| John Smithson | |
|---|---|
| Interim President of Saint Joseph's University | |
In office May 18, 2011 – June 30, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Timothy R. Lannon, S.J. |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | Saint Joseph's University |
| Profession | Academic administrator, retired Naval officer |
John W. Smithson is an American college administrator who has served as the interim President of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 18, 2011, until June 30, 2012.[1] He is the first president of Saint Joseph's University who is not a member of the Jesuits.[2]
Smithson is a resident of Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania.[3] He received his bachelor's degree in mathematics in 1968[2] and his MBA from Saint Joseph's University.[3] Smithson also graduated from Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island and served as a U. S. Naval Officer from 1968 until 1972.[3]
Smithson served on the Saint Joseph's University board of trustees from 1999 until 2007.[3] He simultaneously served as chairman of the board from 2003 to 2007.[3] In February 2010, Saint Joseph's University named Smithson as its senior vice president.[3] His responsibilities as vice president included alumni relations, financial affairs, internal audits and external affairs.[3]
In 2010, Saint Joseph's University's then president, Rev. Timothy R. Lannon, S.J., announced his departure at the end of the 2010-2011 academic year to become President of Creighton University.[1] The university board of trustees initially selected Rev. Joseph O'Keefe, dean of the Lynch School of Education at Boston College, to succeed Lannon as Saint Joseph's 27th president.[4] However, O'Keefe withdrew from the nomination several months before taking office citing health concerns, including "serious cardiovascular issues."[1]
On April 25, 2011, the university board of trustees selected Saint Joseph's Senior Vice President John Smithson as interim president of the university.[1] Smithson took office effective May 18, 2011, on an interim basis.[1] Smithson's term ended July 1, 2012, when Rev. C. Kevin Gillespie, S.J., took over as the University's 27th President.[5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Saint Joseph's University names interim president". Associated Press. Philadelphia Inquirer. 2011-04-25. http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20110425_ap_saintjosephsuniversitynamesinterimpresident.html.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Koch, Sam (2011-05-13). "Q&A: John Smithson,'68, interim president elect". The Hawk (Saint Joseph's University Newspaper). http://www.sjuhawknews.com/news/q-a-john-smithson-68-interim-president-elect-1.2227602.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Saint Joseph's University names new interim vice president". Bucks Local News. Philadelphia Inquirer. 2010-02-15. http://www.buckslocalnews.com/articles/2010/02/15/the_advance/people/doc4b75a774558d4855736318.txt.
- ↑ "Saint Joseph's names Boston College dean O'Keefe as new president". Delaware County Daily Times. 2011-01-24. http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2011/01/24/life/doc4d3db3e7518af390862362.txt.
- ↑ "Archived copy". http://www.sju.edu/news/archives/gillespie_announcement_111011.html.
The original article can be found at John Smithson (university president) and the edit history here.