2008 Woodie Awards
Campus Spotlight
The man behind the scenes
Jennifer Peters, Managing Editor Emeritus
Issue date: 4/25/07 Section: Features
When asked about his greatest achievement at St. John's, Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., said, "If you knew me better, you'd know that I'd say 'What did we do. There's nothing I've been able to do alone. It's just a wonderful team of people here. We have done a lot."
And in his 18 years as president of the University, he and his team have done a great deal. Harrington points to the construction of St. Thomas More Church and the inclusion of the
Residence Halls as just a couple of the greater achievements. But, he says, there is still so much more to be done to make St. John's the best it can be.
"I want to see the student center built because that is so important to the students, and enhanced academic buildings," Harrington said. "And I'd like to see an enhanced residence capacity because I know how hard it is when [the students] have to go off campus."
Because all of these projects take capital, Harrington spends a great deal of time raising money for all of the improvements that the University wants to see. This causes many to see Harrington's job as that of primary fundraiser, and he admits that that is a big part of his role. But there is much more to the job of the president.
"I'm the one who has to have the view from 20,000 feet," he said. "I'm the one who has to see clearly where we came from as an institution and where we're going. What it is that makes us strong and what it is that can make us stronger. And I have to be able to articulate that in a way that's meaningful for people so that we can work together to make St. John's a better place."
But Harrington is not all business all the time.
"I love Italian food, which is the real reason we have a Rome campus," he joked.
Under the collar and the prestigious title, Harrington is just like everybody else.
"I think I'm an introvert," he said. "A lot of other people think I'm an extrovert, but I tend to be more reclusive. I enjoy people and when I'm being president, working a room, that's fine. But I really value the special relationships, spending time with my family and friends. And I think they would describe me as someone who's open and warm. It's just nice sometimes not being president after all these years. It's kind of nice not being a public figure."
And in his 18 years as president of the University, he and his team have done a great deal. Harrington points to the construction of St. Thomas More Church and the inclusion of the
Residence Halls as just a couple of the greater achievements. But, he says, there is still so much more to be done to make St. John's the best it can be.
"I want to see the student center built because that is so important to the students, and enhanced academic buildings," Harrington said. "And I'd like to see an enhanced residence capacity because I know how hard it is when [the students] have to go off campus."
Because all of these projects take capital, Harrington spends a great deal of time raising money for all of the improvements that the University wants to see. This causes many to see Harrington's job as that of primary fundraiser, and he admits that that is a big part of his role. But there is much more to the job of the president.
"I'm the one who has to have the view from 20,000 feet," he said. "I'm the one who has to see clearly where we came from as an institution and where we're going. What it is that makes us strong and what it is that can make us stronger. And I have to be able to articulate that in a way that's meaningful for people so that we can work together to make St. John's a better place."
But Harrington is not all business all the time.
"I love Italian food, which is the real reason we have a Rome campus," he joked.
Under the collar and the prestigious title, Harrington is just like everybody else.
"I think I'm an introvert," he said. "A lot of other people think I'm an extrovert, but I tend to be more reclusive. I enjoy people and when I'm being president, working a room, that's fine. But I really value the special relationships, spending time with my family and friends. And I think they would describe me as someone who's open and warm. It's just nice sometimes not being president after all these years. It's kind of nice not being a public figure."
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Kalev Pehme
posted 4/25/07 @ 8:33 PM NA
What a puff piece, Peters! Not one single tough question. By the way, you are not emeritus, as you are not a museum piece, i.e., a male.
K.
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