John Smithson (university president)
Encyclopedia
John W. Smithson is an American
college administrator who has served as the interim
President of Saint Joseph's University
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, since May 18, 2011. He is the first president of Saint Joseph's University who is not a member of the Jesuits.
Smithson is a resident of Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania
. He received his bachelor's degree
in mathematics
in 1968 and his MBA from Saint Joseph's University. Smithson also graduated from Officer Candidate School
in Rhode Island
and served as a U. S. Naval Officer from 1968 until 1972.
Smithson served on the Saint Joseph's University board of trustees from 1999 until 2007. He simultaneously served as chairman of the board from 2003 to 2007. In February 2010, Saint Joseph's University named Smithson as its senior vice president. His responsibilities as vice president included alumni relations, financial affairs, internal audit
s and external affairs.
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
. 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. However, O'Keefe withdrew from the nomination several months before taking office citing health concerns, including "serious cardiovascular issues."
On April 25, 2011, the university board of trustees selected Saint Joseph's Senior Vice President John Smithson as interim president of the university. Smithson took office effective May 18, 2011, on an interim basis. Smithson's term will end effective July 1, 2012, when Rev. C. Kevin Gillespie, S.J. takes over as the University's 27th President.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college administrator who has served as the interim
Interim
Interim is an album by British rock band The Fall, compiled from live and studio material and released in 2004. It features the first officially released versions of "Clasp Hands", "Blindness" and "What About Us?" — all of which were later included on the band's next studio album Fall Heads Roll —...
President of Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University
Saint Joseph's University is a private, coeducational Roman Catholic Jesuit university located partially in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia and partially in Lower Merion Township and located in the Pennsylvania Main Line, Pennsylvania, United States.The school was founded in 1851 as Saint...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, since May 18, 2011. He is the first president of Saint Joseph's University who is not a member of the Jesuits.
Smithson is a resident of Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, is a small unincorporated village located in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with a zip code of 18977. Formerly known as "Taylorsville," it is most famous for Washington's crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas of 1776 during the...
. He received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
in 1968 and his MBA from Saint Joseph's University. Smithson also graduated from Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School (U.S. Navy)
The United States Navy's Officer Candidate School, currently located at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, provides training to become a commissioned officer. Attendance is one possible way for civilian college graduates with no military experience to earn a commission as a U.S. Navy officer...
in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and served as a U. S. Naval Officer from 1968 until 1972.
Smithson served on the Saint Joseph's University board of trustees from 1999 until 2007. He simultaneously served as chairman of the board from 2003 to 2007. In February 2010, Saint Joseph's University named Smithson as its senior vice president. His responsibilities as vice president included alumni relations, financial affairs, internal audit
Audit
The general definition of an audit is an evaluation of a person, organization, system, process, enterprise, project or product. The term most commonly refers to audits in accounting, but similar concepts also exist in project management, quality management, and energy conservation.- Accounting...
s and external affairs.
In 2010, Saint Joseph's University's then president, Rev. Timothy R. Lannon
Timothy R. Lannon
Timothy R. Lannon, S.J. is, since July 1, 2011, the current and 24th president of Creighton University. He was previously the president of Saint Joseph's University.-Early life:Timothy R. Lannon, S.J., is a native of Mason City, Iowa...
, S.J.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, announced his departure at the end of the 2010-2011 academic year to become President of Creighton University
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private, coeducational, Jesuit, Roman Catholic university located in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the school is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities. The university is accredited by...
. The university board of trustees initially selected Rev. Joseph O'Keefe
Joseph O'Keefe
Joseph Phillip O'Keefe was a Liberal party member of the Canadian House of Commons. He was an executive, manager/owner, supermarket and merchant by career. He was born in St John's, Newfoundland and Labrador....
, dean of the Lynch School of Education
Lynch School of Education
The Lynch School of Education is a professional school of Boston College. Joseph O'Keefe, S.J. is the current dean.The Lynch School of Education offers graduate and undergraduate programs in education, psychology, and human development. The mission of the school is to improve the human condition...
at Boston College
Boston College
Boston College is a private Jesuit research university located in the village of Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA. The main campus is bisected by the border between the cities of Boston and Newton. It has 9,200 full-time undergraduates and 4,000 graduate students. Its name reflects its early...
, to succeed Lannon as Saint Joseph's 27th president. However, O'Keefe withdrew from the nomination several months before taking office citing health concerns, including "serious cardiovascular issues."
On April 25, 2011, the university board of trustees selected Saint Joseph's Senior Vice President John Smithson as interim president of the university. Smithson took office effective May 18, 2011, on an interim basis. Smithson's term will end effective July 1, 2012, when Rev. C. Kevin Gillespie, S.J. takes over as the University's 27th President.