. Ron and his wife, Carol, live in Jefferson City and are parishioners at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. They have four children, all of whom have graduated from Helias Catholic, and three grandchildren.
Vossen’s appointment as interim president comes as the school begins a search for a permanent president. Former Helias Catholic President John Knight stepped down from the role on May 15. Vossen’s interim leadership, which begins July 1, comes at an important time as Helias Catholic continues to work toward the final phases of its campus master plan, including major enhancements to the school’s performing arts, academic and extracurricular facilities.
“Ron Vossen is a dedicated leader and is the natural choice to serve as interim president of Helias Catholic. He has a longstanding commitment to the success of Helias Catholic and I am confident he can help us make strong progress toward meeting our goals for the school — above all, reflecting the light of Christ in our world,” said Bishop McKnight. “Helias Catholic is a treasure of our diocese. While we are still in the early stages of our search for a permanent president, we will benefit greatly from the interim leadership of Ron Vossen as we continue to move forward.”
Helias Catholic High School, founded in 1956 on the traditions of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and the De La Salle Christian Brothers, serves about 700 students in grades 9-12 from throughout Central Missouri. It is one of three high schools under the direction of the Diocese of Jefferson City.
Helias Catholic began a strategic growth planning process in 2019 to strengthen and enhance the school’s Catholic identity, academic excellence and organizational vitality as it works toward the vision of building a community of saints and scholars for Christ.
Recent developments at the school have included expansion of academic space through addition of the Science Center, enhancing the school’s Catholic mission by adding a new chapel, and construction of the Crusader Athletic Complex, with the future goal of completing the campus master plan with a performing arts center and additional facilities.