May 3, 2013

Statement from the St. Johns Board of Trustees upon Announcement of President Donald Harringtons Retirement The Board was notified earlier today by Father Donald Harrington of his intention to retire from his position as President of St. Johns University, effective July 31, 2013. This board has had the st privilege of working with Father Harrington as he has led St. Johns into the 21 century. During Father Harringtons 24 years at St. Johns, our University has achieved extraordinary advances in its national and international reputation and academic profile. What was a regional commuter school when he arrived, today receives more than 50,000 applications annually, with more than 4,000 students living in campus housing. The footprint of the University today reinforces its identity as a metropolitan university yet includes an exceptional international studies program with premier sites in Paris and Rome. In the past 10 years alone, more than half a dozen major new facilities and academic buildings have changed the landscape of our campuses. The tenure of Father Harrington as president has been a period of unrivaled growth, expansion and achievement for our University. He has been a transformative leader who guided this institution, nurtured its community, cultivated excellence and generated unprecedented levels of enthusiasm and support. At the same time, the University he departs has remained dedicated to service and education, prime components of our mission since St. Johns was founded 143 years ago. Such has been Father Harringtons accomplishment as president extraordinary, institutionwide progress coupled with unwavering commitment to the heritage that defines St. Johns as a Catholic university. Father Harrington has also embedded the Vincentian mission deeply within the University. St. Johns grants hundreds of millions of dollars in financial aid annually; 40 percent of our freshman class each year can be categorized as very high need students; our Vincentian Institute for Social Action allows students to address issues of global poverty and social injustice; St. Johns Advantage Academy operates a partnership with the New York City Department of Homeless Services to break the cycle of poverty through education; and St. Johns Bread & Life soup kitchen and community-assistance organization is a platform for research and learning that helps 25,000 clients and provides more than 460,000 meals annually. These deeds would not have been possible without Father Harrington at the helm. An announcement will be made in the coming weeks regarding the transition to new leadership. During this time, I encourage all of us who make up the St. Johns community faculty, staff, students and alumni to share with Father Harrington our gratitude and best wishes for the next chapter in his life.