Located near Charlotte, North Carolina, Belmont Abbey College is a private, Newman Guide, Catholic college rooted in a Benedictine heritage.

Higher Education

Belmont Abbey College

Philip Brach, Vice President of College Relations, has held several posts in the for-profit, nonprofit and government sectors. As Vice President of College Relations, he oversees all external relations and resource development for the College.

Prior to joining Belmont Abbey, Philip was one of the founders of the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America (CUA) and served as Assistant Dean for seven years. Also, while at CUA Philip taught courses in leadership, entrepreneurship and philanthropic management.

Philip began his career with Mobil Oil in their Los Angeles downstream operations. In 1995, he became a marketing strategy consultant for Ernst and Young. Philip left Ernst and Young in 1996 to help found the SQAD Company, of which he then became the Vice President and CFO. During his time there, he was awarded three patents for innovative marketing inventions.

Philip sold his stake in the SQAD Company and turned his skills and energy towards the non-profit sector. He became the Director of Operations for the Midtown Center for Boys. His role later expanded to his being the Executive Director of the entire Midtown Educational Foundation, a Chicago-based non-profit organization. The Foundation sponsors programs to help inner-city youth achieve academic excellence and develop strong moral character.

In 2004, Philip returned to his high school alma mater, St. John’s College High School, in Washington, D.C., where he served as Vice President. In this capacity, he oversaw all fundraising, alumni relations and external communications. He also directed the production of all external communications, including the publishing of an award-winning alumni magazine.

After seven years at St. John’s, he took a year sabbatical working as the Chief of Staff for Congressman Jeff Fortenberry. After spending time as the Director of Development for the Sellinger School of Business at Loyola University of Maryland, he left to help found the Busch School of Business.

Philip Brach

Dr. Travis Feezell, Provost at [Belmont Abbey College](/org/belmont-abbey-college), brought almost three decades of experience in higher education to the position, including service as an academic administrator, faculty member, athletic director and baseball coach.

From 2017 to 2020, Dr. Feezell served as President of [Hastings College](/org/hastings-college). There he led the Hastings 2.0 project, a comprehensive series of changes in calendar, curriculum, technology and student development. From 2014 through 2017, he was Provost and Chief Academic Officer at the [University of the Ozarks](/org/university-of-the-ozarks) where he served as chair of a successful strategic planning process as well as co-leading the Enrollment Management Team to oversee increases in enrollment and retention. In addition, he initiated academic and governance changes at the four-year liberal arts institution.

Before joining the [University of the Ozarks](/org/university-of-the-ozarks), he served as a tenured professor and administrator at Belmont Abbey from 2008 to 2014, He was also awarded the [Belmont Abbey College](/org/belmont-abbey-college) Spirit of St. Benedict Award in 2012, the highest award for service to the college, and the Adrian Faculty Excellence Award in 2011.

Feezell received a doctorate in education from the [University of Idaho](/org/university-of-idaho) in 2005. Additionally, he received his master’s degree in medieval British studies from the University of Wales-Cardiff in 1992. He earned his undergraduate degree in English from the [University of Wyoming](/org/university-of-wyoming). He taught at the University of St. Thomas and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and was the director of athletics at [Macalester College](/org/macalester-college) in Minnesota. He also served as a faculty member, chair of the Department of Sports Studies, director of athletics and head baseball coach at [Whitman College](/org/whitman-college) in Walla Walla, Washington. A former Rhodes Scholar national finalist, Feezell often speaks and writes on issues of sport and higher education in America.

Travis Feezell

Abbot Placid Solari, O.S.B., a native of Richmond, Virginia, was professed as a monk of Belmont Abbey in 1975. He was ordained in 1980 by The Most Reverend Michael Begley, Bishop of Charlotte. He served at St. Michael Church in Gastonia, NC from 1979-1982, and has assisted in various pastoral and educational ministries in the Diocese of Charlotte. In November of 1999, Abbot Placid was elected the 8th Abbot of Belmont Abbey.

Abbot Placid is the Chancellor of [Belmont Abbey College](/org/belmont-abbey-college), and has previously served the college as an assistant professor in the Theology Department, as Vice President for Academic Affairs, and as interim President.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Bellarmine College in Louisville, KY in 1974. He earned the S.T.B. degree in Theology from the International Benedictine College of Sant’ Anselmo in Rome in 1978, and a doctorate in Theology and Patristic Sciences from the Pontifical Patristic Institute “Augustinianum,” also in Rome.

Placid Solari

Mr. Allan Mark, CPA is the Chief Financial Officer at [Belmont Abbey College](/org/belmont-abbey-college). He has 14 years of combined experience in auditing, financial reporting and education.

Mr. Mark began his career in finance as a Staff Auditor for Deloitte & Touche, LLP in 2005 where he analyzed client operations and transactions.  He previously served as an Internal Auditor for Motorsports Authentics.  Most recently, Mr. Mark spent seven years as an SEC Financial Reporting Analyst at Sonic Automotive Inc. specializing in SEC filings and fixed asset project tracking.  Prior to entering the financial industry, he spent six years teaching Mathematics at Gaston County Schools.

Mr. Mark earned a Master of Accountancy at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, as well as a B.A. in Science from [Canisius College](/org/canisius-college). 

Allan Mark

Kendyl Felton

Now in his 16th year at Belmont Abbey College, Stephen Miss has seen unprecedented growth within the Crusader Athletic Department. He has spearheaded the efforts for the last eight years, after assuming the role of Athletic Director on August 29, 2012. During that time, the department has added 11 sports, while capturing five overall Conference Carolinas Messick Sportsmanship Awards, including three straight from 2011 to 2014. The cycling and cheerleading programs featured national championships in 2016-17.

Stephen Miss

Dr. Bill Thierfelder is currently in his 17th year as President of [Belmont Abbey College](/org/belmont-abbey-college), a Catholic Benedictine institution founded in 1876, located 10 miles west of Charlotte, NC.

Under Dr. Thierfelder’s leadership, enrollment has more than doubled, 30 facilities have been built or refurbished including the addition of an off-site campus, and the College has gained national recognition for its Catholic and Benedictine mission and identity. In addition, Dr. Thierfelder has championed college affordability by reducing tuition 33% and guaranteeing no future increases.

Prior to his appointment as President of [Belmont Abbey College](/org/belmont-abbey-college), Dr. Thierfelder successfully lead and transitioned fitness legend, York Barbell Company, from a manufacturer to a solutions-based partner providing sales, marketing, product development and logistical services to mass merchants and major sporting goods retailers throughout the United States and Europe.

Dr. Thierfelder was also a principal in Joyner Sports Medicine Institute, a physical therapy corporation he helped conceptualize, found, and develop. He was instrumental in negotiating the sale of the company to NovaCare and subsequently served as the National Director of Sports Science.

Dr. Thierfelder has also served as Executive Director of the Player Management Group, a sports representation company that provided contract negotiation, financial management, legal, career planning and sports medicine services to professional athletes. He has helped thousands of athletes, including many at the Olympic and professional levels, achieve dramatic improvements in their athletic performances.

Dr. Thierfelder received his master’s and doctoral degrees in Sports Psychology and Human Movement from [Boston University](/org/boston-university). He is a licensed psychologist, a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychological Specialties, a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, and a past member of the United States Olympic Committee’s Sport Psychology Registry. He is a former NCAA Division I Coach, National Champion, and a two-time All-American from the University of Maryland. Dr. Thierfelder is an inductee of the Sports Faith International Hall of Fame, which includes world-class athletes, coaches, and team owners, such as George “Papa Bear” Halas, Vince Lombardi, Wellington Mara and Brian Piccolo.

William K. Thierfelder

Belmont Abbey College's Leadership Team includes Placid Solari and 5 others.

Leadership Team

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