New SJU President: Rev. Brian J. Shanley, OP, President of Providence College
- Thread starter TonyinFairfield
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“The Board of Trustees at Providence College recommended that Shanley be given a fourth 5-year term back in 2019, but the college’s provincial said he would not be eligible to return, despite approval from the Board of Trustees, according to Providence College’s student newspaper, The Cowl”
Entire Torch piece
[URL]https://www.torchonline.com/ne...p-announced-as-president-gempesaws-successor/[/URL]
Entire Torch piece
[URL]https://www.torchonline.com/ne...p-announced-as-president-gempesaws-successor/[/URL]
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The article I posed earlier referenced this
When Providence College announced that Shanley would be stepping down, his supporters argued that he was being replaced because his superiors felt that the campus become too liberal under his guidance.
Shanley declined to characterize his superior’s motives. But he did say this:
“It’s a perennial debate on Catholic campuses. Are you too Catholic or are you Catholic enough? Sometimes you get hammered from the right. Sometimes you get hammered from the left. I think we traversed the right course.”
When Providence College announced that Shanley would be stepping down, his supporters argued that he was being replaced because his superiors felt that the campus become too liberal under his guidance.
Shanley declined to characterize his superior’s motives. But he did say this:
“It’s a perennial debate on Catholic campuses. Are you too Catholic or are you Catholic enough? Sometimes you get hammered from the right. Sometimes you get hammered from the left. I think we traversed the right course.”
The Providence basketball board is complimentary of Fr. Shanley
https://friartownhoops.proboards.com/thread/10497/fr-brian-shanley
https://friartownhoops.proboards.com/thread/10497/fr-brian-shanley
If anyone can explain how the orders work in regards to for lack of a better term "being a free agent" so to speak?
He's ordained as member of Dominican order... but the superiors of the order did not approve him to stay at Providence. For him to come to St. John's, which is outside Dominican oversight, would Fr. Shanley still have to get some type of approval from Dominican superiors to take the job or is he free to work elsewhere while still being part of Dominican order?
Genuinely curious as to how that works
He's ordained as member of Dominican order... but the superiors of the order did not approve him to stay at Providence. For him to come to St. John's, which is outside Dominican oversight, would Fr. Shanley still have to get some type of approval from Dominican superiors to take the job or is he free to work elsewhere while still being part of Dominican order?
Genuinely curious as to how that works
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redstorm80
Well-known member
I'll start off by saying i dont generally follow what happens on different college campuses and the politics of leadership, i'm simply just a college sports fan. Having said that i am familiar with what Father Shanley has done at PC and can say this is a GRAND SLAM hire.
Just from the athletics side of things, Shanley is a huge sports/basketball fan and puts a great importance on investing in athletics. Additionally, i believe it was his vision and leadership that was instrumental in reconfiguring the big east when it was on shaky ground during realignment. He has helped lead big fundraising efforts to build and transform the PC campus notably with the new practice facility. Many PC people were not happy he was not allowed to return.
The future of St John's basketball just got much brighter today
Just from the athletics side of things, Shanley is a huge sports/basketball fan and puts a great importance on investing in athletics. Additionally, i believe it was his vision and leadership that was instrumental in reconfiguring the big east when it was on shaky ground during realignment. He has helped lead big fundraising efforts to build and transform the PC campus notably with the new practice facility. Many PC people were not happy he was not allowed to return.
The future of St John's basketball just got much brighter today
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jerseyshorejohnny
Well-known member
Interview with Fr. Shaley from 2018
First and foremost I preface what I am about to say with the fact that my younger daughter looked at a LOT of different colleges. This included Fordham and Providence, among others including W&M, F&M, Villanova, etc., etc, (she chose Holy Cross). So, we met about 30 different Presidents of different (mostly northeast) universities.
But of all the schools, she (we) visited including BU, and those mentioned, also Villanova, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Boston College, Loyola of Maryland, etc., etc., the President of any University that most impressed us was not a Jesuit nor a Vincentian was Fr. Shanley of Providence. HE WAS GREAT. A FABULOUS REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS UNIVERSITY.
I Was a 50-ish year old double Alum of SJU, and (not a big PC fan) but after hearing Fr. Shanley speak I wanted to re-enroll at Providence College right then and there. He was that good and that charismatic. He engaged you from the moment he started speaking. (We also really liked the Fordham President (Fr. McShane).
I think this is fantastic hire for our school. This will enhance all aspects of St. John's University.
(As a graduate of SJU Law--I don't see any reason why this is not good for the Law School too, I think it is great for all parts of the University).
Congratulations and thank you Selection Committee, you did a fabulous job.
But of all the schools, she (we) visited including BU, and those mentioned, also Villanova, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Boston College, Loyola of Maryland, etc., etc., the President of any University that most impressed us was not a Jesuit nor a Vincentian was Fr. Shanley of Providence. HE WAS GREAT. A FABULOUS REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS UNIVERSITY.
I Was a 50-ish year old double Alum of SJU, and (not a big PC fan) but after hearing Fr. Shanley speak I wanted to re-enroll at Providence College right then and there. He was that good and that charismatic. He engaged you from the moment he started speaking. (We also really liked the Fordham President (Fr. McShane).
I think this is fantastic hire for our school. This will enhance all aspects of St. John's University.
(As a graduate of SJU Law--I don't see any reason why this is not good for the Law School too, I think it is great for all parts of the University).
Congratulations and thank you Selection Committee, you did a fabulous job.
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beast of the east
Active member
[quote="RedStormNC" post=402650]The article I posed earlier referenced this
When Providence College announced that Shanley would be stepping down, his supporters argued that he was being replaced because his superiors felt that the campus become too liberal under his guidance.
Shanley declined to characterize his superior’s motives. But he did say this:
“It’s a perennial debate on Catholic campuses. Are you too Catholic or are you Catholic enough? Sometimes you get hammered from the right. Sometimes you get hammered from the left. I think we traversed the right course.”[/quote]
It's just one of many issues that Catholic Universities are confronted with continuously. At times viewpoints can be violently opposed yet can each be meritorious to some extent. If Catholic Universities are to retain a strong Catholic identity and continue to have a faith based mission, ideally its president be able to provide spiritual and religious leadership. With declining numbers of clergy, the pool of candidates who can provide this type of leadership and manage the business of educations 20,000 young men and women becomes continually more shallow.
For all these reasons, the board of trustees are to be commended for hiring a new president that appears to have checked every box on a long list of attributes for the ideal candidate. We all have every reason to be excited at this point as Father Shanley leads a new era for our university.
When Providence College announced that Shanley would be stepping down, his supporters argued that he was being replaced because his superiors felt that the campus become too liberal under his guidance.
Shanley declined to characterize his superior’s motives. But he did say this:
“It’s a perennial debate on Catholic campuses. Are you too Catholic or are you Catholic enough? Sometimes you get hammered from the right. Sometimes you get hammered from the left. I think we traversed the right course.”[/quote]
It's just one of many issues that Catholic Universities are confronted with continuously. At times viewpoints can be violently opposed yet can each be meritorious to some extent. If Catholic Universities are to retain a strong Catholic identity and continue to have a faith based mission, ideally its president be able to provide spiritual and religious leadership. With declining numbers of clergy, the pool of candidates who can provide this type of leadership and manage the business of educations 20,000 young men and women becomes continually more shallow.
For all these reasons, the board of trustees are to be commended for hiring a new president that appears to have checked every box on a long list of attributes for the ideal candidate. We all have every reason to be excited at this point as Father Shanley leads a new era for our university.
[quote="otis" post=402646]WOW ....After decades of bad hires St.John’s now has 3 consecutive good hires in a row:
Cragg
Anderson
Shanley[/quote]
This is exactly what I texted my son while he completed his senior year of high school online in his bedroom. St. John’s is very fortunate to have three outstanding professionals who will run and support the basketball program. That’s all you can ask for.
Cragg
Anderson
Shanley[/quote]
This is exactly what I texted my son while he completed his senior year of high school online in his bedroom. St. John’s is very fortunate to have three outstanding professionals who will run and support the basketball program. That’s all you can ask for.
You guys hit a homerun and no matter how long he serves he will leave a positive impact on the University. PC will be naming buildings after him. He will be at every BB game and please believe me when I say this, walk up and say hello to the man an introduce yourself. He is one of the finest people walking this planet. Congrats guys!
Class of 72
Active member
I want to welcome Rev. Brian J. Shanley, OP, as our new President.
St. John's may be a perfect fit for Father Shanley as it is already one of the most diversified and liberal Catholic universities in America. Where he can hopefully make an impact over time is raising the academic profile of the university so that it becomes an attractive option for students who are also looking at Villanova, Providence and other Catholic schools.
St. John's may be a perfect fit for Father Shanley as it is already one of the most diversified and liberal Catholic universities in America. Where he can hopefully make an impact over time is raising the academic profile of the university so that it becomes an attractive option for students who are also looking at Villanova, Providence and other Catholic schools.
From what I have read, Father Shanley appears to be an excellent hire at a crucial time where recruitment in a post covid time can bring new challenges. Since he is an opera lover, what better place in the US than NYC with The Metropolitan Opera as a draw. While not a Vincentian, he does meet what was one of the criteria of the order--he is of Irish heritage. Also (sorry for being mercenary/sarcastic/realistic) the Dominicans making Father Shanley a "free agent", allowed him to go to a "bigger franchise" for a larger salary (a significant amount of which goes back to the order). This is something I have seen from my cousin who was a Dominican sister whose salary helped take care of the older sisters and a friend who is a Christian Brother whose professor's salary helped the older brothers..
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beast of the east
Active member
Reading Father Shanley's bio, there are reasons to like him right away. He is sort of a Rhode Island version of many of us who are mostly born and raised in Queens or close by and have stayed close to our university.
Father Shanley was raised in working class Warwick, attended Providence as an undergrad, and after being ordained a Dominican priest has spent his career at Providence.
Just as Providence, RI was once largely Irish Catholic and now very diverse, so was and is Queens. Providence College was once a nice local school as was St. John's, both now attracting a national student body.
I am hopeful that Father Shanley's vision for our university includes the fact that expanding high academics is not mutually exclusive from also serving underprivileged populations as a core part of our mission. Forty years ago St. John's attracted BOTH brilliant young minds AND kids who barely if at all got accepted to CUNY schools. Of course that was an era before college selection became a sweepstakes of it's own and a destination for success rather than a launching pad for the journey.
Welcome Father Shanley! You are going to fit in just fine here. I suspect this is going to fit like a glove.
Congratulations to all of us. We just hired what will be our best President in at least 60 years and maybe more.
Father Shanley was raised in working class Warwick, attended Providence as an undergrad, and after being ordained a Dominican priest has spent his career at Providence.
Just as Providence, RI was once largely Irish Catholic and now very diverse, so was and is Queens. Providence College was once a nice local school as was St. John's, both now attracting a national student body.
I am hopeful that Father Shanley's vision for our university includes the fact that expanding high academics is not mutually exclusive from also serving underprivileged populations as a core part of our mission. Forty years ago St. John's attracted BOTH brilliant young minds AND kids who barely if at all got accepted to CUNY schools. Of course that was an era before college selection became a sweepstakes of it's own and a destination for success rather than a launching pad for the journey.
Welcome Father Shanley! You are going to fit in just fine here. I suspect this is going to fit like a glove.
Congratulations to all of us. We just hired what will be our best President in at least 60 years and maybe more.
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redstorm89
Active member
School made a great pick. Hopefully along with athletics Father shanley can raise St. john's academic profile.
jerseyshorejohnny
Well-known member
My wife's cousin, who is a PC grad, said that he thought this was the biggest heist since the Brink's robbery.
SJU hoops fans have suffered more often than not and tend to cling to the days when program was outstanding. History is history and no sense rehashing problems. Leadership is key to achieving and sustaining a reasonable degree of success.
I feel confident that CMA, Cragg and our new President are the experienced and capable leaders who will get the program and University on the positive track we all yearn for.
I feel confident that CMA, Cragg and our new President are the experienced and capable leaders who will get the program and University on the positive track we all yearn for.
[quote="Paultzman" post=402733]SJU hoops fans have suffered more often than not and tend to cling to the days when program was outstanding. History is history and no sense rehashing problems. Leadership is key to achieving and sustaining a reasonable degree of success.
I feel confident that CMA, Cragg and our new President are the experienced and capable leaders who will get the program and University on the positive track we all yearn for.[/quote]
Agree here. Everybody raving about this hire. Some fans of other programs even saying he’s one of the most influential Presidents in all of the US. Home run hire. Sju needs to be straightened out and put on the right path. Hopefully he can make some big changes, to academics, Athletics as well as culture.
I feel confident that CMA, Cragg and our new President are the experienced and capable leaders who will get the program and University on the positive track we all yearn for.[/quote]
Agree here. Everybody raving about this hire. Some fans of other programs even saying he’s one of the most influential Presidents in all of the US. Home run hire. Sju needs to be straightened out and put on the right path. Hopefully he can make some big changes, to academics, Athletics as well as culture.
