Welcome new St. John's President Bobby Gempesaw
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jerseyshorejohnny
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http://thefilam.net/archives/15086
The below article was forwarded to me by a friend. The artilce regarding President Gempesaw appeared in FilAm a magazine for Filipino Americans in New York.
New St. John’s president Conrado Gempesaw described as ‘humble, down-to-earth’
Posted: July 17th, 2014 ˑ Filled under: Education ˑ 1 Comment
On July 1, Conrado Gempesaw, Ph.D. became the 17th president of St. John’s University in Queens, the first lay person to hold the position in this Catholic university in Queens.
He succeeds Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., who became interim president after a 2013 corruption scandal led to the resignation of long-time president Rev. Donald Harrington and the suicide of a university fundraiser. Reports say it took St. John’s more than a year to find a successor to Father Levesque.
Two weeks after the announcement was made, Gempesaw – known as ‘Bobby’ to friends and academic colleagues — paid a courtesy call on Consul General Mario De Leon, Jr. Both gentlemen are alumni of the Ateneo University. Gempesaw has a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Ateneo de Davao University. He has a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from The Pennsylvania State University, and a Master of Science degree in agricultural economics from West Virginia University, according to the university website.
Before joining St. John’s, Gempesaw was provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he was largely credited for leading efforts to increase international enrollment and global partnerships, among many initiatives. He has more than three decades of academic experience.
Gempesaw also held academic positions at the University of Delaware before leaving his role as Dean of the Lerner College of Business and Economics when he moved to Miami.
“In Dr. Gempesaw, we have found a visionary leader who understands and embraces St. John’s mission as a Catholic and Vincentian university, and has the skills necessary to realize our goals for the future,” said the university in a statement. “We are confident he will help St. John’s continue its remarkable transformation from a commuter school into a global educational institution with enhanced and expanded facilities and new academic initiatives, while maintaining its mission of providing a world-class affordable education.”
Community leaders who have met Gempesaw during a July 11 birthday celebration for Consul General de Leon at Tito Rad’s Restaurant in Queens said they saw a “quiet and humble” man.
“He did not personify to me a man who is occupying a position of high level in the field of education. He seemed down-to-earth and personable,” said retired public school teacher Lumen Castaneda, who is also the founder of the United Federation of Fil-Am Educators or UNIFFIED.
Gempesaw and his wife, Clavel Albay, have two sons, Daniel and David.
Daniel has Bachelor of Science degrees in mathematics and mechanical engineering from the University of Delaware, and a Master of Science degree from Georgia Tech; while David is currently a graduate student at Miami University. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance from the University of Delaware.
Clavel Albay Gempesaw has a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.
“He and the wife, Clavel, are both so soft-spoken and very friendly, obliging everyone for a picture,” said Castaneda. — Cristina DC Pastor
The below article was forwarded to me by a friend. The artilce regarding President Gempesaw appeared in FilAm a magazine for Filipino Americans in New York.
New St. John’s president Conrado Gempesaw described as ‘humble, down-to-earth’
Posted: July 17th, 2014 ˑ Filled under: Education ˑ 1 Comment
On July 1, Conrado Gempesaw, Ph.D. became the 17th president of St. John’s University in Queens, the first lay person to hold the position in this Catholic university in Queens.
He succeeds Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, C.M., who became interim president after a 2013 corruption scandal led to the resignation of long-time president Rev. Donald Harrington and the suicide of a university fundraiser. Reports say it took St. John’s more than a year to find a successor to Father Levesque.
Two weeks after the announcement was made, Gempesaw – known as ‘Bobby’ to friends and academic colleagues — paid a courtesy call on Consul General Mario De Leon, Jr. Both gentlemen are alumni of the Ateneo University. Gempesaw has a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from Ateneo de Davao University. He has a Ph.D. in agricultural economics from The Pennsylvania State University, and a Master of Science degree in agricultural economics from West Virginia University, according to the university website.
Before joining St. John’s, Gempesaw was provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he was largely credited for leading efforts to increase international enrollment and global partnerships, among many initiatives. He has more than three decades of academic experience.
Gempesaw also held academic positions at the University of Delaware before leaving his role as Dean of the Lerner College of Business and Economics when he moved to Miami.
“In Dr. Gempesaw, we have found a visionary leader who understands and embraces St. John’s mission as a Catholic and Vincentian university, and has the skills necessary to realize our goals for the future,” said the university in a statement. “We are confident he will help St. John’s continue its remarkable transformation from a commuter school into a global educational institution with enhanced and expanded facilities and new academic initiatives, while maintaining its mission of providing a world-class affordable education.”
Community leaders who have met Gempesaw during a July 11 birthday celebration for Consul General de Leon at Tito Rad’s Restaurant in Queens said they saw a “quiet and humble” man.
“He did not personify to me a man who is occupying a position of high level in the field of education. He seemed down-to-earth and personable,” said retired public school teacher Lumen Castaneda, who is also the founder of the United Federation of Fil-Am Educators or UNIFFIED.
Gempesaw and his wife, Clavel Albay, have two sons, Daniel and David.
Daniel has Bachelor of Science degrees in mathematics and mechanical engineering from the University of Delaware, and a Master of Science degree from Georgia Tech; while David is currently a graduate student at Miami University. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance from the University of Delaware.
Clavel Albay Gempesaw has a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in urban affairs and public policy from the University of Delaware.
“He and the wife, Clavel, are both so soft-spoken and very friendly, obliging everyone for a picture,” said Castaneda. — Cristina DC Pastor
beast of the east
Active member
After 50 years of university presidents who appeared emotionally detached from most students, alumni, faculty and even other Vincentian clergy, it's nice to have a president who is characterized as friendly.
jerseyshorejohnny
Well-known member
jerseyshorejohnny
Well-known member
Huge day for The University.
It's The Investiture of President Bobby Gempesaw.
He is expected to frame his vision for St. John's in the year's to come.
It's The Investiture of President Bobby Gempesaw.
He is expected to frame his vision for St. John's in the year's to come.
beast of the east
Active member
I know he's ticked a lot of people off already by eliminating merit raises this year. He is very challenged by a declining enrollment which will compromise his ability to improve academics by being more selective.
beast of the east
Active member
I heard president Gempeshaw speak at the annual President's Dinner last night at the Waldorf.
Maybe I set my expectations to hi based on what has been said here and elsewhere about him. I can tell you he is not a warm, charismatic public speaker, and his speech just contained just inconsequential, non-specific references to the university facing challenges. I realize that this type of event is not the forum to unveil a master plan. Considering that hiring a layperson widened the pool of potential applicants by more than a thousand fold, I was expecting more of a complete package from the new leader. As it was, he speaks in medium accented tone, that is only appears to be a few levels above struggling with the language. Public charisma is not essential for a college president, but it sure would have been nice to be inspired and moved in my first glimpse of Gemeshaw, and not disappointed.
In true SJU fashion, Gempeshaw's warmest action was also the most chintzy. When all the presentations were done and a short break, he took the podium and announced that it was his wife's birthday. He then led the gathering in singing happy birthday to his wife, and it seemed planned, since the next panel on the big screen introduced his wife, who spoke briefly. The chintzy part was that a cake was rolled out on stage that literally couldn't have fed 6 people.
Maybe I set my expectations to hi based on what has been said here and elsewhere about him. I can tell you he is not a warm, charismatic public speaker, and his speech just contained just inconsequential, non-specific references to the university facing challenges. I realize that this type of event is not the forum to unveil a master plan. Considering that hiring a layperson widened the pool of potential applicants by more than a thousand fold, I was expecting more of a complete package from the new leader. As it was, he speaks in medium accented tone, that is only appears to be a few levels above struggling with the language. Public charisma is not essential for a college president, but it sure would have been nice to be inspired and moved in my first glimpse of Gemeshaw, and not disappointed.
In true SJU fashion, Gempeshaw's warmest action was also the most chintzy. When all the presentations were done and a short break, he took the podium and announced that it was his wife's birthday. He then led the gathering in singing happy birthday to his wife, and it seemed planned, since the next panel on the big screen introduced his wife, who spoke briefly. The chintzy part was that a cake was rolled out on stage that literally couldn't have fed 6 people.
beast of the east
Active member
More importantly Congrats again to JSJ. Wish I could have been there last night for his much deserved honoring
I was going to record his speech, and also the "Biography" video they did on JSJ and post it here. I did take some photos of him until my wife told me to stop since we were all the way up front. (Not) Surprisingly he did not mention redmen.com at all. He was very gracious, and instead of speaking about himself, he gave accolades to the other award winners and to the students who he has helped over the years who surprised him by being in attendance. JSJ is a great example of everything good about St. John's.
tom in salem
Well-known member
Well done Mr.President.
beast of the east
Active member
By the numbers. Since we lost 9 days ago:
1) One business day to meet to discuss Lavin's fate.
2) One additional day to meet to discuss and extension.
3) Day 5: Cut the cord and part ways
4) Day 7: Get your man.
Decisiveness, and a plan -- something new around SJU. A sign of good things to come across the university