The Rev. Michal Scanlan, TOR, sits in Christ the King Chapel at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Scanlan died Saturday at the age of 85. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — The Michael Scanlan, TOR, president emeritus of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, died this morning at the age of 85.

His leadership as president transformed the school from a struggling regional college into a world-renowned leader in Catholic higher education and helped to inspire a restoration of faithful Catholic education in the United States and the world, the school said in a press relesase.

A priest of the Franciscan Third Order Regular Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Scanlan served as president of Franciscan University from 1974-2000, chancellor from 2000-2011 and became president emeritus in 2011. That same year he retired to the Third Order Regular Sacred Heart Province’s motherhouse in Loretto, Pa., and in December 2013, due to declining health, he moved to Garvey Manor, a Catholic nursing home in nearby Hollidaysburg, Pa.

Scanlan died after an extended illness. Funeral arrangements are pending but will include a viewing and a memorial Mass at Franciscan University of Steubenville and a Mass of Christian Burial at the TOR Motherhouse in Loretto. Details will be posted when they are available at www.Franciscan.edu/FatherMike.

See additional details in our Sunday edition.