James (Jim) Collins obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance from Loras College in 1984 and a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education from the University of Iowa in 2004.  He is currently in his 38th year of service to the College, and was elected as the 26th President of Loras College in 2004.

President Collins served on the Board of Directors for the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) and served as both its chair and treasurer. He finished his board term for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) and served as a member of its Executive Committee. In recent years, Collins served as member of the NCAA III President’s Advisory Group. President Collins served as Chair for the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (IAICU). He currently serves on the Seton Hall University Board of Regents and is chair of the Academic Affairs Committee and a member of the Executive committee. Collins also serves as a member of the USCCB Higher Education Working Group.

President Collins is a Crystal Lake, IL native and the oldest of six children.  In 2018, Collins was named the Dubuque Telegraph Herald’s First Citizen. He has been recognized twice as one America’s Top 100 Irish Educators. In 2007, he received the Alumni Excellence Award from his high school, Marian Central Catholic High School, Collins and his wife, Lisa, have six children and two grandchildren.