Who Should be the new St . John's President?
- Thread starter T6K0E6
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The next President of St.John's University will likely be a 50+ year old white priest without a distinguished academic background who will mirror Harrington's mediocrity.
i expect that the new President of St.John's will surround himself with a posse of backslappers who will talk to one another about the "good old days" (Ra-Ra-Rah!!! ) without interchange with the students.
i expect that the new President of St.John's will surround himself with a posse of backslappers who will talk to one another about the "good old days" (Ra-Ra-Rah!!! ) without interchange with the students.
Class of 72
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Is a Manhattan grad with no academic experience what you want? Yes, he was a dedicated mayor. Just not dedicated to his wife.
beast of the east
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Most members of the BOT have sent their own children elsewhere, and are well aware of the attributes of president's of top notch schools. Today, the ability to fundraise is among the most important job requirements. At Villanova, I spoke with Father Peter Donahue about a year after he took over for the outgoing Father Edmund Dobbins. Father Dobbins had done a tremendous job at improving the academic standing of an already very good school during his 18 year tenure - a transformational tenure. Father Peter is a much more gregarious type, who connects with students and alumni. He's also a competent administrator and passionate leader. During Father Peter's first year or so in his new position, he said he had spent about 1/2 the time travelling, meeting with alumni groups across the country and raising funds for their capital campaign.
So while the gene pool may be thinner within the Vincentian ranks, there is certainly nothing inherently wrong with having a Catholic University hiring a 50+ year old priest. It would seem to me to be desirable if a priest could be found that possesses the ability to lead the university with distinction for the next 15-20 years.
I'd share your desire that the next university president would more charismatic and present to large number of students, something that neither Harrington or Cahill did very much. In fact I've been told (by a Vincentian priest) that Harrington had little to do with other Vincentian priests living on campus and was in fact quite distant and cold towards them.
STJ11Redmen
Active member
Harrington's resignation isn't effective until July 31.
beast of the east
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I am certain the process is well underway.
Pleasedontbanmeagain
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For our anniversary I said to my wife where do you wanna go? She says I wanna go somewhere I've never been before. I told her try the kitchen.
Ok I stole that from Goodfellas.
Ok I stole that from Goodfellas.
beast of the east
Active member
On a serious note, I watched an interview today with Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF, current President of St. Bonaventure. She wonderfully explained their mission as educating students academically, and forming students in an adult faith. She spoke of the existence of remedial math and English fro deficient students, but of perhaps a greater need for remedial catechism as a prerequisite for teaching students in theology courses that prepare them to understand their faith as adults. In an era of secularization of Catholic colleges, it was refreshing to hear a Catholic University leader who understands the importance of Catholic education. She spoke of the creation of a service community among students that is also a Christian community. Sounds like greats things are happening on their campus.
Needs to be someone with a vision for improving the academic quality and reputation of the university. Someone with ideas who isnt afraid to undertake agressive moves, like adding an engineering school. That has to be the most important criteria. No more small minded, visionless leadership. Need someone who understands what SJU in nyc can become.
That's the cure. And I thought I was the only one who thought heavily along these lines. They need a true factor of academic differentiation: Prospects will continue to choose more selective CUNY schools, if the perceptions between the two university systems appears similar. Therefore, they have no choice but to move in a more selective direction, by adding more technology programs (i.e., like you said, schools of engineering, computer science, and even Doctoral programs in the math related disciplines).
beast of the east
Active member
Can you please explain what the demand is for schools of engineering or Phd's in math among potential students, and also explain job opportunities in those fields? Do you have any experience in the cost of establishing such programs, and what the return on investment would be? In your assertion that these programs are necessary, is this because there is a strong demand for these programs, or is it because you feel that the addition of these programs would improve the academic standing of the university overall?
By your comments, I am reminded of the renaissance of Pratt University, which not only resulted in a much stronger and revitalized Pratt, but also in the re-establishment of the Myrtle Avenue shopping district adjacent to the school. President Thomas Schutte has been the catalyst for energizing a crumbling campus and failing school. One of his key decision was refusing a wealthy alum's offer to donate what I believe was $25 million to re-establish the defunct school of engineering. The President refused the offer on those terms, and the alum actually donated the sum without the rebirth of the engineering school.
Certainly universities that have schools of medicine, engineering, and other high profile academic offerings often esteemed establishments. However, are Amherst or Holy Cross lower profile than St. John's because they are simply liberal arts schools? Must the path to academic excellence include a broader course offering as you suggest? are you suggesting those fields because they sound elite, or because the demand among potential students is outstripping supply in those fields?
Look at the global recruiting competition for technically skilled labor, the starting salaries, and the escalating poaching of talent (not necessarily experienced, but talented as denoted by raw ability and sheer intelligence) among recruiting firms nationwide and globally. The ROI to both the university and society would be huge: Those with technical capacity (not necessarily technologists) are exerting ever-increasing influence on global dynamics, and are better equipped to create marketable value across a larger number of people. St. John's has one of the strongest mathematics departments of any catholic university in the world, and is the only one that can claim to have a substantial number of faculty, within its math department staffed by NYU graduates of The Courant Institute for Mathematical Sciences. At the end of the day, its about academic and fiscal leverage.
The Pratt example is insightful, but they were known for very specific areas (design and architecture), and did not necessarily have the specific advantages of St. John's when comparing their mathematical strengths on a conventional academic level. The only exception would be Pratt's School of Architecture. Amherst and Holy Cross are essentially liberal arts colleges leveraged further in such curricula. St. John's has a number of professional programs (in addition to its liberals arts curriculum) that give it a much wider doorway into exploring the more technical disciplines to its long-term advantage.
The Pratt example is insightful, but they were known for very specific areas (design and architecture), and did not necessarily have the specific advantages of St. John's when comparing their mathematical strengths on a conventional academic level. The only exception would be Pratt's School of Architecture. Amherst and Holy Cross are essentially liberal arts colleges leveraged further in such curricula. St. John's has a number of professional programs (in addition to its liberals arts curriculum) that give it a much wider doorway into exploring the more technical disciplines to its long-term advantage.