Jersey City, N.J. – January 9, 2018 – The Saint Peter’s University Board of Trustees today announced that the contract of University president, Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., has been renewed for an additional five-year term until June 30, 2024. Dr. Cornacchia is the 22nd president of the University and was officially inaugurated on October 20, 2007.
“Saint Peter’s University has made tremendous strides over the past decade and Dr. Cornacchia’s leadership has been a driving force in this progression,” said Frank L. Fekete, CPA ’75, managing partner of Mandel, Fekete & Bloom, CPAs and chair of the Saint Peter’s University Board of Trustees. “The Board of Trustees and the University community look forward to what we will accomplish in the next five years with Dr. Cornacchia at the helm.”
Fundraising records were set under Dr. Cornacchia’s leadership with the $64.7 million Students at the Center capital campaign. This campaign was the largest and most successful in the University’s nearly 150-year history and featured the construction of the Mac Mahon Student Center. An additional fundraising record was set this fall when Joseph A. Panepinto, Esq. ’66 made a $10 million gift to Saint Peter’s, which marked the largest philanthropic gift in the University’s history.
Additionally, under Dr. Cornacchia’s leadership, Saint Peter’s has expanded its highly regarded undergraduate and graduate programs, initiated the institution’s first doctoral programs and established a School of Business, a School of Nursing and a School of Education. He was also instrumental to Saint Peter’s acquiring university status and assuming responsibility for St. Aedan’s Church, transitioning the parish church into St. Aedan’s: The Saint Peter’s University Church.
The past year proved to be particularly noteworthy for Saint Peter’s as the University surged in national rankings, specifically the 2019 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, in which Saint Peter’s was ranked highest in the state of New Jersey and 12th overall for Best Value in the Regional Universities North category. Saint Peter’s was also named first in the nation for institutional transformation by the American Council on Education (ACE) and Fidelity Investments. The year also marked the University’s fifth consecutive year of robust enrollment.
“There is an unstoppable spirit at Saint Peter’s that just seems to be getting stronger,” said Dr. Cornacchia. “I am honored to serve this remarkable institution for another five years and while I am inspired by what we have already accomplished, I am confident in our path forward as we continue to set the bar higher and dream even bigger.”
Cornacchia received a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1976 and a master’s degree in political science in 1979 from Fordham University. He also earned a Ph.D. in political science from Fordham University in 1985. Prior to becoming the first lay president of the University, and after many years of teaching at Saint Peter’s, Cornacchia served as academic dean and subsequently as provost and vice president for academic affairs.
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