Brother Bernard Ploeger will continue to serve as president of Chaminade University through 2017 under a two-year contract extension approved Friday by the school’s board of regents, but will conclude his tenure then, by which time he’ll have served as president for eight years.

Ploeger, 66, has held various leadership positions at the private Catholic university since joining it in 1995. He was named president in 2009 following the death of President Sue Wesselkamper. Board of Regents Chair Vaughn A. Vasconcellos on Friday said the university, which serves about 2,600 students, has flourished under Ploeger’s leadership.

“Brother Bernie has worked tirelessly to put the university on sound financial footing, raise the quality of our educational offerings, and renew and expand our facilities,” Vasconcellos said in a statement. “His quiet style of leadership allowed the university to achieve sound progress across the board and has led to an overall transformation of our campus.”

Ploeger noted that conducting a search for a university president is an extended duty these days, and said campus leadership will spend the next two years preparing for a successful transition.

“I am so pleased with what we have been able to accomplish thus far.  The extension will afford me the privilege of serving for over eight years as president of this wonderful institution,” said Ploeger in a university news release. “In the next two years, we have some tremendously ambitious projects to complete, and I’m committed to making these last two the best years of my presidency.”

Founded in 1955, Chaminade offers bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in 28 academic disciplines. Located in Kaimuki, it is associated with the Marianists, a Roman Catholic religious order.